Review: MOb - MOb II (Veego Records)

If you judged albums on thier titles, Mob's debu 'MOb' and this new follow-up album, 'MOb II' doesn't instill you with confidence that it will be cammed with punk-jazz rock energy with hip-hop influences - so you'd be wrong as this covers bases from Ornette Coleman to Throbbing Gristle to Killing Joke to Bill Laswell - you name it!

You'll recall previous releases on Veego Records, the jazz-folk of Kolida Babo (aka Socratis Votskos and Harris P (see review HERE) and the Volanis/Pagidas' 'Outsde The Long Walls' (see review HERE), so this is tottally different.  

If you missed MOb I, don't worry as what was hailed by the press "as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene... their music moves seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as an entire orchestra played by just three musicians". And I'm happy to say the 'MOb II' is doublely good as Mariothe trio of s Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) are aided by award-winning producer Bruno Ellingham (Massive Attack, Portishead) and guest Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev, aka Waking Monkey, on spoken word/rap with the single 'Tipping Point' plus 'Encounters.  'Encounters' is "enriched” by  , while Angelos Polychronou on percussion as is 'The Listener' that's on the edge of the spiritual Carlos Niño.

And talking of YATM favourites and spiritual, the dramatic 'Utu And Sin' is mixed by Malcolm Catto who was recently "seen" on Sven Wonder's new album along with Daniel Ögren (he of 

Dina Ögon!  (Ed. how often do we mention Mr. Catto?) 

Whilst there's no mass repeat of '4044' from the first album, MOb's Athenian spirit has ventured a long way from home, particularly the Walking Monkey contributions that move the compass further to New York's NUBLU (be prepared for JMMR - coming here soon) but '333' is close as it gets us ready to take off at Bullet Train space shuttle departing from Frankfurt railway station emulating their innere Kraut Rock.

Even then there's that Nu-Troop angularism mixed with some BRUK vibes mixed in with their version of punk-jazz, which is pretty close to the Acoustic Ladyland debut at their strongest.

Any fans of WeJazz, experimental and spiritual jazz and electronica, 'Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain' (see review HERE) will love this as it's mesmerising, hypnotic and essential all at the same time: a MOb remix . 

BUY LINK: https://promo.theorchard.com/kwZ1bUpEQbFFQLtDipwi

 The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa

Artist: MOb 

Title:  MOb II

Release date: 28th November, 2024 

Label : Veego Records

Catalog Number VR056

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Footshooter - The Oasis (Remixes) (Tru-Thoughts)

Time to start 'Folding' again with Footshooters big track of the summer now on the remix by Marla Kether as a  boomerang returns to South London with more remixes and instrumentals.

Last month we had Allysha Joy  and DJ Footshooter (aka Barney Whittaker) dropping the track 'Folding' from debut album for Tru-Thoughts, 'The Oasis' (see review HERE) as "jazzed up" by Marla Kether's remix and this month we get a four track package with 3 instrumental versions.

1. Boomerang feat. Native & Wilf Petherbridge (Last Nubian Remix)
2. Folding feat. Allysha Joy (Marla Kether Remix)
3. Surrey Canal Road feat. James Mollison (Fiyahdred Remix)
4. What You Saw feat. MA.MOYO & Mahon (Anja Ngozi Remix)

BUY LINK: The Oasis (Remixes) | Footshooter

Artist: Footshooter

Title: The Oasis (Remixes)

Release date: 25th November, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD686

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Cay Taylan - Oh, AuDHD (lobp.records2511)

You can't have a better introduction than Cay's:

"Earlier this year I was diagnosed with autism and adhd.  

What a beautiful and life changing moment. 

What's better than putting my whole self into music.

Here it is. 

Listen and enjoy".  

Regular readers will know that we do love a long track, whether it's B.J. Smith's recent version of 'Don't Be Cruel featuring Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn (on NuNorthern Soul - see review HERE) or yours truly with the extended version of BiggaBush's 'This River' (the Gerry Hectic Towpath Extension) on Tru-Thoughts; well here's another that's in that ball park as 'Feels Like Dancing For 15 Minutes By Myself On The Beach, While The Sun Goes Down' is, as you'd guess a quarter of an hour of dreamy Balearic beach beats.

But this isn't just a one-track album as the other 9 tracks, albeit not 15 minutes long each, are just as engaging particularly, for us spiritual martial artists with 'Be Water My Friend' being inspried by Bruce Lee's famous Kung Fu philosophy.

But this is not all internal dream on beach sequencies as contrasted by 'Hyperfixation (For Yousuke & Sathoshi)' that pony trots into the club along with the what it says on the tin, 'Predictable & Repetitive (For Maris Zimmermann)'.

'My Digitone 2 Took The Us In Hambu' and 'Summer, Stimming & Me' fall somewhere between the beach and head dancefloor and it's clear from the title track, 'AuDHD' that Cay Taylan is where he's most confortable musically.

Don't let this pass you by.  

Buy / Pre Order: https://caytaylan.bandcamp.com/album/oh-audhd-album

Artist: Cay Taylan

Title: Oh, AuDHD

Label: Lobp.Records
Release Date: 25th November, 2025

Cat No: lobp.records2511
Format: Digital

Web / Social Media Links:
www.caytaylan.com
caytaylan.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/caytaylan
youtube.com
facebook.com/caytaylan

Review: The Offline - La Grande Evasion (DeepMatter Records)

Get offline with the Offline and prepare for 'La Grande Evasion' - it's not all sunglasses and calm seas.

The Offline (aka Felix Müller) you'll recall released 'In Session' last year so this album 'La Grande Evasion' brings us a follow-up of more "hip-hop-leaning, library-tinged cinematic-world" focused goodies. 

Sounding like a live session, there's the deep Batov style of 'Boulevard National' and 'Nikonos V' edges on the Khruangbin but the single, 'Le Trip' takes us on a journey (possibly to 70s TV Theme) where Felix is aided by Kimo Eiserbeck on sax. 

The label are on a crest of a wave themselves after the release of SHOLTO's album 'The Sirens (see review HERE) but The Offline's 'soundtrack' is more south of France beach life and cool summer.

Clearly, this is an area where BBC's 6 Music DJs Huey Morgen and Deb Grant feel comfortable plus Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) and Somewhere Soul  (a fan of SHOLTO also and his own compilation, 'Rituals' see review HERE).

I've said it before, The Offline can add a sense of Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto and a host of your favourites from the Melbourne area (Surprise Chef, Robohands, Karate Boogaloo etc) so I'm expecting this to be just as popular.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (12" Black LP with Obi Strip): La grande évasion | The Offline

Artist: The Offline
Title:  La Grande Evasion 

Release date: 28th November, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : DMTO005

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Drums, Percussion - Chris Hill
Bass, Guitar, Additional Percussion, Mellotron, Moog, Solina Strings, Synths - Felix Müller
Rhodes, Piano, Organ - Felix Behrendt
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Hans-Christian Stephan
Flute, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Baritone Sax - Kimo Eiserbeck
Strings - M1

Review: Various Artists - Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.2 (feat. Lars Behrenroth, Session Victim mixes) (Deeppa Records)

Here's some deeppa deep house that represents 5 years of Deeppa Records on digital and 12" that includes Lars Behrenroth and Session Victim remixes!

When we reviewed Darryl Baaliki's 'Songs The Won't Be Silenced' (see review HERE) on Deeppa Records we didn't know that they'd put a shout out to Session Victrim (they of the 'Side Quests' series on Delusions of Grandeur - see review HERE) to do a remix of 'Heavenly Sweetness'. 

As good as that is, check out the other 4 tracks on this EP: Nutty Nys 'The Promise' with a huge Lars Behrenroth remix), Christophe Salin's 'The Visit', Thierry Tomas' 'My Smile' and Eloi's 'Take Your TIme'..

I know what you're thinking, if they got six perfect dance tracks from six different artists all on one 12" for Vol. 1, how come Vol. 2 is only 5?  Trust me, once you hear it, you'll be more than happy with this 5-some but don't take your time, it'll sell out just as quick as the last one!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: www.juno.co.uk

Deeppa Records · VA: Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years. Vol.2 [DEEPPA15] preview

Artist:Various Artists

Title:  Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.2  EP

Release date: 24th November, 2025

Label : Deeppa Records

Catalog Number : DEEPPA14

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.1 (feat. Laroye mix) (Deeppa Records)

Here's some deeppa disco-jazz-deep house that represents 5 years of Deeppa Records on digital and 12" that includes a Laroye remix!

Layroye, as in Msizee Laroja's 'Musu'Kuyenza' remix (see review HERE) on Trusted Rhythmn Records and on this release, he's trusted with Phillipa's 'We'd Rather Do It Like This' as a Cosmic Disco mix that's mighty jazz-funky with Johnny Hammond/Lonnie Liston Smith synthed up at a pace - Brilliant! 

New Zealand's Phillipa (now living in Berlin) has just been seen on Louis Baker's remixed 'Keep On' (see review HERE), 15 years of SlothBoogie (see review HERE) and Razor-N-Tape's 'Family Affair' compilation) is joined on this compilation by Sune ('Don Fetti'), 'Shaka ('That Spot Under The Sun'), Jehan ('Casino Aquatique'), Scruscru ('High Flyer') and I Gemin 'Inside Out').

If you're after some Flute Gang jazz-inspired Level 42 instrumental disco, 'The Spot Under The Sun' is a killer track whilt 'Casino Aquatique' has that has a beefed up St. Germain vibe and 'High Flyer' (featuing S. Timoshenko) gets down and Light of the World funky meets Bohannon disco at the pool party

The 'back in the day' spoken word staple is provided by 'Inside House' (Ed. did you see what they did there?) as 'Don Fetti' rounds off the six tracks.

I know what you're thinking, how do they get six perfect dance tracks from six different artists all on one 12"?  I don't know either but be sure to subcribed as this is just Volume 1!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: www.juno.co.uk

Deeppa Records · VA: Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years. Vol. 1 [DEEPPA14] preview

Artist:Various Artists

Title:  Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.1 (feat. Laroye mix)  

Release date: 24th November, 2025

Label : Deeppa Records

Catalog Number : DEEPPA14

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: NATE08 - Twenty Seven (Needwant)

Mumbai musician, session bass player, producer, DJ NATE08 brings us the full follow-up to the 2022 album 'Furaha' with 'TWENTY SEVEN.

You'll remember the single, 'Where Are You Tonight' (see review HERE with Dishaan and Mallika) and the previous single, 'You're The Reason' featuring Mary Alexander, so the album is more of Nate's style "smooth, deep basslines and laid-back grooves" that's definitely got a soul-pop immediacy to it; and loads of featured artists.

Nathan Thomas (aka NATE08) position as a DJ with the underground soul/R&B scene gives his a privileged knowledge of who will suit his tracks like 'Call Me Back (featuring Sahirah) is particualry 'hit' radio whilst, at the other extreme, who can a song about 'Afterlife' (featuring Dappest) be so upbeat and joyous? (Ed. not quite the place here to discuss the different cultural perspectives of life and death).

 

'Waiting' featuring Benni Ola, is a curious mix of slowed down late-night vocals with a bouncy house groove with some bhangra influence: this this might be the one for an extended 12" mix.

And here's where the album peaks for dancefloor action with 'What Was It' (featuring Jamla Bucanon), 'Say The Word' (feat. Niomi), hot summer groove of 'Diamonds' and another potential hit, 'Stay'..

I said that this needs a vinyl release and you can now pre-order it now.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER VINYL: https://bio.to/TwentySeven

Title: NATE08

Title: Twenty Seven

Release date: 28th November, 2025

Label : Needwant

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Vinyl (Black 140g) / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jazzanova - In Between (Deluxe Edition) (Sonar Kollektiv)

To conclude their year-long celebration of In Between, Jazzanova and Sonar Kollektiv proudly present the ultimate tribute to their landmark debut album: 'In Between (Deluxe Edition)'. This expansive collection captures the full legacy, creative impact, and ongoing evolution of a record that helped shape the sound of nu-jazz, broken beat, and future soul.

Originally released in 2002, 'In Between' redefined the possibilities of electronic jazz, blending intricate sampling with live instrumentation and featuring vocalists such as Clara Hill, Vikter Duplaix, Capitol A, and Ursula Rucker. Two decades later, its influence still resonates. The Deluxe Edition offers the most comprehensive exploration of this pivotal era in Jazzanova’s history—spanning nearly 70 tracks across five chapters...

1. In Between (Original Album)
The timeless 2002 debut that started it all—featuring iconic songs like No Use, Another New Day, Keep Falling, and Soon. A landmark blend of jazz, broken beat, soul, and electronic innovation. Described by PopMatters as “the essence and inexorable rise of the European nu-jazz sound” and hailed by AllMusic as “a work of real beauty” that elevated club culture with intricate musicality, In Between helped usher underground sounds into new spaces, far beyond smoky basements and coffee shops.

2. In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live - see the YATM review HERE
Recorded live at Little Big Beat Studios in 2024, this session features the Jazzanova Live Band alongside guests Wayne Snow, Clara Hill, and HEEN. Together, they reimagine the album’s sample-heavy origins with full-band energy and deep musicianship, offering a vibrant new perspective on the original material.

3. In Between (Remixes) - see the YATM review HERE
The 2025 remix compilation brings together producers from around the globe to reinterpret In Between through fresh, forward-looking lenses. Featuring standout remixes by Jacana People, Eric Hilton, Crackazat, Satin Jackets, Kid Fonque, Groove Chronicles, The KBCS, DJ Slowz, Nautilus, Magro, and Paskal & Urban Absolutes, this chapter bridges generations and genres— from deep house and nu-disco to future jazz and Afro-tinged electronica.

4. Singles & Rarities Collection (Pre-In Between)
A curated selection of Jazzanova’s formative works leading up to In Between —including sought-after tracks like Fedime’s Flight, Atabaque, Bohemian Sunset, Caravelle, Coffee Talk, Le Jardin Secret, and That Night (Original Single Version). These early gems showcase the group’s deep roots in jazz, house, and Afro-Latin rhythms.

5. Remixed (2003 Album)
The legendary 2003 remix album returns, gathering celebrated reworks from that era by artists such as Madlib, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Bugz in the Attic, King Britt, Vikter Duplaix, DJ DSL, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Domu, Moonstarr, Stereolab, and more. A defining snapshot of early 2000s nu-jazz and broken beat culture.

In Between (Deluxe Edition) is more than a retrospective—it’s a deep-dive anthology celebrating Jazzanova’s expansive sonic universe, their constant reinvention, and their enduring impact on global club and jazz culture. This is In Between—past, present, and future—assembled for the first time in its entirety.

The intro to 'That Night' really sums up the evolution of the whole project from the original release to the 4 additional formations: you can recreate the excitement of the times and the 12" remixes that litterally lit up Soho (and the rest of the known) Record Shop world. Vikter Duplaix, Stereolad or Madlib - this is generational!

Not cheap, but it'd make someone a very nice seasonal present.

BUY LINK: In Between (Deluxe Edition) | Jazzanova

Artist: Jazzanova

Title: In Between (Deluxe Edition)

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Lance Ferguson’s Rare Groove Spectrum - Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 3 (Tru Thoughts)

New  Zealand-born, Melbourne-based multi-hyphenate Lance Ferguson presents new album Rare Groove Spectrum Vol.3, a soulful, live-band journey covering classics and rarities in funk, jazz, latin, soul and beyond, fusing crate-digger sensibilities with modern studio craft.

We already acknowledged that the Australian music scene owes much to Lance Ferguson for high ligthing Melbourne with Kylie Auldist in the Bamboos, Cooking On 3 Burners (don't miss their first album in 6 years - see review HERE), Machines Always Win, Menagerie, The Ferguson Rogers Process and the Rare Groove Spectrum that is now on Volume 3.

You'll recall the cover version Billy Elish's 'My Future' that features the vocals of Rita Satch (see HERE - and her album, 'Meet Me In The Garden' - see review HERE) but it's interesting to consider whether this was a ploy to introduce older soul-funkers to the work of Ms. Elish or to get youngsters to enjoy the older classics that Ferguson introduces us to.

I did see the other day on a Social Media post that Idris Muhammad’s 1977 jazz-funk crossover hit, 'Could Heaven Ever Be Like This' as "little known" - really!  Well, if it is, it won't be after this version that's very respectful to the original. And not far behind, early jazz-funk "hit" 'Caveman Boogie' (original by Lesette Wilson) gets a workout a you may remember Bugz In The Attic remixed Gene Harris' 'Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong' 20 years ago so that might have dropped off some folks' radar as being a top Latin Blue Note track so interesting to hear Lance's version as more of Brazil '66 bossa.

And clearly he's big on digging like any hip-hop kid, so the extremes range from Library "god", Keith Mansfield with his 1975 'Hot Source' as already done by Hot Source; here as 'Oz Bump' with a great sax solo - KPM royalty.

And closer to the source is 'Runnin' (Earth, Wind & Fire) - wayoooooooo etc - and 'Fourty Days' (Billy Brooks / A Tribe Called Quest) - vous le vous - and Jimmy McGriff's 'Dig It'. 

The album opens with 'Dominoes', nothing to do with Donald Byrd but the Jungle track and in the 'every day a school day' envelope as Lance "also shines a light on homegrown legends with “Song For Bobby”, originally by ‘70s jazz-funk outfit Pyramid, featuring a heartfelt solo by Ross Irwin in tribute to the late Bobby Venier".

The whole album is great and will maintain Ferguson's favoured position on Craig Charles' 'Funk & Soul' Radio Show (BBC 6 Music) along with Huey Morgan, Gilles Peterson, Colin Parnell and loads more as it's much more than a 101 to jazz-funk-soul dancefloor greats. 

BUY LINK: Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3 | Lance Ferguson

Artist: Lance Ferguson’s Rare Groove Spectrum

Title: Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 3

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRU471

Format: LP / Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Or Kantor - Snake Island (Anova Music)

"'Snake Island' is more than an album—it's a mythic, imagined soundtrack to a film that only exists in memory, rendered in tones that shimmer like heat on stone", Anova Music know the twang is the thang!

If you remember Bubble Wrap Trap's album 'Enter The Bab' (see review HERE) and Shakti Soundsystem genre-blender of album (see review HERE), you might have some inkling of Or Kantor's cinematic OST to a film that never was as a tribute to a Mediterrean spaghetti western that surfs and psychs with spoken word poetry, twangy guitars and 60s mod-organ.

So this is 'Snake Island' that has built and evolved from Kantor's debut album, 'Sarda Sarda' (see review HERE) and you can throw Herb Alpert and Mulatu Astatke in with his other named influences, Gábor Szabó (jazz electric guitarist), Omar Khorshid (Eygptian electric guitar) and Dorothy Ashby (spiritual jazz harp); there's a touch of Delia Derbyshire going on too!

The spoken word poetry is a bit Twin Peaks meets Jeb Loy Nichols which is scary and a treat all at the same time, I can see why you'd want to 'Escape From Snake Island' (the closer and "all guns blasing" monster of the ten track album) but don't be put off as you'd want to buy a ticket to this "Fantasy Island" in the first place: remember Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo?

PS. For those that don't know, Johnny Sharoni, A&R at Anova Records, met Kantor during a tattoo session which led to his first album being released: you couldn't make it up.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Snake Island | Or Kantor

Artist:  Or Kantor

Title:  Snake Island

Release date: 21st November, 2025 

Label : Anova Music

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp