Review: Pete Bandit - Trying & Crying (Dirt Crew Recordings)

Happy to report that the new EP by Pete Bandit is neither 'Trying' or 'Crying' as he return to Dirty Crew Recordings with this four track ambush on the dancefloor! 

After Bandit's 2022 EP “Wild Feelings” and contributions to our 20th anniversary compilation and remixing 'Petals In Sound', here are four more deep house treats that are 'Dutch-Berlin' if there is such a thing; especially Dr. Sud's Broken Dreams remix of 'No Control', as are all the NYC/Detroit influences.

The EP is meant to be more club-oriented than his previous work as the cover artwork alludes to(?) 

The title track, 'Trying & Crying' is a deep excursion into solid deep New York style house from the mid 90s. As well as 'No Control (Let Loose)', where a haunting vocal sample and lush pads and keys really pull us back to that golden era of house music. 

'The Meat Computer' adds a more solid Bass Line and this “spiritual” touch with its great percussion parts, which are rougher and feature a more forward-pushing arrangement. Closing out we have a special guest appearance by Dr. Sud. known for his deep jazzy outings on labels such as 'Cognitiva Records' and 'Q1E2'. He elevates “No Control (Let Loose)” in a special break beat and percussion frenzy, going deep, very smooth and beautiful!

All tracks were mixed by Ariel Schlichter and mastered by Salz Mastering in Cologne.

BUY LINK: https://ffm.to/dirt158

Artist: Pete Bandit

Title:   Trying & Crying EP

Release date: 10th April, 2026

Label : Dirt Crew

Catalog Number: Dirt158

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Ben Hixon - Vision EP (NDATL Muzik)

You know NDATL is shorthand for  NYC/Detroit/Atlanta-based Kai Alcé so here's his latest vision, Ben Hixon...  and it's his best (ear test) yet!

For the past 5 years or so, Hixon has been making a name for himself on his hometown label Dolfin Records out of Dallas, Texas,  And of late there's been a collabs with JT Donaldson and Stefan Ringer so you know it's not going to be too long before the likes Wolf Music gives him a call but it happens that Kai Alcé got there first.

And it's luck he did as if anyone knows Theo Parrish/Moodyman DNA, it's Alcé and this is that as it's six classic(y) tracks that go from 'Disco to Disco' to minimal deep house finding his "perfect sweet spot between immersice atmosphers and late-night drive".

From the opener, 'Taping' it pumps a Parrish style keys chord that could go on forever and you'd always be happy.   This is in sharp contrast/complementry to the stuttery 'Area Code 336 Phone Rings' with the cut-up sample express train meets Augustus Pablo (there could be a full-on dub remix in there somewhere). Whilst 'December Blackout' is where jazz stars twinkle on piano with space synths.

So if you're looking for a "lead" track head for 'Its Like A Vision which captures all I've said above, but for me, 'Y Do U Get So Nervous' has got me heading for my Whirlpool Productions 'Disco To Diso' as its "nagging vocal hooks... and wet finger clicks" nearly take us all the way.

The EP ends on '0823' which takes us on a shorter trip but this journey could go on forever - this will be a much sort after release and Hixon will be a 2026 name as "Life is good after a session"!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.phonicarecords.com/product/ben-hixon-vision-ep-ndatl-muzik/210279

Artist:  Ben Hixon 

Title: Vision EP 
Release date: 10th April, 2026
Label: NDATL Muzik
Catalog Number  TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Lovebirds - They Call Me EP (Winding Road Records)

Lovebirds (aka Sebastian  Döring) has been doing his thing for many a year now but this "slinky 3 track 12" has been the first on Winding Road since the hit 'Want You In My Soul' in 2011.

You'll recall 'Want You In My Soul' featured the vocals of Stee Downs who first came to light on the release of 'Put A Little Love In My Soul' on Sonar Kollektiv (that was a big track for DJ Gilles Peterson back in the day; that's 2009).

There's a phased release before the 12":

• ‘They Call Me’ is a funk-fuelled Detroit style jam with bluesy vocals, solid beat, rasping horns, and live bass from Declan MacDermott who you'll recall from his 'Doin' It All 4 U' EP on Delusions of Grandeur (inc. Tom Trago and lovetempo remixes - see review HERE). (Digital release date: 20 February 2026)

• ‘Smooth & Fatfree’ is a silky downtempo groover with the fattest bass this side of Berlin, heavy 80s beats, and super smooth keys. (Digital release date: 13 March 2026)

• ‘Bali Birds’ is a slinky deep house groove, with a hypnotic bassline nestling between mellow chords, reminiscent of Super Discount vibes. (Digital release date: 3 April 2026)

‘Bali Birds’ is featured on Colour & Pitch sessions, March 2026 with Will Sumsuch (see below)..

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: They Call Me EP | Lovebirds | Winding Road Records

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - February 2026

Artist: Lovebirds

Title: 

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - February 2026

mily: arial;">They Call Me EP

Release date: 3rd April, 2026

Label: Winding Road Records

Catalog Number: ROAD033

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Kiiōtō - Warpaint b/w Little Axe (Kiioto Records)

If Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM) says it's, "spine-tingling" you be sure to be prepared to have your spine tingled with the duo, Kiiōtō!

Bundled together with the stunning 'Little Axe', 'Warpaint' is the third and final single before the release of Kiiōtō's forthcoming album 'Black Salt', out on April 17th.

A woman in a man’s world

Pullin’ a punch in every breath

Paint a rosy smile upon my face

While I fight at every step.

'Warpaint' tells of a woman’s struggle to stay strong amidst the challenges of being female in a world that remains, for the most part, male dominated: allowing vulnerabilty to shine through only when safe. With its vintage soul leanings (featuring Amy Winehouse guitarist Hawi Gondwe) there are echos of Aretha Franklin’s 'Natural Woman', written by the legendary Carole King. Warpaint is imbued with a similar timelessness, Rhodes’ vocal soaring over Heath’s soulful piano.

Third single from the upcoming album 'BLACK SALT', 'Warpaint' is backed with B-side 'Little Axe', a song that tells of the pressures of raising young men in an urban lansdcape. Opening on a spaciously reverbed Wurli, before kicking into a soundscape that evokes Khruangbin and Curtis Mayfield in equal measure, the lyric evolves toward an impassioned guitar and string-driven climax.

Kiiōtō are Mercury Music Prize nominated singer/songwriter Lou Rhodes, formerly of Lamb, and multi-award winning pianist/songwriter, Rohan Heath. Their debut album, 'As Dust We Rise', was released in July 2024 to positive reviews in Mojo and Uncut, and support at BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 4 and Gilles Peterson's Worldwide FM.

"...spine-tingling..." - Dom Servini, Jazz FM

"...pure class..." - Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Black Salt | Kiiōtō

Artist: Kiiōtō

Title: Warpaint b/w Little Axe

Release date: 3rd April, 2025

Label: Kiioto Records

Catalog Number: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Lay-Far Dance Orchestra - Skybreak (In-Beat-Ween Music)

The sky is has been broken by the Lay-Far Dance Orchestra with 'Skybreak' - think the best Peterson/Forge Dingwalls session ever - yep, this is it!

Hard to believe, even for us long-time fans of Lay-Far at YATM (see review HERE from 2016) that he's gone and got himself an 'Orchestra' and moved away from his remixes that "never disappoints"; as with his remix of 'Origins' (see review HERE). 

But could there be a better time "join thee dots between jazz and dub, techno and soul, funk and house" for Lay-Far (aka Alexander Leyfa) as is joined seasoned jazz professionals: Michail Fotchenkov (drums), Viktor Glazunov (percussion), Timur Nekrasov (sax, flute) and Maxim Glonti (keys),  

So on the face of it, you'd imagine it's going to be a jazz-funk base with spaced out synths at the soulful end with BRUK boarders to edge the acid funk.  And it is all that, particularly on 'Where You From' and can also reach deep into his Russio-Boom-Bap with the fantastic 'The Harp Of Boom' which also echoes the Melbourne/Naarm cinematic/beats/jazz/hip-hop scene that's as energenic as ever.

Because Lay-far has been so active a DJ/producter/remixer having appear of countess label's his contact book is very big so we've got Seven Davis Jr. (on 'Aquarious Love' that's not a 60s hippy trip but more like a heavy Billy Cobham doing 'Gabriel'!), Antoha MC on 'Feel The Moment' that adds jazz-skat to an Lonnie Liston Smith at Earth Wind & Fire before the set ends with Russian DJ/Producer Lipelis and his dreamer vision of 'Where You From'.

The 'Where You From', the original version, is deeper into late 70s/early 80s Brit-funk of Light Of The World/Beggar & Co. ('Rising Sun' on the office decks earlier by coincidence) but, with a nod to Space-disco Atmosphere and Lonnie Liston Smith again, 'Take Flight' (Part 1) and 'Take Flight (Part 2) are a supa 12" in themselves as a 10 minute special.

And whilst 'Soul Constant' doesn't sound it, what a fantastic flute gang jazz dance monster it is: proper 100mph major tune.

So, not one duff track to report so think Soul Weekender/Caister/Canvey/Jazz Rooms and all the other great events you'd love to hear  this at and would you believe it, there's a very limited audiophile 1⁄4” tape edition too! 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Vinyl (27th March)  https://band.link/skybreak

Artist: Lay-Far Dance Orchestra 

Title:  Skybreak

Release date: 3rd April, 2026

Label : In-Beat-Ween Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp / on limited edition audiophile 1⁄4” tape.

Review: BCUC - The Road Is Never Easy (Outhere Records)

I don't think anyone will be surprised that BCUC, as leaders in "Afropsychedelic funk, Indigenous punk, dub, gospel, hip-hop" out of the Soweto township environment would find that, 'The Road Is Never Easy'!

It might be 3 years since BCUC released the album 'Millions Of Us' (see review HERE) with the Gaudi’s remix of 'Thonga Lami’ (see HERE) but they are still a big sound to get your head around.

I can't think of a label with a better name for 'Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousnes' than Outhere Records and the album is produced by produced by Outhere's Jay Rutledge.

The ten tracks move "between revolutionary urgency and moments of soothing compassion, drawing on the voices of ancestors and the spirit of the community — street poetry rooted in history, always arriving at hope".

Easy to believe these guys have been together for 20 years as there is a (seemingly) effortless live energy to the set for there Outhere debut album (but fifth in total) so it's easy to see way they won the 2023 WOMEX Artist Award when they toured US and Europe.

WOMAD is back this year and BCUC would be a perfect way to celebrate with as 'The Road Is Never Easy'. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The road is never easy | BCUC

Artist: BCUC

Title: The Road Is Never Easy

Release Date: 3rd April, 2026

Label : Outhere Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: JNBO & Friends - JNBO & Friends (College Of Knowledge Records)

There's one thing Henry Jenkins hass lots of is musical friends and the album 'JNBO & Friends' is a celebration showcasing all of Melbourne/Naarm best in cinematic, instrumental OST grooves and beats!
 

You'll recall Henry Jenkins co-produced Owelu Dreamhouse's debut album from earlier this year (see review HERE) but he's got many avenues in the Melbourne/Naarm area where he's based where he's a composer, producer and bass player.  Best known as the in-house engineer at College Of Knowledge Records and the producer behind Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, and the Grammy-nominated Frollen Music Library (see HERE).

Utilizing collaborators from Karate Boogaloo, Surprise Chef and The Cactus Channel and having "a fixed ensemble of eight instruments — a self-imposed creative constraint, Jenkins used to explore how much variation he could draw from the same personnel and setup across 12 tracks".

And for OST/library diggers after rare "head nodding" funk they musically develop "picturesque ambience" with "three guitars and three keyboards precisely arranged across the stereo field — drawing on the influences of Bernard Herrmann, Les Baxter and Lamont Dozier while maintaining an unmistakably eccentric voice of its own".

If you know the previous singles, 'Missing' and 'Dogs' you'll have a good idea as to what to expect - but don't count your chucks too soon as 'False Cuts' is out-there all with 'Blood Nose' bush tucker noir and the Prog-ish 'Name' (shame it's so short).

From the album cover photo, this is a bit of a carnival ride but thankfully more ups (and more ups) than downs (under). 

BUY LNK / PRE-ORDER: & Friends | Jnbo

Artist: JNBO & Friends

Title:  JNBO & Friends

Release date: 3rd April, 2026

Label : College Of Knowledge Records

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Drums - H. Whitlock
Bass - H. Jenkins
Guitar - (Centre) D. Thor
Guitar - (Left) L. Stuckey
Guitar - (Right) L. Coleman
Piano - L. Douglas
Solina String Ensemble - J. Curtin
Hammond Organ - C. Riley

Composer - H. Jenkins

Review: Mark Adams & The Ubiquity Band - This Is Neo Soul (DownJazz Records)

Just to be clear, this is not a band from Ubiquity Records, it is The Ubiquity Band! As in Roy Ayers

Much loved Roy Ayers was the foremost visionary of jazz-funk as composer, producer, label founder, vibraphonist and leader of The Ubiquity Band.  That said, you can't do this all on your own and Roy's band Musical Director, Mark Adams heads up this new 10 track album.

So who is Mark Adams? He's been The Ubiquity Bands' MD for 25 years he's the keyboardist and leads Chris DeCarmine (drums), lead vocalist Jonn Pressle and bass players Donald Nicks and Chulo Gatewood plus guests Monty Croft on vibes, who has worked with Gladys Knight, Lonnie Liston Smith's guitarist Bill White on guitar and Chic vocalist Kimberly Davis.

This is all well and good, but can you step into Roy's shoes?   Of course not and thankfully that's not the question here as ‘This is Neo-Soul’ has been a work in progress of three years (Roy passed in March of last year) and the idea is to pay homage to the greats of 70s neo-soul like Roy.  

And once you've wrapped your head around that this is no Ayers or 'Virgin Ubiquity', the album is great as re-worked classics from the statement opener 'Sweet Tears' to the deep cut jazz 'Day Dreaming', the all-time classic, Liston Smith's 'Expansions' and the gospel-jazz soul of 'Don't Look Back'.

Lots of 70s soul and jazz-funk flavas here but especially on the closing track 'Dre's World' (originally on Mark's 2009 solo album 'Something's Going On') as an extended track with a la Ronnie Law sax (Mark had toured with Mr. Laws!) and some great keys - one to watch out for on the remix album 

Some work better than others like 'Don't Stop (The Feeling)' comes over as a bit of a live jam and that's appropriate as Ayers' himself was touring the world into his 80s and it seems the last word should be from his familay on the announcement of his passing:

"It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4th, 2025 in New York City after a long illness. He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming”.

'This Is Neo Soul' is just another part in that celebration of life; "Don't look back, Don't look down".

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: "This is Neo-Soul" | Mark Adams | Down Jazz

Artist: Mark Adams & The Ubiquity Band 

Title: This Is Neo Soul
Release date: 20th March, 2026
Label : Downjazz Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Alexander IV - Alchemist (Sonar Kollektiv)

Alexander IV returns to the musical pot where the Dutch producer, multi-instrumentalist and beat-maker Joris Feiertag presides as head 'Alchemist' on this new 13 track album. 

We said in the review of the singles, ' Touch of Gold' / 'All I Have to Say' (see HERE) that those for a mix of Mr. Scruff, Kruder & Dorfmeister, SAULT and perhaps to a lesser degree, upstarts like Emile & The Education's 'Lamad'  (see review HERE) or indeed as Joris' other alter-ego Feiertag (see HERE), you can see why his alchemy covers such a range.   

And in doing so, the album includes lots of guests "incredients", like the soulful 'This Won’t Do' featuring Cézanne, 'Now, Pause…' (Ursula Rucker, she of original Jazzanova 'In-Between' album: see HERE) another old friend, flute gang regular Pete Josef on the Afrobeat electro-jazz-dub-funker, 'Long Way From Home'.

And just to prove he's got a long range, out of nowhere British vocalist Oli Hannaford turns up on the beautiful, 'Time Of Day' as a Bill Withers does old-skool bossa nova to a Spanish guitar loop; there's your summer radio hit.

'Touch of Gold' opens and sets the tone for the album with it's "cinematic jazz sample, a head-fake of an intro, and a signature beat flip that balances elegance with grit" Joris says, “I absolutely loved making this track and it came together quickly and naturally”.

You'll recall we said 'All I Have To Say' gives in another dusting down of Mr.Scruff's / Moondog's song 'Lament I, 'Bird's Lament' / 'Get A Move On' which is  where 'All I Have To Say' comes in as "a smoky, late-night instrumental that fuses dusty jazz textures with Dilla-inspired swing". Sitting somewhere between Roy Hargrove and J Dilla in a seedy Soho basement, it’s a raw, reflective track that continues the album’s jazz and hip-hop conversation".

'Bop' pumps it up in the hip-hop jazz club a la mode a go-go and would you believe 'La Parisienne' is similar mix of slo-mo Paris-Nice spring classic jazz and The French Connection.

So expect lots more alchemy with the album as this is going to be so "Hoxton to Berlin to We Jazz" as more Mr.Scruff, more Gilles Peterson, more Will Sumsuch and even more Gerry Hectic!

BUY LINK: https://sonarkollektiv.lnk.to/Alchemist

Artist: Alexander IV

Title: Alchemist 

Release date: 27th March, 2026

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK545 LP

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Psyché - Psyché II (Four Flies Records)

Psyché are back with a second helping of their unique sound.

You'll recall we said of the first Psyché album, "Southern Greek/Balkan/Balearic Surf rock/instrumental hip-hop.Med-shoreline version out on Four Files Records by a band called Psyché; the 'Cumbia Mahàre'/'Ophis' sound is ready for you - are you ready for it?" (see review HERE) and that Psyché' is Greek for "soul" or "mind" (as equally cleverly depicted in the artwork), well they are back with more in the form of 'Psyché II'.

It's nearly three years after their debut, Neapolitan veterans Marcello Giannini (Guru, Nu Genea, Slivovitz), Andrea De Fazio (Parbleu, Nu Genea, Funkin Machine), Paolo Petrella, (Nu Genea) have been joined by Roberto Porzio (Parbleu, Bassolino, and the Nu Genea Live Band) have expanded the sound for the contemporary "must have", 'Hurriya (We Must Resist)' (that features Ziad Trabelsi) to the space dub-out 'Yagé'.

The other guest to feature is Merve Daşdemir (formerly of Altın Gün) lends her voice to "Yallah!," a Turkish-language piece driven by Arabic-inspired rhythms; but all the tracks are great in a Batov 'next level' way.  In fact. we're told, "Built on a minimalist foundation of analogue synths and bass grooves, Psyché II moves fluidly across cosmic funk, desert blues, cumbia, dub, and jazz, treating the Mediterranean as a meeting point between Southern Europe, the Balkans, Anatolia, the Maghreb, and echoes of Latin America".

The sound of 2016 already!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.fourfliesrecords.com/product/psyche-ii/

Artist: Psyché 

Title: Psyché II

Release date: 27th March, 2026

Label : Four Flies Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl / Dgital / Bandcamp