Review: Linda Mirada - Qué largo es el verano (Lovemonk)

Fans of Linda Mirada's last album "Con Mi Tiempo Y El Progreso" with its Lovemonk Latin disco synth-pop must have been wondering if there was ever going to be a new one: lucky 13 years on, it's here as 'Qué largo es el verano'.

Lovemonk Records, the Madrid based label, most well known for being the home of Gecko Turner and Chip Wickham together with the more recent Commonsur and Keita Sano & Sauce81, have gone the extra mile to catch the current wave of 80s pop in southern Europe with flashes of Italo disco" with Linda's support of North Satellite on production, mixing by Metro Area’s Bart Davenport and Daniel Collás of The Phenomenal Handclap Band who recently released 'We Are Worlds Away' (see review HERE) and you hear more than a faint echo with 'Qué largo es el verano' (which is a good thing).

It's a collections of songs (7 in all plus a remix) which pay to listen to chronologically as it starts of a bit 80s synth pop ('Bajo un mismo techo') and building up to a bit of Wham horn section ('Si la brisa es buena) as it "moves between intimate hedonism and gentle melancholy".  I'll have to take the label's work for it as my Spanish is more than limited but if you were digging for an album/period that was at the sohphisted Euro-pop of 80s with early electropop and "splashes of disco" at the poolparty that isn't old hat, 'Qué largo es el verano' is it.

And to a large part of this 'fresh/current' sound is due to the input of the Brooklyn ears of The Phenomenal Handclap Band members and the reason I was a little coy about the remix earlier is tha if you know there's a PHB Dub remix (Si la brisa es buena), you'd head for it in all it's magnificence.

Kind of hope they do some more as disco dub if ready for the beach if the breeze is nice and we know how good they are on the remix buttons as they popped up on Peter Matson's 'Hotel PM' album on Bastard Jazz (see review HERE).

The spirit of Kid Creole & Chic Cocconuts lives on - where's me Hawaiian shirt and pina colada? 

BUY LINK: Qué largo es el verano | Linda Mirada

Artist: Linda Mirada
Title:   Qué largo es el verano (w/The Phenomenal Handclap Band Remix)
Release date: 19th September, 2025
Label : Lovemonk Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Graham Collier - Graham Collier's Hoarded Dreams (Cuneiform Records)

Thanks to Cuneiform Records you now have a great opportunity for one weekend ONLY to buy this brilliant album from for only $5.

This sale ends 11:59pm UTC on September 14, 2025 and the coupon code is "FIVE" after typing in '10' into the name your price field.

BANDCAMP BUY LINK: Hoarded Dreams | Graham Collier | Cuneiform Records

And here's an review I did for flyglobalmusic sometime ago at the original re-issue.

You may recall, when Graham was at Ray’s Jazz, he was promoting the release of this CD recorded live at the Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1983.

Collier is the composer and he directs this specially invited 19 piece band that includes Geoff Warren (who played the sax and flute on the UK jazz-funk classic ‘Southern Freeez’ a couple of years earlier), John Surman, Kenny Wheeler and Tomasz Stanko for this one-off occassion.

The ‘Hoarded Dreams’ come in seven parts, conveniently entitled Part 1 to 7. It starts like a manic mass horned ‘Flight Of The Bumble Bee’ which knocks the stuffing out of the audience. Thankfully, mid-way through Part 2, the audience has caught up and you can feel their joy throughout an incredibly powerful 14 and a half minutes.

Little wonder that by Part 3, they all need to catch their collective breath and the guitar of Ed Speight (one for fans of Mr. Lamdin) and Juhani Aaltonen (sax) gets all late night downtempo before Collier lets off the reins and they’re at the races again. As an aside, I also see Aaltonen was on last years’ big 12”, the Didier’s 06 Edit of ‘Ufology’ by the Finnish Big Band Jazz.

And then can you imagine what a trio of trombones can do? Malcolm Griffiths, Eje Thelin and Conny Bauer get their chance to lead a big band on a ‘free’ Ellington style number. A hoarded dream of Mr. Collier?

Part 5 is another long one and starts minimal with Tomasz Stańko getting all-experimental on a solo (with Ashley Brown getting busy on the drums). Very UnSafe as Roger Dean breaks down on the piano with Conny Bauer doing an ‘Alan Tomlinson’ of sorts. Not to be outdone, Wheeler, Surman, and Stanko join Bauer on a blow out at the end which sounds an unholy mess compared to, say, ‘Southern Freeez’.

‘Part 6’ is like a sax-lead version of ‘Part 5’ with Themen taking on all comers including John Schröder on guitar. Makes you wonder what Mr. Lamdin could do with a remix project if he wasn’t so busy releasing his own albums?

Talking of which, If you thought the Nostalgia 77 Octet’s live CD recorded live at the Jazz Café, Seven’s & Eight’s (which included a version of Collier’s ‘Down Another Road’) was good, Hoarded Dreams is even better.

As “jazz happens in real time, ONCE!”, it’s a good job someone recorded this and nearly 25 years on, a wider audience of jazz fans have finally “caught up” with the folks at Bracknell that day and the collective Hoarded Dreams of Graham Collier.

Reviewed: Graham Collier — Hoarded Dreams recorded live at the Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1983 (Cuneiform Records) Cat. No. Rune 252 Released: 07 Mar 2007
Credits: Guitar [Electric] — Ed Speight , John Schröder Producer, Composed By — Graham Collier Saxophone [Alto}, Flute [Alto] — Geoff Warren Saxophone [Tenor, Alto] — Juhanni Aaltonen Trombone — Conny Bauer , Eje Thelin , Malcolm Griffths Trumpet, Flugelhorn — Tomasz Stanko , Kenny Wheeler , Henry Lowther , Manfred Schoof , Ted Curson Tuba — Dave Powell Bass — Paul Bridge Piano — Roger Dean Drums, Percussion — Ashley Brown Saxophone [Tenor, Alto] — Matthias Schubert , Art Themen Saxophone [Baritone], Clarinet [Bass] — John Surman

Tracklisting:
1 Part 1 (2:53)
2 Part 2 (14:30)
3 Part 3 (11:21)
4 Part 4 (10:30)
5 Part 5 (14:35)
6 Part 6 (13:54)
7 Part 7 (2:30)

Links:
www.jazzcontinuum.com the web site of Graham Collier
www.myspace.com/raysjazz
www.foyles.co.uk

—Gerry Hectic
Saturday 21 April 2007

Review: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs) - EP2 (Schema Records)

Tema Due are back with the follow-up to EP1 - yep!  You've guessed it, the imaginatively entitled 'EP2' with the fantastically imaginative young Brazilian percussionist Gabriel Prado and pianist Pietro Lussu!

And those with good memories will recall that Pietro featured on Enrico Bracco's 'Flying In A Box' (see review HERE) and both of them featured on the Conte produced 'Italia' by Till Brönner (see review HERE).

So, you'll instantly recognise that 'EP2' is firmly in the Schema 'school' of "Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Latin and all points south of the Italian base of the label for many years" along with the likes of Gerardo Frisina, 'Insight' Vol. 2 (see review HERE).

Tema Due, Conte and Lahs, know Latin jazz dance and have also given Brazilian 'Far Out' favourite Nina Miranda on 'Share Your Love' and another jazz pianist, Giovanni Guidi but it's the heavy percussion on 'Galaxy Bloom' with Lonnie Liston Smith keys backed up with 'Praise To The Sunshine' that steels the show.

Now we're in the swing of things, there will be an EP3 to preceed the album; I wonder if they can think of a better title than 'EP1, EP2 & EP3'? 

BUY LINK: Music | Schema Records

Artist: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs)

Title:  EP2

Release date: 12th September, 2025

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC548

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Arrumar - Matsena LP (Ostowana)

When it comes to artwork, you know what they are about 'covers' and however cheeky a meerkat looks in silhouette, the simple truth is that this is 'the' Ostowana release you need as the summer fades away. 

Here's something that's awesome in many ways as a full nine tracks expand (most are in the 7-9 minute duraton) which includes a Indo-downtempo dub track 'Matsena' featuring Henrikraabe. 

And how can 'Africa Dzonga' sound so sunset sizzling with 'Naturalist' being No. 1 on the David Attenborough Autumn Chart.

Anyone watching the latest series of Alone in South Africa's Great Karoo Desert know will know how difficult it is to survive, but what Arrumar has managed to produce as a debut album that sits on the Afro-House vs. electronic escarpment of his home village of Bushbuckridge/Mapulaneng.

Did I say this is stunning?  A fantastic mix of modern and traditional that'll make sure this isn't the last time you'll hear Arrumar.

BBBBB

Artist: Arrumar

Title: Matsena LP 

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST134

Format: Digital

Event: TDE100 - London Exhibition - Celebrating The Art, Culture and Music of The Disco Express

The Disco Express train, now known as TDE 100 - London Exhibition has arrived at Platform Shoreditch "Celebrating The Art, Culture and Music of The Disco Express" and you don't want to miss this halt stop.

In a week that sees the release of Dirty Supercar's 'Get Down Boogie' that comes with the coup of a  John Morales Extended Remix (see review HERE), 2025 sees TDE from London to Paris, NYC, Amsterdam, Mexico City and beyond as the celebrations of #100 start to get into full swing/boiler box.

Starting with a landmark exhibition taking place at The Book Club in Shoreditch, this 4-day celebration will bring together our global community under one roof, running from Wednesday 17th September to Saturday 20th September 2025.

Upstairs at The Book Club, experience the warmth of vinyl each evening as DJs spin records from 5PM–10PM, followed by exclusive recorded club sets downstairs in the club room from our resident DJs from 9PM–12AM. These nightly soundscapes will set the tone for an unmissable week. This free exhibition will feature curated artwork from past events, vinyl releases, exclusive framed pieces, archival posters, and brand new merchandise available to purchase. Visitors can expect a dynamic visual and audio experience that celebrates The Disco Express' journey, from underground parties to global dance floors. The celebration will culminate in a blowout party at Metropolis on Saturday 20th September, reuniting our resident DJs from across the globe and bringing the TDE100 exhibition to an unforgetable close. Join us as we reflect, connect and keep the fire burning. And don't forget to check our interview with Tom Lilly of last year HERE.

P.S. If you're really stoked up for this, there's a one night only TDE at ADE as "a moving club train through the Netherlands, featuring three unique stages, a stacked international lineup, and a journey like no other".  It won't be run with an ex-BR Class 77 (withdrawn from the Netherlands in 1983) what a celebration: seven carriages, three stages, one moving train,

100 releases, 5 years, Infinite memories.

LONDON EXHIBITION: TDE100 - London Exhibition - Celebrating The Art, Culture and Music of The Disco Express at The Book Club, London

THE DISCO EXPRESS AT ADE: 23rd October 2025: TDE - Club Train by Night: Celebrating 100 Releases on The Disco Express at Amsterdam Central Station, Amsterdam · Tickets

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: 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