Review: Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed - Reverie (Batov Records)

This is not 'A Forest' but a deep delve into a jazz/OST 'Reverie' by new best friends Ori Kaplan an Lihu Melamed on Batov Records!

 

A neat follow up to Batov Records' last two released albums; Bolbec's' 'Foutu Félin' (see review HERE), Kronstad 23's 'Dødehavet' (see review HERE), here's another in the leftfield jazzy, cinematic, libarary, glboal, folky psych!

Not surprising really as Ori Kaplan (a founding member of Balkan Beat Box and collaborator of Gogol Bordello) joins forces with engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Lihu Melamed for the debut album, 'Reverie'.

The cinematic elements come from "unhurried grooves" and "modal strings" whilst the jazz is where the tracks are lead by  baritone sax and flutey winds that can get you into late-night clubs, folky weddings and more that's been said to range form "Morricone desert soundtracks and Nino Rota's Rome to Mingus, Yusef Lateef, Klezmer modes, Middle Eastern textures and the psychedelic sweep of King Crimson and The Doors".    

'Amber' (featuring Itamar Zieger)' and 'Obelisk' are perhaps typical as it taps on many of the above but it turns out this combo came out of sessions for Balkan Beat Box's sixth album and includes drummer Tamir Muskat and contributions from Kaplan's own children and partner.

I wonder if there's any plans for a project with Kronstad 23 for a full Scandiavian forest whcih might be too much; but check out the cover image - shades of Edward Woodward/Britt Ekland in the original version of 'The Wicker Man'?  

Don't be scared off by the cover, this is a beautiful 11 track experience for any lost souls looking to be found (the track 'Lost Soul' features Yaron Ouzana on trombone).

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Reverie | Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed

Artist: Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed

Title:  Reverie

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR134

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: James Juke ft. Gabalicious, Cakes Da Killa - A Little Lost (Kitty Ca$h, Supertaste and Wuhryn Dumas Remixes) (Deluxxe/Toucan Sounds)

You might be 'A Little Lost' with all of James Juke's mates pilling in on this new EP of 10 tracks but if you don't know, he's a bit of a 'Blue Sky' DJ, curator, house-music tastemaker in that there Brooklyn; even if he was born in San Francisco!

Bright and bouncey as the tracks are, there's a underground vibe to this that totally matches the toucan sounds playsheet as disco, soul, jazz unpin the classic house underbelly which you can find at his quarterly party, 'The Jukeboxx' (Ed. did you see what he did there?) which echoes NY Loft culture.

And we love this flip with tracks 'Haters & Congratulators', 'Need A Beat' feat. Cakes da Killa, Theo's 9 To 3' and 'Lovetrains' interlude (one for fellow NYC houser and train lover Zackery Berns - see review HERE).

Even more fun is that this new package gives us the originals, the extended version and 3 NEW remixes.   Perhaps with a little sense of irony, Kitty Ca$h takes 'Need A Beat' right up the M1, speeding past cop-cars and straight into the main room.

Love Language feels like it should go all Charles Stepney/Deodato strings but, again, to get you out of comfort groove there's a Cakes da Killa raps that brings on some touchy feely love with hint of disco-Dilla-dub; it's a 'Theo's 9 To 3' update that reads between the lines.

If you can put all his into one 'night out' non-clean version, it's the acid-discofied Supertaste remix of 'Haters & Congratulators'.

All together, its a bit of a club night in itself as an EP, the extended versions are great but you must try the remixes.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://music.toucansounds.com/alittlelostremixes

Artist: James Jukes

Title: A Little Lost EP (Kitty Ca$h, Supertaste and Wuhryn Dumas Remixes)

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW156DLX

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Barrio B - Nsa Yuka (No Worries) (ft. Ameh Fashi & Basil Isaac) (Rhythm People Recordings)

As a follow-up to the single, 'Boomah', Barrio B returns with an equally blow-up new single, the big WOMAD ready 'Nsa Yuka' featuring Ameh Fashi & Basil Isaac.

'Boomah' was featured on the Traxsource Essential Afro House Charts with support from Mr. Scruff, DJ Vadim, Aroop Roy, Kiko Navarro and BBC 6 Music and now Barrio B is joined by Nigerian vocal artist Ameh Fashi and percussionist Basil Isaac there's even more an Afro-beat house fusion with strong Fela inspiration.

Dublin-born, London-based DJ/Producer Barry O’Brien (aka Barrio B) blends Afro Latin house with soul, live instrumentation and stripped-back club energy. The project is quickly gaining attention for a sound that prioritises musicianship, rhythm and feeling over formula. Rooted in percussion, groove and atmosphere, Barrio B delivers warm, modern dance music with a distinctly human pulse.

 

This is "a track that feels both classic and forward‑thinking — a soulful house record with emotional weight, dancefloor energy, and the unmistakable stamp of two artists operating at their highest level".

Dancefllor and WOMAD friendly, expect to hear this on the June Colour & Pitch Monthly mixtape. 

BUY LINK / RE-ORDER: https://kud.li/rpr0002

Artist: Barrio B 

Title: Nsa Yuka (ft. Ameh Fashi & Basil Isaac)

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label : Rhythm People Recordings

Catalog Number : RPR002

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - Maintain Altitude 2 (Soul Quest Records)

Still flying high is Soul Quest Records as they maintain altitiude with their second compilation that's such a showcase for the 'London Underground' and all it's connections!

Following Max Sinàls 'Healling' EP with KingCrowney (see review HERE) and 'Intentions' (see review HERE with vocalist Liv East)  here's some more "leftfield synth-jazz Bruk house dancefloor" focus on the reewarwst of the  Soul Quest label.

Whilst it's a compilation, Max & KingCrowney team up on the jazz-house-Bruk that they call 'A Bit Mad' and it's KingCrowney's trumpet that keeps the UK arm of Zachary Berns' NYC style jazz house (see review HERE).  And talking of New York, someone else has noticed as Misto Kay's 'Bruklynn' (Ed. did you see what they did there) is also on the money.

Whilst at the leftfield edge, Berkeley Hunt (he of 'A Ghostly Tryst' -- see review HERE) gets on the 'Speed Jazz' flight to the outta edges.

There's two tracks featuring vocals, the opens, Sixm Sol's 'Lead The Way featruing Legzdina and the closing track, Streeton's 'Ride' featuring Faro; on an Indo-jazz razor sharp space ship.  Both fit in with the Soul Quest indentity whilst the returning Reel Love Seeker's 'Mood Swings' is a return to 90s house that's links these tracks together. 

So wherever you're flying to this year, this is ready for your inflight club/radio luggage compartment.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDR: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/slxm-sol-max-soul-quest-maintain-altitude-2-vinyl/1152516-01/

Artist: Various Artist

Title: Healing EP

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label : Soul Quest Records

Catalog Number : SQR022

Format:  Vinyl / Digital/Streaming / Bandcamp 

Review: Oliver Night - Between The Lines (Remixes), Vol. 2 (Tru-Thoughts)

London-based producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist, Oliver Night gets a double helping of remixes for the 'Between The Lines' project on Tru-Thoughts - and he certainly knows all the right people!

 

Taking more tracks from last year's album 'Between The Lines' (see review HERE) to the next remix level with IG Culture ('Friends' feat. KAYA FYAH), Matica (the mighty 'Boss' feat. Roots Manuva - see single review HERE), the totally consistent and ever evolving Inkswel ('Undefeated' feat. Goldbar) and the best of the lot, 'We Are Love' featuring the amazing Megatronic (see review HERE) as remixed by the equally marvellous, Marcel Vogel (as they return the remix favours from Jerkboy/Vogel/Million Miles 'Real Love' remix by Mr. Night - see HERE).

Not only that, there's the instrumenal versions where the BRUK of I.G. Culture goes back-to-back with with the flute gang and Roots proves he's still the Boss.

London's Oliver Night, having made a name for himself in the post-Co-Op has incorporated a modern soul-jazz-house-broken beat that keeps his identity and cross-over appeal all at the same time that's now even more so with the remix treatment..

'Between The Lines' is out now and best go and get it.

BUY LINK: Between The Lines | Oliver Night & 

Artist: Oliver Night 

Title:  Between The Lines - Remixes Vol. 2

Release date: 9th June, 2026  

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number : TRUDD716

Format : Digital  / Bandcamp 

Review: Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds - Super Freak featuring Jolly Joseph (Gee Recordings)

Rick James' 'Super Freak' gets a real sexy going over a la Paris reggae super stars Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds featuring Jolly Joseph!

We had good warning that the collaboration of Soul Sugar (aka Guillaume Méténier) and Dub Shepherds (aka Jolly Joseph, Doctor Chaty and Jahno) with the incredible singles, 'Give Me Your Love (Love Song)' (see review HERE) and 'Disco Jack' (see review HERE) and following the success of their 'Blue House Rockin' album (see review HERE) they are back again with a cover of the Rick James classic dirty funk, 'Super Freak' backed with a dub version.

No surprise that Jolly Joseph’s "signature falsetto rides a heavyweight drum & bass section, with sharp layers of organ, piano, guitar, and Mini Moog — all tracked live on vintage gear".

It's this time of year that the Hectic dig hunts out the James/Teena Marie for their 'Portuguese Love' but now we can add this single to the pile too!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Super freak | Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds | Gee Recordings

Artist:  Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds
Title: Super Freak featuring Jolly Joseph 
Release date: 5th June, 2025
Label: Gee Recordings
Catalog Number:  GEE005
Format: Vinly 7" 45  / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - Inner Circle Vol. 1 (Chuwanaga)

Paris based Chuwanaga bring us a limited edition vinyl release that's drawn from their inner circle; 4 house tracks for Vol. 1 that'll warm your soul!

There's only going to be 300 vinyl copies so get busy on the pre-order as all four tracks makes the dancefloor move.   The office is particularly excited about 'Sunny California' by French producer Kaffe Crème (Floors Records) as fans of a Joe Claussell/Ron Trent spiritual style sun salutations "with deep, jazz-inflected harmonies before returning with an electrifying melody carried by layered percussion, leading to an emotional climax".

Not only that, the EP ends on a joint production by Saint-James (Chuwanaga) & KX9000 (Pont-Neuf Records) on 'The Gatekeeper' that's got that West London BRUK boogie that Co-Op, Dego and Kaidi Tatham developed back in the day and seems even more popular now.

Completing the set is another French duo, Milk & Honey, with a Chi-loop inspired 'It’s A Feeling (House Music)” - it's a thing! - and the opener, 'We All Got To Feel' by Argentine producer J. Koen that warms up with some synth bounce and space lazers that prooves that they've got a feeling.

This 4-track EP is a proper compilation that gives you a full range of house at its best. .

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://chuwanaga.bandcamp.com/album/inner-circle-vol-1

Artist: Various Artists - J. Koen, Kaffe Crème, Milk & Honey, Saint-James & KX9000 

Title:  Inner Circle Vol. 1
Release date: 12th June, 2026
Label : Chuwanga
Catalog Number: CHUWANAGA018
Format: Limited Edition 12" vinyl (ONLY 300) / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jéroboam - Jéroboam (Favorite Recordings)

Have you got the bottle for this Jéroboam of Paris funk - these guys are massive as a Jéroboam!

There seems to be old skool funk revival going on what with Brooklyn Funk Essentials' new album 'Black Butterfly' (see review HERE), Butter Funk Family (see HERE) and now Favorite Recordings Paris contribution with a big bottle of Jeroboam.

When I say "old skool", we're talking big band Sly & The Family Stone, Isley Brothers, Tower Of Power level of super funk and gospel.

If you're not sold on this after 'Sweet Addiction', 'Feeling Something' and 'Say Yeah' you're soul aint quite right.

And you know when Rick James went romantic?  You know he couldn't do it for long and it's given Jéroboam some 'Sleepless Nights' - is this a ballad?  And then you can't miss out on Prince, so this album is becoming 'Unstoppable'.

This doesn't happen over-night but just imagine this landing on your doorstep!  'Surrender' to it and 'Light Up' with 'The Games':  Jéroboam's eight track debut album is bubbling with love.

Amazing that 2026 finds us with a "eleven-piece live machine" of a manifesto of FUNK with a capital 'F' - don't miss out and discover what these guys are made of.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://favoriterecordings.bandcamp.com/album/j-roboam

Artist: Jeroboam 

Title: Jeroboam 

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label : Favorite Recordings

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Limited Edition Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman - Social Narcotics EP (Wolf Music)

Toronto Hustle (aka Mark Kufner) and Sean Roman are back to wave the Canadian house flag for Wolf Music with some 'Social Narcotics' that'll get you hooked!

The deep house shakers moved from The Symington Avenue EP (see review HERE on Wolf Music with a remix by Atlanta-based Kai Alcé) to Ascension On Wax with the 4-track EP 'The Unity' (see review HERE) with vocal house royalty Javonntte have now turned up with Wolf Music again along with their remix contact book, Byron The Aquarius, Nick Holder & Tyrone Soloman. 

Byron The Aquarius maintains his water-god like status as he strips the 'Social Narcotics' to its bare Parrish-esque deep roots with just the right amount of additional product.

The other remix sees the duo of Canadians, Nick Holder (who has been doing this for over 30 years) and Tyrone Solomon with their 'Trackheadz' dancin' shoes on and head for the social drug of the main room.

Of course, the original version builds around the spoken word rant/warning/diatribe with a loop "marijuana and all that" with a rave like beat is well into the musing of old boy-street philosophy in amongst the broken crack pipes.  And that inspires a late night dub that's even  deeper dancefloor.

Clearly, if you were into 'The Symington Avenue EP' (see review HERE - also on WOLF MUSIC), this will be a must.  

Recently been speaking with a guy who's heading out to Canada on his way to the World Cup (Football/Soccer) and suggested it'd be a good idea to get to Toronto to check it out - hopefully he'll bring some 'finds' back to the YATM office!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Social Narcotics | Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman

Artist: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman  

Title: Social Narcotics EP
Release date: 5th June, 2025
Label : Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number: WOLFEP087
Format: 12" vinyl Pre-Order / Digital 

Review: CŒUR ACIDE - CŒUR ACIDE EP (toucan sounds)

Touch this all night long as CŒUR ACIDE takes us on "a retro-futurist dance experience crafting seductive, high-fashion acid house as signals from a lost future..." OUT TODAY!

You'll recall that Vancouver’s Pat Lok and Berlin-based Megan Vice meet "at the crossroads of R&B, House, and electronic club culture" with 'Spectrum Remixes' with Sebb Junior & JIALING (see review HERE), well here he's joined  Haitian & Mexican vocalist F-MACK. as ŒUR ACIDE in a "mythical musical universe".

We're encouraged to think Empire of the Sun meets Hercules and Love Affair as their self-titled EP ranges from explosive 90s rave (LETS SWEAT) to classic ballroom anthems (WHISPER FROM ABOVE, BITE ME) and soaring 80s rnb (ACID HEART, BOUGIE).

Emerging as time-travelling refugees from a dystopian future where art and intimacy are outlawed, CŒUR ACIDE is not simply a band, but a call to rebellion... each song a memory fragment, part of a cinematic storyline. Having debuted their immersive live show to an exclusive, sold-out crowd in Mexico City, which also unveiled their signature tea - a central element of the storyline - this dynamic duo is only beginning to unveil an exciting world at the crossroads of music, fashion and futurism.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://music.toucansounds.com/coeuracide

Artist: CŒUR ACIDE 
Title:  CŒUR ACIDE EP
Release date: 4th June, 2026
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: YTCW168
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp