Math Rock/Jazz, progressive and contemporary as a trio! St. Barbe, manage to mix it up and come out the other side as a shoal sticks together; as on this new EP release, 'Shoal'.
The mixed genre world of jazz and rock, particulary math rock evolved from old jazzers in prog-rock bands, King Crimson, Colosseum etc so by the time you've got the extremes of The Mars Volta and Kneebody, who knows what Math Rock is? Luckily, guitarist James Maltby, and synth programming by him and drummer Floyer Sydenham, this EP the music moves from the raw and unfiltered hues of Julian Lage and Bill Frisell-inspired ballad ‘Dorothy’ (a track that's previously been 'Track of the Week' on Jazz FM), through to the ferocious, riff-led floor fillers ‘Pinch’ and ‘Shoal’.
'Pinch' features corto.alto (Mercury Prize nominees who were at the We Out There Festival a couple of years ago) sound more 'Freak Zone' and the closest thing to 'rock' is the opener 'Tierra'.
All the usual suspects will be supporting this one like Jazz on 3,BBC Radio 6's Deb Grant, Stuart Macione and Gilles Peterson (Note: at the time of writting, 2 out of 3 as it's only a matter of time in GPs case),Jazz FM and more plus the adventurous DJ jazz dance types; like fans of the Kneebody/Daedelus project, 'Kneedelus': now, that'd be a remix!
Don't forget this is a shoal the sticks together and sounds together.
Sababa 5 are back with a new album 'Çeva Va Ça Va' and it's exactly what you want to hear from them; Middle Eastern global funk!
The nine tracks on the album are mostly celebrations you'd hear and a wedding for total get up and dance events all but two written by the band: the two key exceptions being 'Ypárcho' (I Exist), "a beautiful instrumental journey inspired by a classic Greek song traditionally performed by Stelios Kazantzidis" and 'Asunsan' "an instrumental flip of the much-loved Sababa 5 collaboration 'Nasnusa' with Yurika Hanashima" (that we first heard on 'Kokoro' - see review HERE).
Fans of twangy surf guitars and mod organs will be super excited to have the band back to the bands' "a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sounds, layered with psych-soaked guitars, cosmic synths and heavy, driving grooves. A pure dose of party energy and nostalgia".
There's a Bandcamp listening party tomorrow night, 18th February, 8.00 GMT or the full release on Friday.
Not one but 'Deuce' as Manu Delago and Max ZT explore the handpan and the hammered dulcimer on this new 9-track album that's aimed at finding inner peace and beauty - and they're on a UK spring tour soon!
It doesn't take long before you're engrossed with the peaceful beauty of these Grammy-nominated innovators, Manu Delago (handpan) and Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) in this new partnership of sound.
Drawing on "a lifetime of lifetime of globl collaboration, deep improvisation, and refined compositional craft, the two virtuosos create immersive, meditativee soundscapes that unfold with both delicacy and drive".
Taking inspiration from the likes of Ravi Shankar, Alice Coltrane from the 60s/70s to the 1994 Grammy Award winner, Best World Music Album, for the improvisied, collaborative album 'A Meeting By The River' by Ry Cooder (bottleneck guitar) and V.M. Bhatt (Mohan Vina).
So there's form for this duo meeting of the minds, like a musical yin and yang as the full and empty stretch mediative sounds from nature to almost Greek/Mediteranian themes; '40/40'. This reminded me of when I first heard the pandrum in the early 20-10s (?) in a more contemporary/electronic jazz context of Mathew Halsall's Gondwana Records and Asaf Sirkis (Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble, John Law, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock and many more) and it can, at times, sound ambient electronic and here, mixed with the dulimer, eastern yogic. Other times, just great, like running through a field of corn in the countryside in the summer, 'Inhale'.
That said, it's unfair to focus on any single track as the album is more of an 'immersive' whole; albeit, 'Sweetspot', 'Pace' and 'Exhale' are a pretty good trio-run to the end.
The project seems totally natural and immediate, so its a little surprising to be told that. the duo met almost 10 years ago when Manu Delago was touring in the US. “Originally we started with improvisation, but over the years we developed various compositions. Last year we finally found the perfect time and space to record the music, in an amazing 18th-century space in an even older monastery in the Alps. A duo facing each other where both members had just turned 40? We had to call the album Deuce” remembers Manu Delago".
Both players are not only in tune with one another, Manu has played drums/handpans with diverse artists as Björk, Anoushka Shankar, The Cinematic Orchestra and performed as soloist with the Metropole Orkest, London Symphony Orchestra as well as award winning album and film scores plus green credentials; in 2021, he, his band and crew cycled 1500 kilometers across Europe as part of his Re:cycled tour..
Max ZT, has been called, “The Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer” with a "lifetime of global study and innovation" having being an apprentice with Senegal’s revered Cissoko Griot family and studying under the legendary Pandit Shivkumar Sharma in India. Also having collaborated with a load of diverse musicians, releasing lots of albums including his most recent, 'On Becoming' being nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards.
Hardly surprising then that when these two guys got together to produce 'Deuce' it has been said, that this album feels both ancient and new at the same time. Yet another duplciity, but there's no deciet here, just beautiful sounds on a beautiful album.
29 March - Milton Court, London 31 March - Band on the Wall, Manchester 1 April - Old Woolen, Leeds 2 April - St George’s, Bristol 3 April - Brewery Arts, Kendal 4 April - St John’s, Cardiff 5 April - Lansdown Hall, Stroud
Artist: Manu Delago & Max ZT
Title: Deuce Release date: 20th February, 2026 Label : Session Work Records Catalog Number TBC Format: Digital
Eric Hilton has 30-plus years as a producer, co-founder of Theivery Corporation and all that experience has been channelled into his new album, 'A Sky So Close' that's as reflective as the title!
We've been waiting for this album since last summer when the single, 'Midnight Ragas' featuring Natalia Clavier and Puma Ptah, (see review HERE) as it promised the groove for the other 11 tracks on the album to follow.
And indeed, it does as "reluctant" bass player Hilton, gets all his downtempo trip-hop jazz lined up for "a journey to a place of sensual attainment"; much like the vocalist on 'Midnight Ragas' and particularly his long-time associate Clavier on equally beautiful 'Lalitā' with it's "concoction of sitar and HIndi chanting" and 'The Dharma Lovers'.
Far more 90s Asian Underground than, say, Shakti Soundsystem (see review HERE) with tracks like 'Pondering Soul' and the Italo-crime cinematic downtempo 'Get Carter' theme of the title track.
If you think he's lost the cool of the TC fanbase, 'Ghatam' and 'Kali' tie it all together along with the closing track, 'The Lotus Game'.
In addition to the new album, super fans might know that he's also been working on a collaboration with Berlin-based company RESØR, who has put together Hilton's personally spec of hand-crafted rotary mixers as a limited edition of 50. A little out of the YATM office price range but this album will sound just as good on a soundsystem of your choosing
A perfect start to the resolution filled start of the New Year to give your inner soul some priority - did I mention the "desi-meets-drum and bass" of 'The Emeral Door'?
Love is in the air as the Jake Mason Trio encapsulate that late 60s/early 70s Mod/Soul/Jazz spirit that can extends Blue Note sleaze funk to lounge jazz - and who does love that? They've even got US jazz singer heart-throb, Kurt Elling to sing on the title track!
Whether it be Blue Note's organ star turns Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, Larry Young (and we'll throw in Grant Green for good measure) to organ led prog-rockers ELP, there is something special with Hammond B3 led trios; and Jake Mason and his two mates, are indeed perfect companions as the long awaited follow up to their debut album, 'The Stranger In The Mirror'.
And in addition to Danny Fischer (drums) and James Sherlock (guitar) they've managed to get international jazz singing star Kurt Elling to sing on the title track, 'The Modern Ark' is a nu-Mod classic. Back in the day, used to play-out track from Kurt's 2011 album, 'The Gate' so this guy knows how to swing.
The other guest vocal is on 'Stop Searching For Love' featuring Kate Ceberano as a downtempo ballad and there's one or two slower tracks on the ten track album which is in keeping with the Jimmy Smith 'school'.
Equally "in keeping" is the fast pace opener 'The Last Piece', the dancey 'Boogaloo Popcorn' and 'Green Pick' (Ed. wonder who inspired that one?)
But hang on, even though this is so much more than a one trrack album, you need this for the killer final track 'Here's Your Change' - It's a shame that it's not longer but is that Aussie humour in the title?
Pretty much a perfect follow up to 'Cookin' The Books' by Cookin' On 3 Burners (see review HERE) for the Soul Messin' label; and why did it take so long to be released? Don't know but we're told it was recorded 'live' like they did at Blue Note and it's got that Van Gelder Studio sound - no wonder it's so good!
New York based composer / producer / drummer Zachary Berns declares 'Oh Yes!' from the jazz n' choir meets house that sits between gospel at one extreme and classical at another!
The title track 'Oh Yes' reminds me of a church choir in amongst the setting for the famous black-and-white photograph of 57 jazz musicians, 'A Great Day In Harlem' (Art Kane for Esquire magazine in 1958) as a modern studio production. A track counter balanced by a jazzy classical cut up called 'Living Room' and the opener 'Shadows' with the trust of the live drumming and a service call bell for supper's ready.
This EP has the genre skipping cool that's over K&D/Ninja Tune/house edits to jazzdance clubs.
Any of these tracks would fit musically on the album, 'Apparel Music: B-Day 15' (see review HERE: if not on the time-line) and this will equally cross-over with any jazz-fused crowd so it's big in our world.
P.S. Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM, Gooner and more) is a fan - see below.
Our last feature on MATE was Bress Underground's 'Take Me Higher' EP (see review HERE) and as excellent as that is, you're not going find any bigger flute gang monster than 'Love & Pain' gives us for some Latin inspired house shuffle.
Brilliant stuff and it's backed up with some 'Sonic Of Joy' with vocals from Eve that's "jazzy synth work and swaying, vibey grooves that show off some serious piano chops" and a big saxy solo.
Anything else is a bonus, 'Inner Balance' is more than that too as there's echoes of jazz-funk dance with big organ and a heavy Jonnny Hammond touch (with acid!)
Spain is full of deep house experts but as this is only the 22nd release on the label, definitely ones to get up to date with and follow.
Mornin' as Eshach opens his 'Ada' EP from the beautiful soundscape of a garden in Porto, awaiting the school bell to stop and let the birds sing!
That's how the debut release from producer and composer Eshach starts this EP (with 'Intro (Bingin') as the other three tracks mark "a refined and confident entry into the electronic music landscape. Melodic, cinematic, and soulful to the core, Ada is a carefully curated introduction to Eshach’s world… one where emotion, groove, and storytelling coexist across four distinct yet cohesive tracks".
The title track, 'Ada' continues the link to the outdoors with more twittering birds in the background but the location moves to more of a workshop environment with factory banging sheet metal/bottle shop that turns echoy dub but without getting industrial; quite the opposite, as it rolls on a funky baseline.
Wasn't expect an Afro-house switch with 'Am I Here' but you can't go wrong with a bit of flamingo jazz flute gang business and then to finish off, 'Piantito' that's arguably more mainrom as it references some of the the elements in the other three track with a melodic theme that weaves pictures around your head.
We're told this EP "represents the beginning of Eshach’s solo journey… an assured debut that balances club functionality with musical storytelling" and YATM are happy to agree.
25th Anniversary Mixes! No way - some of us weren't even born in 2000 when the original track came out on Central Park Recordings, Bowery, New York; how has that resurfaced with remixes in 2026?
It's hard to remember a time when there were masses of records store in towns and cities everywhere and in particular, New York was the home of loads with a need to serve DJs and clubs. At that time Satellite Records was connected the the Satellite Records store and one of the sub-labels fell on a deep house hit by Alistair Colling that needed a vocal and were lucky enough to gett Tortured Soul's frontman and songwriter John-Christian Urich to write it.
Not only that, 'I love you' and 'la la lahs' were elevated to a feel good classic level with Sabina Sciubba (then of Brazillian Girls) to record the vocals plus remixes by another Brooklyn stalwart Jon Culter (a regular name on the wall of London record shop racks and opened 60 Million Postcards at about this time!)
No only is it a classic that's stood the test of time, the re-issue is connected with today's Razor N Tape is the co-founder JKriv (who was Tortured Soul's bassist and collaborator of 10 years) so who better to revive this one and with his networking abilities he's got the strong-arms of New York house 'names/, Musclecars (as in 'Dubble Honey Pack' - see review HERE) and another remix legend, DJ Spinna (as in Galatic Soul and 'The Sound Beyond Stars: The Essential Remixes - see review HERE).
In terms of the vinyl that's available on pre-order, there's the Galatic Soul Remix and what sounds like a heavy-weigh musclecars remix on the A-side. Along with the original mix, along with some franciase, there's Jon Cutler's Distant music mix on the flip.
If quantity is you thing, the digital also includes instrumentals of DJ Spinna and musclecars plus the original Jon Cutler mixes giving you 9 versions including the original and the little known Alistair Colling Breakbeat Mix.
Superb way to start the new year and one that'll will last another 25 years in clubs and at home.
Once more we return to the dichotom of yin and yang, darkness and light, peace and war etc - but this time as an 11 track study of electronic sounds that's been produced by the Oscilloscope!
Released on Bandcamp Friday, the Oscilloscope (aka Jason Cooke - he of Comedy Balloon and Charity Shop Classics on All FM) recorded these tracks in the January 2026, mostly "in one take, although some had additional pads and solos added in post production" and you'd never know as there's hardly any element of time contraint; mostly gentle soundscapes that'll any electronic influences of the likes of Ravi Shankar, Alice and John Coltrane from the spiritually enlightened 60s/70s.
Perhaps 'Back To Work' is more 'industrial' (with a small 'I') getting into Tangerine Dream more than Kraftwerk; bearing in mind it was recorded at the Institute Of Psychedelectronics, Manchester and mixed Rhosneigr Beach,Anglesey.Of Psyche (Ed. note his connection with 'Comedy Balloon')
Of course, there's the obligatory space themes (more of the Star Trek than modern today Musk) with 'Return To The Space' and 'Full Of Stars' but this is no vanity project as it's complimentry to Manu Delago & Max ZT forthcoming duet, 'Deuce' and duo of Ben Seretan and Jake Thayer and their formcoming album, 'Sunbean Of No Illusion'.
I must admit, I prefer the longer, more Edgar Froese / Klaus Schulze Kraut-synth tracks 'Prologue - The Action Is The Decision' and 'Erebus Rising' but as in the Light vs. Darkness envelope, tracks like 'Proton' and 'Stylo' are the other side of the coin toss mind of the ever changing Oscilloscope.
"Great stuff" as a wise man once said - recommended.
Title: There Is Always Darkness, There Is Always Light Release date: 6th February, 2026 Label : Independent Catalog Number TBC Format: Digital / BANDCAMP
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