Review: Louis Baker - Keep On Remixes #2 (Best's Friends Remixes w/ Larse, Delfonic and Gush Collective) (Best's Friends)

If you're a fan of the label Best Works, you'll be a fan of Best Friends as the key partnership of DJ André Lodemann and A&R manager, promoter and radio host Daniel W Best put all their efforts into a mega remix package that Best Friends 'Keep On'.

Of course there's an element of sadness behind this as the Berlin links with New Zealand are ever present, particularly as Fat Freddy's Drop, Chris 'Mu' Faiumu sadly passed away on 17th July this year, RIP), which originally led to the  Louis Baker 'Keep On Remixes #1 (see review HERE).

So keen on this modern soul classic track, the team have gone extra miling with Larse (x4 - remix, extension, instrumental, extended instrumental), Deflonic (x3 - remix, extended remix and instrumental) and Gush Collective and (x4 - remix, dub,extended instrumental and dub): 16 remix version in total!

Now I know you'll be thinking that's all a bit more but wait to you here them all in a row; it's such a great track with such a great message.  It's more than fitting that Sumsuch's tribute to Alex Kentucky includes the Larse remix of the latest Colour & Pitch Sessions mix; our thoughts go out to Alex's family and friends, RIP. 

We know Delfonic from the reverent 'Roy Ayers Delfonic Reworked #1' EP on BBE and other jazzy edits.  This one's more discofied whilst Gush Collective get old skool Co-Op BRUK.

As much as you need Remixes #1, Part 2 metaphorically cleans up so keep on and stay strong with this.

BUY LINK: https://orcd.co/louisbakerbestsfriends

Artist: Louis Baker
Title: Keep On Remixes #2 (Best's Friends Remixes w/ Larse, Delfonic and Gush Collective)
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label :Best Works
Catalog Number  BSF021
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Milk & Honey - The Milky Way (Chuwanaga)

Whilst in the land of Milk & Honey, let's get outta here on the 12", 'The Milky Way'.

Milk & Honey are the duo of producers Saint-James and Tour-Maubourg so a 5-track has winner written all over it. What with the galatic theme 'Deeper & Deeper' is funky out there with the space synths whilst there the peak-time lazer heaters 'Back In the Hood', 'Lost And Found' and 'Sour' (Ed. not yesterday's milk on the doorstep?).

Whilst out in space, 'Venus Effect' and 'City Stabs' makes up the EP.  Get your pre-orders in now before everyone gets home from their summer holidays.

Buy / Pre Order: https://chuwanaga.bandcamp.com/album/the-milky-way

Artist: Milk & Honey 
Title:  The Milky Way
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label : Chuwanaga
Catalog Number : CHUWANAGA016,
Format:  Limited 12" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Dirty Supercar - Get Down Boogie / Body Slam (w/ John Morales & Caio Cenci Extended Remixes (The Disco Express)

The disco express train has picked up a couple of special passengers with mix/edit legend John Morales and Caio Cenci both providing extened remixes that'll get the boogies on the suiper carriage body slamming your disco destinaton.

Dirty Supercar aer disco obsessives based in the depths of London's Soho that know a Daniel Wang when they see one on the dancefloor.

'Get Down Boogie' comes as an original version and the even better John Morales Extended Remix; now if you don't know you're M+M remix from your M&Ms, this is a great place to start (and if you've got a lot of catching up to do, check out BBE's extensive back catalogue).

And then there's 3 versions of 'Body Slam'; and extended mix, an instrumental and a Caio Cenci extended remix.  Caio Cenci debuted on the label earlier this year with his 'Business Of Love' EP earlier this year and this is just as slammin'.

After the Bustin' Loose 'Château d'Amour' EP (see review HERE) and La Felix's 'Bassline Jump' EP of a coule of weeks earlier (review review HERE) the Disco Express is fast approaching its 100th release: what disco station have they got planned you may well ask?

For more on Bustin' Loose, check our interview with Tom Lilly of last year HERE.

BUY LINK / Pre-Order: https://go.protonradio.com

Artist: Dirty Supercar 

Title: Get Down Boogie / Body Slam EP
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS94A1
Format:  Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: MOTEL PHANTASMA - Claptrap EP (Razor-N-Tape Records)

Is it me or does the phrase 'Claptrap' seem out of place for trendy NYC label Razor-N-Tape? It's the type of word you'd hear t'up North or at least not south of Birmingham?  So how'd it get in the Fania dancefloors of New York? 

MOTEL PHANTASMA is actually a mystery duo (I wonder who that could be?) and they've got a double A-sided 7" that'll get you all the attention a DJ would need.

Side A is hot as 'Claptrap' warped Baile Funk with early Kraftwerk circa-pocket calculator; "that's Claptrap" I hear you say (and you'd be right) but try not to clap you're way onto the dancefloor in a perverted flamenco synth wave way.

 

But that's nothing compared to Afro-boogie Zamrock disco of 'Noude' featuring the vocals of Kaleta as 70s 'Shaft In Africa' cool hits NYC.

This is a heavyweight and totally different to label boss' JKriv recent collaboration with Megatronic and their 'Out Of Time' release (see review HERE) but both are equally necessary and fun. 

BUY LINK: MOTEL PHANTASMA, Kaleta - Noude

 

Artist: MOTEL PHANTASMA

Title: Out Of Time
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTD125
Format :  7" - 2 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: New King ft Noah + Ruben Campos - Life is Good (Original Mix / D.Foe Remix) (Ramrock Red Records)

Blimey, it's been a year since Ramrock Red Records introduced us to New King and their return features Noah of vocals, Ruben Campos on Spanish guitar and D.Foe on the remix, you'll agree, 'Life Is Good' after listening to this one!

Remembering the 'Summer Sun' from last year (see review HERE) and the equally fantastic Stefano De Santis Remix (see review HERE) they're back with some ambient Spanish guitar beachwear that's that's more than perked up by the D.Foe (aka Mark Daniels and also New King, 45 Dip, Marden Hill and Sugarman) and Rob Clydesdale (also New King).

The original versions' gentle breeze of Noah's vocals and genuine Granadan gypsy flamenco guitar from Mr. Campos makes this a winner for the summer sunshine and when added to the deeper trip-hop Balearics of the remix it's a must play back-2-back combination.

When the sun is out, this is more than hard to resist, especially if you like a bit of Lonnie Liston Smith cosmic echoes.

Talking of jazz-funk legends, there's rumours of more remix action for 'Life Is Good' by that's man Stefano De Santis so stay tuned.

Artist: New King ft Noah + Ruben Campos  

Title: Life is Good (Original Mix / D.Foe Remix)

Release date: 8th September, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR089

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Logo Alloy & Zam T - Love Odyssey EP (Vibe Me To The Moon)

After the recrent Atjazz tour to South Africa, everyone's at it and for very good reason when you hear Logo Alloy & Zam T's 'Love Odyssey' EP.

Both Logo Alloy and Zam T have been working as producer/DJs on numerous local label's having a love of house of the Master at Work, DJ Spinna, Terry Hunter and the like.  So it's of no great surprise that Vibe Me To The Moon's DJ Nightsteppaz was so quick to sign this one up.

On a four track EP, 'Care For Me' with a soulful vocal, the instrumental 'Goin Nowhere', the stompin' 'Let's Go' that's got killer organ and some dubby space rotation on the grove and finishing up with jazz-funky vibes of 'Don Go Stay'.  All are that bit different from each other but then they all are as much New York, Chicago, Detroit as they are Jo'Berg, Cape, Bloemfontein, etc.  

what an addition to Vibe Me To The Moon Records after recent releases with well known names like Demarkus Lewis ('Love Still Lives' EP - see review HERE) and Franck Roger (on the remix - see reveiw HERE) but if your missing unofficial Roy Ayers remixes, you'll need 'Don Go Stay' in your collection.

All four tracks will be ready for club or beach as the summer warms up for the best part(y) of the year.

BUY LINK: https://www.traxsource.com/title/2596167/love-odyssey-ep

Artist: Logo Alloy & Zam T 

Title:  Love Odyssey EP

Release date: 12th September, 2025

Label : Vibe Me To The Moon Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital  

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