Review: Tema Due (Nicola Conte & Nico Lahs) - Universo Astratto (Schema Records)

Tema Due's album, 'Universo Astratto' is 'THE WAY' 

You'll recall EP1 and EP2? There's no EP 3 as they've gof on straight into the double Vinyl LP 'Universo Astratto' for the electronic, spiritual, jazzdance album of the year by Tema Due, the immaculate pairing of Nicola Conte & Nico Lahs! 

The album features an exceptional cast of musicians — including pianists Giovanni Guidi and Pietro Lussu, percussionists Gabriel Prado and Abdissa Assefa, Magnus Lindgren on winds and Hammond, and vocalists Lalin St. Juste, Siya Makuzeni, Nina Miranda, and Toco.

More than a club record, Universo Astratto is a manifesto — treating the dance floor as a space for collective awareness, inviting listeners into an immersive world of ancestral grooves and cosmic jazz designed to transcend as much as it moves.

BUY LINK: Music | Schema Records

Artist: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs)

Title:  Universo Astratto 

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC548

Format: 2 x LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bolbec - Foutu Félin (Batov Records)

Childhood friends and multi-instrumentalists both, Axel Concato and Barth Corbelet are back with another fantastic album crammed with your favourite influences with 'Foutu Félin' and there's more than a bit of musical fun in there too!

Bolbec's' album ;Victime De l'aube' was deep in the OST world of Piero Piccioni, Michel Legrand or Jonny Trunk's favourite, Basil Kirchin with a more than healthy dollop of library (see review HERE).

I can't say 'Foutu Félin' takes us further than 'Feuille D'orage' in that you can can still find a bossa theme next to a 60s gangster jazz noir (in a bathroom!) which in diggers terms is still "worth the price of the album" on its own.

In fact, we're told it's "richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that feels less like a record and more like an imaginary film — one where melody, harmony and rhythm take centre stage in deliberate contrast to the texture-obsessed trends of contemporary scoring."

Like a lost John Barry?   And there's some great flute-gang vibes going on, like 'En Voiture' as a hip-hop beats blues walk; could Dingwalls eventually have a Backroom? This would be where you'd find me totally chilled with 'Le Fou-Rire' along with 'Fanny au Phare''s trumpet!

 

And perhaps it's because these 10 track have a strong sense of française from ya overflowing 'Café Frappé' to 'Terrassée' it still sounds so familiar yet it's new!  And it's no surprise that it's this good as he duo are again supported by Ben Lamdin and Nostalgia 77 (still love 'The Lonliest Flower In The Village; see review HERE).

Batov Records 'traditional' Middle Eastern Grooves (see review HERE) and if you have had enough of dusty Bruton / KPM / Chappell and the like, swing onto this is the must summer album.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Foutu Félin | Bolbec

Artist: Bolbec

Title:  Foutu Félin 

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR136

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Rosa Brunello - We Are Surging Waters (Domanda Music)

This is the third album by bassist/composer Rosa Brunello on Domanda Music and 'We Are Surging Waters' has lubricated our world / jazz / experimental / dance view like a refreshing spring!

This is bonkers!  Can you imagine Batov Records and the Noslagia 77 team taking on Derek Bailey with Eno (in his non-ambient periods) a la Ze Records on Radio 3 with some jazzdance free style percussion?  And then some!

This is no Ellie Wilson 'Listen To The River' (see review HERE) but you've got to be 'Living Upstream' to get this.  Rosa wasn't in this mood when she was gigging with Dee Dee Bridgewater (Ed. perhaps she was?) as this is the best "headlong rush shaped by extensive improvisation and reduced post-production, capturing the album’s raw energy and sense of forward motion" track you're likely to hear anyway.

Supported by a large supergroup featuring Yazz Ahmed and Tamar 'Don't Be Cruel' Osborn (see HERE) the album stretches (more like a rack than yoga) from Middle Eastern traditions to improvisation, disco, jazz and dub.

Wonder if Rosa is up for a remix of 'Listen To The River' or Bolbec (see HERE, new album coming soon) but I think we could do with long versions of some of the tracks, particularly the synth mad 'Witching Hour'.

I'd like to think if Mingus was around today, this is what he'd be doing!

BUY LINK / Pre-Order: We Are Surging Waters | Rosa Brunello

Artist: Rosa Brunello -

Title: We Are Surging Waters

Release date: 6th May, 2026
Label : Domanda Music
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Rosa Brunello: Composition, Electric Bass, Double Bass, and Djembe
Yazz Ahmed: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Tamar Osborn: Baritone Saxophone, Flute
Luca Tapino: Trombone
Enrico Terragnoli: Guitar, Synthesizer
Maurice Louca: Synthesizer (We Are Surging Waters, Witching Hour)
Marco Frattini: Drums, Percussion
Tommaso Cappellato: Drums, Percussion (We Are Surging Water, Fish Without A Bicycle, Living Upstream, Memory In The Making)
Rabih Beaini: Mixing, Sound Design

 

Review: Marina Trench - Watching Back EP (Sweet State)

French producer and DJ Marina Trench releases her 'Watching Back' EP - look into her eyes, tell me this isn't "future soul music, dance driven electronica" house music! 

Making a name for herself with a 3 year residency at Paris' Rex Club plus DJing internationally and having releases on Wolf Music and Razor'n'Tape to name just two labels, we prepared to be taken aback with this 4-tracker EP.

'What I Do' opens to what you might think is euro-pop soul but there's hidden depths to it ison repeat listens as 'Get High (If You're Looking For Love)' which is Chic does odd-ball space synth 'n' piano house that nicely fits in and out (of love).

Like as merger ot the A-side, the flip is big as 'Shake Zone' with vocals by Yaje and the instrumental club mix version keeps us moving alt the way from "versatile pop vocals " to "unwavering commitment to joy". 

I was having a deep conversation with Industry/DJ/producer the other day about the future of house etc (you know, deep stuff with a couple of drinks) and we came to the conclusion that what we all need is more "fun stuff"; and this is exactly what we were talking about - Shake Zone club mix people!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://marinatrench.bandcamp.com/

Artists: Marina Trench

Release: Watching Back EP

Release Date: 8th May, 2026

Label: Sweet State

Cat. No. TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: The Ruffcats ft. Doug Shorts - I Ain't Worried (inc. Erobique Remix)(Sonar Kollektiv)

You'll recall RAH & The Ruffcats on Sonar Kollektiv from a couple of years ago; well they've removed RAH and got Doug Shorts, who luckily ain't worried about a thing at all on this new single, 'I Ain't Worried' that includes an Erobique Remix!

RAH & The Ruffcats' 'Wake Up' got the Yoruba Soul mixes treatment (see review HERE) and the album, 'Orile To Berlin' (see review HERE) really showcased the 'supergroup backing band', The Ruffcats (from Berlin) and now they front the mighty fine soulful voice of Doug Shorts.

In that soulfully downtempo of a Jeb Loy Nichols (on Timmion - see HERE) at one extreme, with the original version in it's 60s/70s vibe, or at the other, a Jono McCleery album 'Reconcile' (see review HERE) where the remix takes it into a Northern Soul Modern Room / downtempo soul. 

You can see why there's already a high demand for the old skool 7" vinyl as it's aimed squarely at soul lovers, DJs, and collectors alike: a record that feels just as at home in a crate next to vintage originals as it does in a contemporary DJ set.

 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://sonarkollektiv.lnk.to/iaintworried

Title: The Ruffcats ft. Doug Shorts

Title: I Ain't Worried (inc. Erobique Remix)

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK560D

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: VA - Dam Swindle present 'House Of House' (Heist Recordings)

For Heist Recordings' 100th release, Dam Swindle has put together a fantastic 19 track compilation that's picked on some big names like Kerri Chandler, Louie Vega, Folamour, Cinthie & more!

Seem to be making a bit of a habit of celebrating label's reaching their first class century like The Disco Express 100 (see HERE) which, if you missed it had a Dam Swindle remix of Bustin' Loose's 'Soulbound'; so what has he found for this Heist 100?  Well, the opening track seems to be appropriate in more ways than one and it's Dam Swindle's own 'Back To The Old School' featuring DJ Minx with no phone, underground raves and positive house vibes.

And talking of looking back, anyone remember Faith (Vol. 3, #3, Spring 2021), Sharon Andrews interviewed Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets (aka Dam Swindle) who run Heist Recordings and she asked, what track will they best remembered for?  And it was 'Call Of The Wild', represented on the album as a Makez Remix featuring Jungle By Night and it also finishes the album with a dub version which is a perfect YATM jazz house dub track.

Not content with that, their 'Not Enough' featuring the sweet soul vocals of Haile Supreme' gets a bouncy remix by Two Soul Fusion (aka Louie Vega and Josh Milan Remix).  And taking big name and bouncy, you  don't get much bigger than Kerri Chandler with 'Kerriousity' (Ed. gettit).

Other highlights include our favourite Dutch duo Fouk (check their recent 'Sundays EP' - see review HERE) with a saturated 'Head Spin' that you can't resist. And somebody else that won't let you down in LYMA, as featured on Folamour's 'Wont let U Down'.

So it's a bright idea as the 'Swindle and Heist look to the next ton up of releases to feature old and new skool artists on a comp and did you know, Supershy is the (appropriate named) alias of Tom Misch?  You do now!

BUY LINK / Vinyl Pre-Order: Music | Heist Recordings

Artist: Various Artists (Kerri Chandler, Louie Vega, Folamour, Cinthie & more)

Title: Dam Swindle present 'House Of House' 

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Heist Recordings

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Charles Petersohn - Children Of Zu Zu Remixed (Compost Records)

When 'Children of Zu Zu' was released as a 'Short Version' single and everyone in the YATM office was saying, "where's the long version?" And when the long version came out, did we need a 'remix' album; you bet we do and it's here!

Featuring Roberto Di Giola and the People of Tla'aga Samoa, producer/DJ/Singer Charles Petersohn took a massive 18 year break from Compost records (see review HERE) so less than 18 months since 'Children Of Zu Zu', the "Long Version", (see review HERE) is a mere drop in the echoes of and reality before this remix edition emerges..

In fact you get 3 different versions of the track 'Myths versus Reality' and they are all very, so VERY different.  In fact, the Greater Manchester Housing Authority A Spiritual Space Rework is the closest thing I've heard as a combination of Charity Shop Classics' Jason Cooke and Jerry Dammer's Spacial Arkestra in a space fuel reggae combo - surely such a future classic needs a dub version?  I'm onto Compost now for RSD2027 12" disco version.

Stunning and you also get the percussive also dancefloor mix and a Sun Ra dubby Vicktor Malik remix of 'Myths versus Reality' which make this album essential in itself.  But dof on't worry if 'Schmettrlinge Im Bauch' was you're favourite as it's tastefully remix as a space broken beat by Mary Olivetti - oh yeah!

And for more Afro-futurism dancefloor there's the Moodrama remix of the title track as vocal and instrumental versions.

I can't lie, I was a little suspicious on hearing of a 'Children Of Zu Zu' remix album as the original was so good but when Petersohn joins in himself with 'A Meditation On Monk' version of the title track (which is brilliant - could be Monk vs. Mingus vs. Ginger Johnson vs. Ra) you know Charles and Compost's intentions were pure; as Charles himself says, “The shared desire for the EP's tracks to embrace the idea that a remix can be a work of art in its own right has been fully realized. All the mixes have a personal touch, using the originals as raw material that has been played with to one's heart's content. I'm very happy!”. 

We're very happy too Charles!

P.S. As featured in the Colour & Pitch Sessions April Mix (see below) and if you don't know about Manchester's Charity Shop Classics (latest Gerry Hectic Listener's Choice is HERE - Show 543) and check HERE for an early history on Jerry Dammers.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Children Of Zu Zu Remixes | Charles Petersohn & https://CompostRecords.lnk.to/CharlesPetersohn-ChildrenOfZuZuEP

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

Artist: Charles Petersohn

Title: Children Of Zu Zu Remixed

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT669

Format:  Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Eric Demuro - Ara Macao / Freedom Layers (Pilchard Rounds) (Bastard Jazz Recordings)

Bastard Jazz, the label itself, has always been know as eclectic / underground in the electronic, funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae since its inception so here's a couple of more tracks to open your ears and eyes!

Celebrating the 25th anniversary this year, the NYC based lable has come a long way from the break/dub samples of 'Natural Collie' ('The Dubbled Up EP' - BJ005 with Dr. Rubberfunk remix!) to last year's disco/funk/boogie/housee album by Peter Matson, 'Hotel PM' (see review HERE).

And this, the first single by Eric Demuro, Venice based bass player who focuses on "groove, experimental and electronic music" is more evidence of their open-minded approach that's very much jazz-funk (and more) as the Italian OST jazz-library gets a injection of "elastic bass lines, warm Rhodes textures, and loose, patient percussion" on 'Freedom Layers (Pilchard Rounds'. 

The low-slung space funk then gets amplified on 'Ara Macao', featuring Fanni Zahár (flute) as a percussive Steve Reich vs. Lonnie Liston Smith in the rain-forest with marimba that's as much jazz-dance as headphone.

The is an introduction as Demuro has an upcoming album, 'Simulacra' in June which may or not be included in the Birthday competition on social meda run by Bastard Jazz to win ALL thier releases on vinyl - which would weigh more than a ton!  All you have to do is name you're favourite label release!  I'm thinking 'Ara Macao'!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://ffm.to/eric_demuro_simulacra.HGW

Artist: Eric Demuro

Title:Ara Macao / Freedom Layers (Pilchard Rounds) 

Release date: 8th May, 2025

Label : Bastard Jazz Recordings

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format: Vinyl (pre-order) / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Black Butterfly (Dorado Records)

Spring is here and Brooklyn Funk Essentials have released the chrysalis that is the album, 'Black Butterfly'; get ready for it to funk in your musical garden this year! 

Not that long ago the Brooklyn Funk Essentials were on the 'Bust The Bus Stop' funk 'Special' (see review HERE) and as that got upto full speed, they're now back with a eighth studio album called 'Black Butterfly'.

Along with 'Never Give Up' and 'Life During Wartime', a cover of one of many Talkings Heads classic tracks that they've made sound so funk-cool in this version, it's no wonder that they're on the playlist of BBC 6 Music, Radio 2 and Jazz FM; you know, it's going to be Craif Charles and Cerys Matthews.

"The album was produced and co-written by bassist Lati Kronlund and features Alison Limerick, Ebba Åsman and Desmond Foster on vocals.  Kronlund explains, ‘The black butterfly is a symbol of hope, renewal and inevitable change. 'Black Butterfly' - the album - is a solid group collaboration highlighting and expanding BFE’s signature style and musical prowess. Recorded live-in-the-studio, 'Black Butterfly' finds the cadre of stellar musicians exploring a bounty of multi-rhythms, analog instrumentation, funky jams and winsome arrangements. Brooklyn Funk Essentials once again deliver a full length journey of songs within a lyrical framework of love, respect, inclusion, hopefulness and dreams."

Kronlund and Limerick have been enjoying the recent renewed interest in ‘Where Love Lives, a track Kronlund wrote and produced it for Limerick in 1990, it was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales and became a club classic and was featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV Ad.

Since their first release, on Dorado Records in 1993, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have built a devoted international following who are ready for this next chapter.   Indeed, the title track is less funk and more ambient-soul-folk would you believe and add to that the downtempo space soul of 'The Girl from Outer Space' and you've got more than a winner on your hands!  Don't get me wrong, there's definitely enough 'essential' funk for old and new fans alike, 'Never Give Up On Love' sounds more 'classic' on every listen.

And shamelessly, they release an album without a duff track on it so get ordering vinyls now before it's too late; as recommended by the girl frorm outer space.

P.S. Ebba Åsman on trombone is fantastic!

BUY LINK / Pre Order: https://brooklynfunkessentials.bandcamp.com/album/black-butterfly

Artist: Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Title: Black Butterfly

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label : Dorado Records

Catalog Number : DOR170D

Format: Limited Edition Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Àbáse - Laroyê (2026 Remaster) (Bridge The Gap / Oshu Records)

It's not often you get a 5th anniversary remaster of any album but it's not going to take you long before you realize Bridge The Gaps' Àbáse "breakthrough' project 'Laroyê' is worthy of a proper May Day celebration.

It's not been that long since Naná Rizinni's album, 'Epiblast' (see review HERE) but here's another fantastic album.  This time by acclaimed Hugarian/Berlin-based producer, composer and pianist/keyboardist Àbáse (aka Szabolcs Bognár) brings to life his travels through Brazil musically in 13 tracks. 

We are told the album, “'Laroyê' evolved through weeks and months of research and collaborations into the album that it is now. That means that all the sessions were done in different apartments, small studios, often with borrowed equipment, which all adds to the character, but makes the creation of a coherent sound a challenge. Benjamin Tierney, Erik Breuer and Analogue Foundation did an incredible job with the mixes and with this new remaster. I truly believe that we are able to hear the tracks in a new light, with even more depth and clarity.ˮ

Coming from the West African Yoruban language, ‘Àbáse stands for “collaborationˮ – a key element of the music perfectly encapsulated on ‘Laroyêʼ. Recorded in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Abáse spent five months working with diverse artists, from young talents to veterans of the Brazilian scene including Letieres Leite, Luciane Dom, Dofono dʼOmolu, Afrojazz and more. The album explores the rich heritage of Afro-Brasilian culture through samba, MPB and Candomblé, mixing these with broken beat, hip hop and afrobeat, creating e a contemporary homage to the classic Brazilian sound. Szabolcs shares: “Despite already leading and managing musical projects that are close to my hearth, I always felt that one day I would like to start a solo project, where I could take full responsibility for the artistic direction and the music would reflect a truly personal vision. In 2017, I decided to take five months to fulfil a childhood dream and travel to Brazil to expand my creative horizon and expose myself to new influences.ˮ 

And as the result is possibley the closest you're likely to get between beautiful Hermeto Pascoal, West London, jazz-soul MPB Sao Jorge!  Recommended to get you your Bandcamp Friday orders in as likely to sell-out very quick.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Laroyê (2026 Remaster) | Àbáse

Artist: Àbáse 

Title: Laroyê

Release date: 1st May, 2026

Label : Bridge The Gap / Oshu Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 2x LP 180g Vinyl / Dgital / Bandcamp