Review: Various - Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza (selected by DJ Alfredo) (Rebirth)

Alfredo Fiorito was an Argentinian DJ who has been credited as the "Father of the Balearic beat" after moving to Ibiza in the 70s and being 'discovered' by London centric 'big heads', Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Johnny Walker and Nicky Holloway as early Chicago house gets mixed with jazz-funk grooves and "Bob's your Uncle", we've had years of Balearic dancefloor cool.

After DJ Alfredo's sad passing last Christmas, it's taken a while to get an album that he was working on together that truely celebrates his legacy and the Island with a combination of tracks to give us that mix of ambient synth Italo lounge groove that'll fit in to any elongated Pikes session that other wise can link the likes of Nitzer Ebb, Fania Records' legend Willie Colón to one hit wonders like Funkapolitan and Mary Smith (yes, that one - if you don't know, don't bother to look her up). 

And that's often the beauty of the of the original scene of the foresight of what is 'Balearic' as it could stretch to Chris Rea whilst today, we've got dedicated label's with long histories like the pre-eminent NuNorthern Soul and they're that's releases like JILO's 'Mirage's Colours' (see review HERE) which also follows the equally essential Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE) and Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE).

Don't the road at Ibiza's 'Café del Mar', José Padilla (another originator who passed away in 2020) is represented by a A Man Called Adam mix of the track 'Still Waters'.  And you couldn't have a compilation with the presence of Andrew Weatherall (RIP), a remixes of the jazzy 'Fall' by Deep Joy and The Woodleigh Research Facility plus as The Sabres of Paradise.

DJ Alfredo, being a man for all seasons is represented by a couple of his own tracks, a collaboration with Cathy Battislessa and Arain 911 on the previously unreleased and poignant,  'Moral Of The Story'.

Equally such a compilation could not include 808 State's 'Pacific State' which itself has been included on 100s of comps but with my Charity Shop Classic hat on, what I do love about this is that you can also Mr Fingers and Penguin Cafe Orchestra alongside an unrelease Thrashing Doves track; 'Old Grey Whistle Test' anyone?

It's been said that this release "beautifully reflects Alfredo's musical life... well composed and a great selection!"; it's what he'd have loved too!

BUY LINK: Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza (selected by DJ Alfredo) | Various Artists | Rebirth Records

Cover image by Yves Uro. Artwork by sanchelife.com

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza (selected by DJ Alfredo) 

Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label : Rebirth
Catalog Number : REB131,REB057CD
Format:   2 x LP Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Artist: AgostaTitle: For TodayRelease date: 26th September, 2025Label : Space Echo RecordsCatalog Number LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Amazing modern Balearica form Space Echo Records with Agosta's album 'For Today' that's got dreamy dub, jazz, psych and trip hop elements to take it even further out to space.

A genre-defying album blending trip-hop, folk, indie rock, psychedelia, and electronic textures into a cinematic, emotionally rich soundscape.

A deeply introspective work, pairing poetic lyrics with themes of love, identity, and the human experience, all delivered with refined production and melodic depth.

Features five tracks with female collaborators, whose voices add emotional nuance, generational perspective, and lyrical sensitivity to the album’s narrative.

Balances vintage warmth and modern sound design, inviting listeners into a thoughtful, immersive experience that resonates both intellectually and emotionally.

Perfect timing for pre/post listening to the significant of DJ Alfredo's retrospective selections on the compilation, 'Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza' (see review HERE).

Artist: Agosta

Title: For Today

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label : Space Echo Records

Catalog Number  LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: BABON - Tropical Desert (Wonderwheel Recordings)

Indonesian instrumental jazz outfit BABON's album is fantastic atmospheric and cinematic instrumental that going to be a big, there's life in that 'Tropical Desert'!

To follow up previous singles, 'Wolter Waltz’ is "BABON's interpretation and tribute to one of Indonesia’s revolutionary heroes, Wolter Monginsidi. While many in Jakarta may recognize his name BABON peels back the layers of familiarity and reveals a more human and complex narrative. The waltz—a dance marked by elegance and tension - mirrors the struggle, luck, and resilience required to resist oppression and fight for independence. As the music builds in intensity, the track ends with three gunshots, symbolizing the tragic end of his life and the ultimate sacrifice he made for freedom".  

Now that's cinematic and somewhat unexpected after their single 'Deset Rose' / 'TNT' on Batov Records last year (see review HERE) but as the press says, they're inspired by "legendary Spaghetti Western composers like Piero Umiliani and Henry Mancini, Latin grooves reminiscent of Trio Los Panchos, Afro-funk, Middle Eastern influences from Elias Rahbani, and the soul-funk vibrations of Menahan Street Band."

The rest of this 10 track debut albumis just as good as the three singles.  The album starts like an upbeat desert 'Openness Trio' (by Nate Mercereau, Josh Johnson & Carlos Niño -see review HERE) with 'Bubuka' before getting into their-Batov-style with the previous single, 'Cacti Traveller'.

'Heat', 'Big Cat, Small Jungle' and 'Sawduzt' are brilliant as the band add elements of The Doors organ sound, 60s surf and Pulp Fiction OST; Oh! why not Herb Alpert too!  Get you're Marlboro's out for 'Tabacco Country' and ya 60s dancin' shoes on for 'The Chase' a la Randal & Hopkirk vs. The Prisoner. 

There's nine instrument tracks plus 'Pesan dari Gurun' that features Frau, a "well known voice on the Indonesian indie-folk scene" which is a perfect role in this setting, you could say, it's very much in the band's dramatic Wheel House (Ed. shouldn't that be, 'Wonderwheel House'?)

The album ends on the other single, 'Mirage' as a Morricone meets guitar twang which, at 6 mins kind of encapsulates the album's character, as at the same time, I'm thinking at some stage, this LP is going to be supptorting 'Album of the Year' stickers on it as it's pushes world-folk-jazz-funk-psych in all departments.

,

BUY LINK : https://ffm.to/tropical-desert.HGW

Artist: BABON

Title: Tropical Desert

Release date: 26th September, 2022

Label : Wonderwheel Recordings

Catalog Number : WONDERLP72

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Afrodream - Guiss Guiss (Rubik Music)

Wth members from Senegal, Argentina, France & Italy, Afrodream are a mini-WOMAD in themselves but as a whole, with the new album 'Guiss Guiss' it's a mini-Festival in itself.

Having played Glastonbury, Saalfeld Jazz Festical, Jazzahead and more, the Turnin based band's message of tolerance and understanding to the dance of Afrobeat, ethnojazz and tropical funk fusion is spreading far and wide.

Mostly sung in French, apart from the Française/English lyrics of the "declaration" of intent of the opening track, 'La musique de mélange'.  But this album is full of fun, life, movement and some killer horn.  This is typical Charlie Gillett (who sadly passed some 15 years ago now) who would have played this on BBC Radio London and the World Service without doubt; thankfully, Gilles Petterson and DJ GUTS are still with us spreading the word.

'Ma mère', 'Jambar' (translates as "warrior" in Wolof, as spoken in Senegal/W. Africa) and 'Ma belle” are all tributes to women whilst 'Afrotrip' and 'Bamako' are big crowd pleasers: particularly the rockin' 'Afrotrip'.

'Ethnique' is another call for love and unity and the eight track album closes with a ballad 'Où va le vent' which shows, as if we didn't know before, what great musicians these guys are.

WOMAD is back in Afr2026 so lets make sure Afrodream's dreams come true and get 'em on the bill.

Radio WOMAD 2024 - OVERNIGHT MIXES - Gerry Hectic - HERE

Artist: Afrodream
Title:  Guiss Guiss
Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label : Rubik Music

Catalog Number : RM003
Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound - Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood (DeepMatter Records)

Not usual to see trades in the NFL but there's a healthy respect between Vikings and Eagles so, musically, when the lead singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer best known for Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos (Minnesota) teams up with the Eraserhood Sound (aka Maxwell Perla & Vincent John of Philadelphia) we get ‘Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood’ that's deep into the golden era of soul.

Nine tracks drenched in that combine Jr. Thomas' vocals and songwritig with the production of the duo of Maxwell and Vincent in thier Philly studio (with was Questlove's at one stage!).

Fans of modern soul like the Cold Diamond & Mink at Timmion, Jalen Ngonda and Steven Bamidele (with the recent THE CRASH! album - see review HERE) with some great flute gang and vibrazone jazzy flavours.

Very different to the label's recent SHOLTO releases and Blue Earth Sound (see review HERE) but it'll be somewhere in the middle with 'Thank You Honey' and the Modern Room of 'Can't Leave You Alone'.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Jr. Thomas in The Eraserhood | Jr. Thomas

Vincent John – Bass, Guitar, Synth
Maxwell Perla – Drums, Auxiliary Percussion, Congas
Raynier Jacildo – Piano, B3 Hammond, Wurlitzer, Synth
Ron Kerber – Flute
Angelo Outlaw —Vibraphone
Turquoise Cobb – Backing vocals
Zeek Burse - Backing vocals
Thomas McDowall - lead vocals, backing vocals, synth

 

Artist: Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound 
Title:  Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Michael Reinboth – Morbus Mütze (Compost Records)

It's been over a year since we had a release by Michael Reinboth, but when they do come along, you know it's going to be a good 'un! 

Last seen with the single 'Let The Spirit' / 'RS6 Avant' (see review HERE), Reinboth is back with a 3 track EP of "techno-tinged, ocean-deep instrumentals" - 'Morbus Mütze' comes in two forms, 'Curable Piano Version' and 'Incurable Version'.  

I wonder how long he was looking for a "cure" for the incurable and what alturnatives he tried before settling on the piano; heavy Latin percussion?  Spacey synth house?   Either way, Dr. Michael has found his 'Morbus Mütze' (Ed. it's a 'secret' term used by doctors to describe patients with hypochondria. These are people who never actually have anything concrete to show for their condition, but constantly imagine that they do).

On the flip, he finds more inspiration in the medical science with 'Neurodiversity' that hits electronic connections all over the dancefloor that's dark on some listens and enlightening on others.

Michael Reinboth?  Just to re-cap, "After early Beanfield productions, circa 20 remixes (some old ones labelled simply Compost Remixes), more than 30 compilations and 30+ years of running Compost, a few 12”s under alter egos, Compost boss Michael Reinboth finally decides to liberate the alias and mystic".  I'd say, Beanfield were at their zenith 20 years ago with 'Tides' with Ripperton and Carl Craig remixes so it's great to have a more 'Reinboth' as a 'revival' of sorts and hopefully a full album soon(?)

BUY LINK: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/MichaelReinboth_MorbusMutze

Artist: Michael Reinboth

Title: Morbus Mütze

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 659-3

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bayside & Felmann - Funky Love EP (The Disco Express)

The Disco Express Train is now at station stop 99 with Bayside & Felmann's 'Funky Love' going on in the buffet car.

Dirty Supercar got down with their 'Get Down Boogie' a couple of weeks ago (see review HERE) and now they've gone for 3-carriage (track) EP is very much in the house/disco EMU a la Paris.

The set ends on a disco-funk-house with a 'Funky Love' as where Felmann's influence on Bayside is clear to hear whilst the other two tracks 'I Believe' and 'Darling' are disco'ed to the next level with the benefit of Alysaah on vocals.

This really fits the modern disco of The Disco Express ethos as it's amazingly 70s and 2025 all at the same time with we know Bustin' Loose (aka Tom Lilly) is a leader; don't forget our interview with Tom of last year, see HERE.

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

e & Felmann,Funky Love EPThe Disco Express,

Artist: Bayside & Felmann

Title: Funky Love EP
Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS99
Format:  Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: MF Robots - Children of the World (Good People Records)

Great to have MF Robots back with a new track to remind us that we are all 'Children of the World' to give us more quality soul-funk for the dancefloor and reflection.  

MF Robots build upon the success of first single ‘Hello Sunshine’ on their own imprint Good People Records (a joint venture with Republic Of Music) with ‘Children of the World’, the Afro-soul-funk fuelled second single taken from the forthcoming album III (three), out Feb 2026.

What a euphoric Afro-soul-funk filled release it is, filled with optimism, tight rhymes and inescapable grooves the band are known for.

Jan Kincaid, co-founder of MF Robots, comments : ‘Children of the World’ is a freewheeling fun ride, through a hazy summer block party, dancing, hanging out, a neighbourhood homage to simpler times, to innocence but also with a “Go get it, the world is YOURS” message to ourselves to not lose that youthful ,driving energy for life ,the sense that anything is possible ,that we have when we are younger and less burnt by a tricky world….”We wanted this to have a kind of feeling like a freewheeling bike ride at sunset, not really going anywhere In particular but with the sun on your skin ,losing yourself to a perfect moment”… Sunshine is indeed something you could think of a lot with this second single and the album to follow. MF Robots hope you enjoy this release as much as they did making it!

This release follow their 2021 ‘Break the Wall’ record which was released to rave reviews. Collaborating for the first time while recording and performing with one of the UK’s most successful Acid Jazz bands, The Brand New Heavies in 2013, founder / drummer Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph discovered immediate musical chemistry and began writing songs together right away. They soon left the band to concentrate on their own work, starting MF Robots (Music For Robots) and releasing an eponymous debut in 2018. The album was so well received that the duo soon morphed into a band as they found themselves in-demand at venues and festivals all over Europe including being personally invite on tour across Europe by Lenny Kravtiz, himself.

The forthcoming long player 'III' represents a new sonic and song benchmark for Jan and Dawn, reflecting the MF Robots project coalescing and maturing while fine-tuning their material, both on the road and in the studio.

BUY LINK: https://lnk.to/ChildrenOfTheWorld

Artist: MF Robots

Title: Children of the World 

Release Date: 25th September, 2023

Label: Good People Records

Catalog Number: TBC

Fomat:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Loxodrome - More Alive EP (Cyphon Recordings)

Regular readers will recognise the name Loxodrome and Jamie Odell (aka Jimpster) as one of the same (and many more) so you'll be excited to hear of 'More Alive' EP. 
 

So there was 30 years between 1994's 'The Loxodrome' EP and the follow-up, 'Drop Out' EP (see review HERE) that came out on Cyphon Recordings.  

Having a love of early electronic out of Detroit, of course, there's a revival of early "acid droppin' tech house" as it's never gone away with the durability of originals like Jeff Mills, Kirk Degiorgio (he of 'Ellate' - see review HERE) and upstarts like Infinity Plus One ('Reflexion' see review HERE) plus the emergence of 808/303 emulators. 

Less "Balearic Peech Bros, NYC than the previous EP", if your thinking this sounds like "Gobbleygook", head straight for the track called 'Gobbleygook' for deep scenic wobble board dance.  He's seemingly got a feel for this as the EP ends on another, this time called 'Rubbery Duck' - not to be found in Gerrard Street I hope.

'Call Me' is more jazz-funk tinged rain forest 'Jimpster' and 'More Alive' kicks off with proper movin-on train warp with spoken word a la Kameelah Waheed; whilst in reality it's Aurora Devereux who "delivers an otherworldly spoken word vocal".  

As a follow-on from the Jimpster remix this week on Session Victim's 'Side Quests - Chapter Two' EP (see reveiw HERE), Cyphon Recordings continue to keep their releases firmly on the dancefloor and this is another killer that's more alive.

BUY LINK: More Alive EP | Loxodrome | Jimpster

Artist: Loxodrome 
Title: More Alive EP
Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label: Cyphon
Catalog Number  CYP18
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Session Victim - Side Quests - Chapter Two (Delusions Of Grandeur)

In typical Delusions Of Grandeur style, Jimpster et al have elegantly succumed to Session Victims' 'Side Quests' with a new Chapter 2! 

It's been a while since Espen Horne's 'Bergen Sunrays' got the heavy synth treatment of a Session Victim remix (see review HERE) but not that long since 'Side Quests - Chapter One' took over the summer along with the label's own Medlar Remixes (see review HERE).

What can you expect of Chaper 2?  Well, it's pretty much more of the same but with collaborations (would that be a double up for chapter 2).  The 'Frits Wentink Remix' is replaced with a Jimpster Remix ('Behind The Glass'); Frits having his own 'Together' EP (see review HERE) and there's two tracks with NEBRASKA ('Hubcap Candy' and the wonderful rollin' like a train, 'Make It Happen').

I think I'll always prefer the original of 'Behind The Glass' that's also on this EP with the dubby jazz elements but Jimpster ups the pace for a latter in the night dancefloor way

And what's 'Too Soft To Be Loud' with Viken Arman all about.  It was said of Arman's debut album, 'building a bridge between the masterful beats of J Dilla, the hypnotic grooves of Ricardo Villalobos, the Free Jazz spirit of Sun Ra and the aura of French House'.  That was released in 2023 and what with the collab on Chapter One track, 'Pulse Of Memory' and Session Victim's remix of Viken's 'You With Me' early this year, this really does seem to be a stand out combo.

Being a "Berlin-Hamburg duo", Session Victim are experts in 2s and as I'm greedy, lets hope we get more or the NEBRASKA tracks too; come on DOG, lets make it happen!

BUY LINK: https://sessionvictim.bandcamp.com/album/sidequests-chapter-two-2

Artists: Session Victim

Release: Sidequests - Chapter Two

Release Date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Delusions Of Grandeur

Cat. No. DOC108

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp