Review: Blue Earth Sound - Cicero Nights (Root Records)

Chicago based Blue Earth Sound is the place to explore 'Cicero Nights' - not as a Roman consulate rave up or as a town in North-East Illinois!

We already know from Tomorrow's Yearning (see review HERE) that the guys at Root Records love jazz OST beats a la KPM/de Wolfe/Creed Taylor along with Dilla/Madlib beats but James Weir's Blue Earth Sound project diggs even deeper into Chicago's jazz history.

Developed with the help of Dave Vettraino, the in-house engineer for International Anthem who, as a label, has recently been blessed by compilation madness as 'Gilles Peterson Presents International Anthem' with underground fee-jazz-soul-experimental gold like Carlos Niño, Damon Locks, Makaya McCraven, Jaimie Branch (RIP) and many more: far removed from Weir's rock-post punk band background.

So even more impressive that, even as a multi-instrumentalist, he's got such a cool jazz-focused album together with a little help from guests, notably Eamonn Prizy on flute/saxophone and particularly on 'Lovers Rock' and 'Half & Half'.

The single, 'Mariposa' and 'On The Court' have that downtempo feel that so fits his inspiration of, "I just wanted to make tunes that a DJ could pay at a Chicago bar like 'Danny's' at 8:30pm that would set a good vibe"; (Ed. perfect for the Futuristica Music Sessions on a Wednesday at 60MPC of old).

Don't be surprised to see these guys on one of Peterson's many projects.

PS. Danny's, 6021 S. Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638

 

Artist: Blue Earth Sound 
Title:  Cicero Nights

Release date: 12th September, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Produced by Blue Earth Sound

Recorded and Mixed at The International Anthem Warehouse by Dave Vettraino

Additional Recording in Little Village by Jason Balla

Additional Recording at the Mango Pit by Joshua Wells

String Production by Austin Lemoine in St. Louis

Mastered by David Allen

James Weir - Piano [1, 2, 3, 8], Rhodes [3, 4, 5, 7, 8], Organ [1, 3, 4, 7], Wurlitzer [2, 6], Guitar [4, 5, 6, 7], Bass [1- 8], Slide Guitar [2], Synth [2]

Patch Romanowski - Drums [1- 8], Triangle [4]

Eamonn Prizy - Flute [1, 3, 4], Saxophone [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]

Will Miller - Trumpet [1, 2, 3, 5]

Michael Wells - Guitar [1, 3, 8]

Jackson Ramsey - Strings [1, 5]Alex Aguero - Percussion [4, 6, 7]

Joshua Wells - Percussion [3, 4, 6, 7, 8]

license

Review: Bernardo Campos & Bruce Leroys - Disco Voador (Inc Rafael Cancian Remix) (Aureum)

Totally 'discombobulated' by the Aureum? Join the 'Disco Voador' club and get your dancefloor sorted.

Following on from Bruce Leroys' 'What Do You Want' featuring Lee Wilson earlier this year, the Aureum label has takend the question to the next leverl of soulful jazzy house to, "What more do yo want" as these 3-tracks have more than enough to keep you questioning your needs.

Just to make sure you are 'discombobulated', starting with Campos' mate, Rafael Cancian goes late '80s remix of the title track  as a tripped out dubby vibe with space synths; whilst 'Disco Voador' is a avant-jazz house shuffle that could work on a Hammer House of Horror soundtrack with fantastic gothic organ and trumpet.

The downtempo Latin-flava  'Areias de Ipanema' in the 'Disco Voador EP' sandwich gets full of sand of Ipanema Beach with more classy trumpet and sax.

Don't try and categorize this EP other than "necessary" and "fun".

BUY LINK: https://www.beatport.com/release/disco-voador/5276648

Artist: Bruce Leroys ft. Lee Wilson

Title: What Do You Want Disco Voador (Inc Rafael Cancian Remix)

Release date:  Beatport Exclusive for 1 Week 5th September, 2025 

                        General release:  12th September, 2025

Label: Aureum

Cat. No: AU0010

Format:  Digital 

Review: Steven Bamidele - THE CRASH! (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

"A collision of cosmic soul, existenital dread and a desperate search for meaning in the static" of modern life you may add as Stven Bamidele breezes through the 'difficult' sophomore album, 'THE CRASH!' is a beautiful sound.

Leftfield downtempo soul fans have been shouting the name Steven Bamidele sometime now and this 12 track new album is not to be avoided if you like the sound of folk drum'n'bass above the sound of the hummingbirds. 

The Nigerian-born, London-based singer, songwriter, musician and producer has a very dream like quality to his lyrics, voice and character - can you imagine a combination of Cat Stevens, Beach Boys and Thundercat?  Neither can I but this isn't far from it as he laments of the loss of innocence ('Truman', as in the 'The Truman Show' film') with the now omnipresence of big media/state intrusions into our lives - wanted or not.  

Along with "Everyone wants to live a good life" ('Cookoo Goes The Clock', with British rapper Cam Thomas (Ed. a pop at Harry Lime?) and 'The Fool' (featuring Sly5thAve - he of 'Calfornia Love', see review HERE), this is a 30 year olds' world view as 'THE CRASH!' but is a positive way and not a crash to destruction.

He's joined on 'Nichiyoubi' by French-born singer, songwriter and guitarist Célia Tiab and is such a cool lounge-jazz warp of a love song on the day of relase, not that he'd know, DT decides to rename the Department of Defence! 'Take Cover' indeed.

In fact, 'Take Cover' is the closest to a dance track on here as this album would suit fans of Michael Kiwanuka, Frank Ocean, Jalen Ngonda - in fact, the soulful duet with Scarlett Fae on 'Withdrawn' is one of the many highlights on the album.

Mr Bamidele is super talented and Tru-thoughts have found yet another Worldwide winner here.

BUY LINK: THE CRASH! | Steven Bamidele

Artist: Steven Bamidele

Title:  THE CRASH! 

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number: TRUD468D

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Till Brönner - Italia (earMusic / Edel)

We all loved Italia '90 but for Till Brönner the musical decades were the 70s & 80s when, he says, “Italy created a kind of pan-European sound and an atmosphere that was formative for an entire generation.”  What better way to celebrate a nation in sound then than a new album?

Brönner has worked with countless jazz musso's over the years but this is a dream line-up of Till  (flugelhorn, trumpet, vocals, synthesizers, brass, background vocals), Roberto Di Gioia (he of Web Web and many more on piano, electric piano, synthesizers, mellotron, organ, keyboards, synth arrangements), Nicola Conte (guitar), Bruno Müller (guitar), Pietro Lussu (piano, electric piano), Alberto Parmegiani (guitar), Magnus Lindgren (flutes, saxophones, reeds & woodwinds, woodwind arrangements), Christian von Kaphengst (double bass, electric bass),  Ameen Saleem (double bass, electric bass), Teppo 'Teddy Rock' Mäkynen (drums), Gabriel Prado (percussion, background vocals), Arne Schumann (programming, recording, mixing), Katrin Mickiewicz (background vocal); quite a cast?

Brönner's 2008 album 'Rio' caught the ear of Italian Latin jazzdance expert Nicola Conte (he of Schema Records, last seen HERE) so, it's no surprise Conte would want to get onboard for as a producer for his lounge jazz easy listening exotica OST in a 'la dolce vita' groove with some much loved tunes.

And that would also include guest vocalists like Mario Biondi on 'Via Con Me' (instant hit as, "It's Wonderfull"), Giovanni Zarrella on the 60s International hit 'Quando, Quando, Quando', Chiara Civello ('Parole Parole' - watch out jazz dancers for when it speeds up but where's the 12" version?), Mandy Capristo ('In Alto Mare') and Sera Kalo (you'll love the 'Miles' phreak fusion jazz-funk of 'L'Unica Chance').

Plus, Till's debut as a vocalist, the single, 'Viva La Felicità", a cover version of theme from "Il Signor Rossi Cerca La Felicità", a 1970s Italian cartoon series (see review HERE), we said Till's horn is as amazing as ever, along with, what sounds like the Schema house band, why the fade out?  

Unfortunately, those no 12" mix on the album but there's a small gripe and everything is covered by Till's exquisite playing and there's also a "flute vs Donald Byrd"/OST style of 'Il Trucido E Lo Sbirro', the Latin swing of 'La Donna Invisibile' and cool Rio breeze of 'Travolti Di Un Insolito Destino'.

It's an album that packs a Italia cool of Tony Curtis/Roger Moore that musically represented by the likes of Ennio Morricone & Piero Piccioni (Ed. who are equally present on Temporary Blessings new single that's released on the same day - see review HERE) along with Italian cuisine and cycling precision, this is 'Italia 2025'; Arrivederci! 

BUY LINK: https://till.lnk.to/ITALIA

Artist: Till Brönner 

Title: Italia 

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label: earMusic / Edel

Cat. No: BAM001RE

Format: 2 x LP Vinyl /CD / Digital

Review: TAZ - Wa La La Leng (Do My Thing) (A Wallace & Morris Production)(Ramrock Red Record)

Redrock Red's now 90! Mrs Ramrock's leadship skills have gone a long way to get to this point with TAZ on vocals doing his thing on 'A Wallace & Morris Production'; it's almost like there's a movie in this!

When you think of what the Ramrock team have recently released as in DB Cohen's album 'Target' (see review HERE), Number's 'Le Boucle Nouveau' (see review HERE), Jonson, Jonson & Jonson's 'Circles' and The Secret Garden, 'Names In The Sky' that featured the vocals of Jo Wallace, the boss at Ramrock HQ (see review HERE), all within the last couple of months, where was the time for 'Wa La La Leng (Do My Thing)?.

Well, apart from the clear and obvious fact that Wallace & Morris (he of Darren all things production and specially keyboards and organ - see 'Union II' review HERE), it was thought this track was the subject of one of the first world's music production issues, a lost/corrupted hard disc.  Having been records some 6 years ago after said Jo Wallace had been involved in the disco 'banger' 'Rock da Mic', Mousse T, TAZ and Inaya Day. (Ed. perfect for the forthcoming Roller Disco at We Out Here Festval and Mousse having just been menioned in connection with the Till Brönner release 'Viva La Felicità' - see review HERE). 

Before all that TAZ was involved with all the early Grime scene names like Wiley, Sway and Dizzee, being on the 'Boy In Da Corner' 2003 Mercury Music Prize winning album with the seminal 'Jus A Rascal' before being signed to Def Jam.  And ' Wa La La Leng (Do My Thing)' is full of that early ragga/hip-hop/sample ethos crossover - and when I say 'full', it's crammed full along with some great organ from Darren.

And as a result of being unintentionally retro/now, the Ramrock graphics Dept. have produced an EP cover harking back to the old days of KTel's 'Superbad' album artwork - as seen on TV?

Either way, it's great to celebrate being 90 and long may they all do their thing - or should that be thang?

Artist: TAZ

Title: Wa La La Leng (Do My Thing) (A Wallace & Morris Production)

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR090

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: La Chooma - Local Spirits (Batov Records)

Psychedelic dub meets Afro-Latin grooves on La Chooma’s hypnotic debut for Batov Records - blending Moroccan Gnawa, Colombian cumbia, Afrobeat, Jamaican dub, and cosmic jazz into deep, dancefloor-rooted compositions.

The six-piece ensemble has grown from a local trio into a dynamic live force, known for energetic and authentic performances. Their sound fuses Afrobeat, dub, and global influences from North and West Africa to Colombia and Cuba, creating a rich, borderless vibe

With a spiritual core and expansive sound, La Chooma recalls the exploratory spirit of Count Ossie, Idris Ackamoor, and The Comet Is Coming, connecting global traditions through rhythm, soul, and psychedelia

Highlights include the Ethio-dub noir of 'High Grow', the cosmic synth-funk of 'Lonely', and 'Cozumel', where Afro-Latin rhythms and Egyptian flute melodies meet on a cinematic ascent.

All we need is a Mad Professor dub and it's totally out-there!

Artist: La Chooma 

Title:  Local Spirits

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Batov Records

Catalog Number : BTR125

Format: LP Vinyl /  Digital / Bandcamp   

Alon Carmelly - Upright bass & Kawala Flute
Ella Greenbaum - Karkab & Percussion
Shimon Greenstein - Congas
Noam Cherchie - Drums
Yoav Dolev Hashiloni - Synths and Effects
Asaf Smilan - additional Drums on Huachuma and Percussion on Praise

Review: Temporary Blessings - Fata Morgana b/w Silence Leaves An Open Wound (College Of Knowledge Records)

College Of Knowledge Records get it totally right with the release of the new 7" by Temporary Blessings; suggest you purchase this and make it a permanent fixture.

College Of Knowledge Records followed-up Brenda's 'Where Did I Go Wrong' with the right-on album, 'Bath Time' (see review HERE) so this dig into Melbourne/Naarm cinematic soul movement jazzy-beats delve a la Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens by Temporary Blessings is hopefully the forerunner of a new album.

Clearly fans of 60s OST themes by the likes of Morricone and Piero Piccioni with some Hancock funk, 'Fata Morgana' is high on the flute and vibes. 

The driving force for this project is trumpet player/composere Liam McGorry who is joined by 
Will Morrissey (tenor Saxophonfe, lute, farfisa organ), Lachlan Stuckey (guitar). Tom Pettit (bass) and Hudson 'Brenda' Whitlock (drums, vibraphone).

'Silence Leaves An Open Wound' is a chance for McGorry to feature his trumpet in a downtempo groove which makes this 7" very versatile.

BUY LINK: Fata Morgana b/w Silence Leaves An Open Wound | Temporary Blessings

Artist: Temporary Blessings 

Title: Fata Morgana b/w Silence Leaves An Open Wound

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: COK45-002

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Groundhog - Tulips EP (Apparel Music)

This 'Tulip' is not a release by some Dutch blues rock revivalists as Groundhog, not the large rodent native to North Amerca of course, a duo are from New Zealand's Bay Of Plenty; nice that they're sharing it about.

This being the follow-up to the 'Be The One' EP of six months' ago, a lively summer sound that captured the jazzy Balearic dance feet on the dancefloor, particularly the stuttery title track and the tinkering 'Chandeliers', the shores of Te Moana-a-To continue to be jazzed up with the 3 tracker.

This EP has the same effortless groove as 'Bahama Soul' races to a freight train horn and piano high-speed track layout (with a bit of Carib rap) whilst 'Soulful' is just that, more soulful in transition with cheezy 'voice mail' message.  And then 'Tulips' blends of the previous tracks as a hybrid that's cooler in someways but disappointing that it's not longer.

We do like an Apparel: Lukus' 'Love Andeavour' EP (see review HERE) and their 15th Birthday Party compilation (see review HERE) so wehn it's on their 'EXTRA' imprint you can expect that extra mile.

BUY LINK: https://apparel-music.lnk.to/APDEXTRA056

Artist: Groundhog

Title: Tulips EP

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Apparel Music

Catalog Number : APDEXTRA056

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: lynyn - Ixona (Sooper Records)

There's been a bit of an upsurge in tracks infused in DnB of late but lynyn's "difficult second album", 'Ixona' goes that little bit further with the new release out of Chicago's Sooper Records; time to get in on the loop!

Recent Tru-Thoughts releases by Oliver Night (see review HERE) and WheelUP's 'Inner Light' (see review HERE) and at the other end of the spectrum, we've had Raz & Alfa's cover of Aphex Twin's 'Windowlicker' (see review HERE) have got us all excited in the YATM office.  What's this got to do with lynyn's follow-up to his debut, 'Lexicon' (2022)?   Well, DJ Mag has called him “One of IDM's next visionaries” so how well has Chicago's producer Conor Mackey lived up to this?

Well, the short answer is, "Very well indeed".  By throwing in some sharply focused Four Tet influences (Ed, did I ever tell you that I once stood next to Kieran in a Soho basement?) and a bit of Floating Points funk; yes I saw Sam him at last years' We Out Festival on keyboards in the backing band of UK jazz legend Norma Winstone - sometimes, you really could'nt make this stuff up!

Anyway, back to the album that opens up with this musical diversity conundrum, 'Nobody Knows Me' which has the 'pained' refrain “Know Me” on repeat to a shuffle dubstep before flipping to dnb basement such that it's a bit OST like Amon Tobin.

'Roll 5231' and 'Light Morph' are more drum n bass core but at any moment he can go glitchy micro-beats to big Acid synth wobbles like on longest track, 'The Fold' and the first single, '4m Hiero' (see below video by lynyn's "visual collaborator, Owen Blodgett).

There even more with the darker 'Versiliture' and then there's other extremes like the quieter/gentle 'RESton', 'Iliamna' and the closing track, the CD/digital only, 'Pad C U' that features the trombone of Brendan Whalen that's more trip-hop cool jazz.

The darker elements of the album along with the track 'Night Shift' put me in mind of Leo Chadburn's industrial "poem", 'Sleep in the Shadow of the Alternator' (see review HERE) but I suppose, in all fairness, what are DJ Mag saying about the new album? "Mackey’s knowledge of music theory and modular sound design is ahead of the fray, often culminating in fast-moving, intensely futuristic symphonies that will send tired minds into a state of fine-tuned hyperdrive" - I think we could all see that coming as, in other words, he's a visionary!

BUY LINK: Ixona

Artist:  lynyn
Title: Ixona
Release date: 5th September, 2025
Label : Sooper Records
Catalog Number  TBC
Format: Limited Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

P.S. Don't forget BiggaBush's 'This River' (the Gerry Hectic Towpath Extension) on Tru-Thoughts for more varied dnb influences.

Review: Trip Tease & Alain Vice - Sex Having Disco (inc. Prins Thomas Remix) (Astrolead Recordings)

It wasn't that long ago I was saying hat it's it hard to follow in the footsteps of Prins Thomas and Trip Tease adn Alain Vice, must agree ad they got 'the Prins' himself to fluff up a remix on their new EP, 'Sex Having Disco'.

So Third Attempt reminded us of the power of 'Inspector Norse' (see review HERE) and  we've had lots of Neapolitan synth-funk recent (including Jiri Jiri - see reveiw HERE) is it time to prove we are all connected as Prins Thomas, gets down and dirty with his remix of Trip Tease & Alain Vice's phuture 'bouncy house' of a track called 'Millano 2098' which is his trademark 'Diskomiks' quality.

But if you're going to have a 'Sex Having Disco' you'll need some protection as nu-disco legend Ilya Santana's label based in the Canary Islands reach out to Mexico's Trip Tease and Alain Vice (aka Carlos Saleme).

So the title might be a bit risqué, you can ride 'Acapulco Wave', land on the 'Palcon Funch' (Ed. did you see what they did there?). 'The Finest' and the original mix of 'Milano 2098' are all clean dancefloor party melange of "Italo, disco, synth wave, cosmic diso and beach rock" - 'Palcon Funch' is especially hot as it harks to a period when Santana was making his name on the Bear Funk and Nang Records.

The vocals on 'The Finest' and 'Milano 2098' give the tracks more of an original 70s disco feel so this EP is a lot more than just Prins Thomas' remix!

BUY LINK: https://astroleadrecordings.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Trip Tease & Alain Vice

Title: Sex Having Disco (inc Prins Thomas Remix) 

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label: Astrolead Recordings

Cat. No: -

Format: digital / Bandcamp