Review: Salty Miller – Album #1 (Miles Away Records)

Nelson “Salty” Miller's debut solo album had 12 tracks that the world had to hear, hence, 'Album #1'.

Not the most promising of titles or indeed album artwork, which is further compelled that's its released on a the Beach Music Records Of The Carolinas label in 1980 by the leader/founder of The Monzas, a Beach Music band from the 1960s coming outta the University of North Carolina!

But this is a back story to one of the must holy grails of leftfied Beach Rock that's forgot to buy a yacht: even Madlib, DJ Shadow, Mr Scruff or even a more ardent crate digger would give this one a wide bearth - "Salty Miller"!

So what is 'Beach Music'?  Well, this version is yacht, mixed with R&B pop-disco MOR on 70 miles of golden sand coastline where 'Music Makes Me High'.  Like a cheezy Little Feat mixed with Sutherland Bros. & Quiver on the East Coast thinking about a Floridian Balaerics.

Typically radio play length, the tracks are about girls/love/happiness/drinks and the like - it's horny rock for the sunshine radio gang.  'The Fox', 'She My Girl' are typical and hits the beach bar playlist.

Apparently, there was a beach music dance, 'The Shag'!  Careful if you're going search engine that one but Myrtle Beach seems like a hot spot for this kinda thing and there seems to be some simularities with the Belgium Popcorn scene in that 60s originals, a slowish groove and a dance with no particular dance code.

Are the Flying Mojito Bros the country end of Beach?  I could see them playing 'Drink'n Wine & Feel'n Fine', 'You're So Tough' (with very squeeky keyboard does it sound like a squeeze box), 'Happy Is The Word' and the rockin', 'Reach Out And Make Somebody Happy' with it's nod to the 80s with a jazz-funk bassline.

Even with the benefit of 'modern' technology, 'The Good Time Song' (featuring added bar room sound EFX), 'One More Time' (with seagulls sound EFX) it's hard to believe this wan't picked up by a major label for a release, there must have been a Radio WFMBM for 'Lik'n Leads To Lovin' and 'Jenny Sue' but perhaps 'Music Make Me High' was too short; I definitely prefer the longer Miles Away edit that's now available for advanced shag dancin' routines.

PS. well played for sticking with the original artwork.

BUY LINK:  Salty Miller Vinyl & CDs for sale - Juno Records

Artist:  Salty Miller

Title:Album #1

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label: Miles Away Records

Cat. No: -

Format: LP Vinyl / digital / Bandcamp

Review: Commonsur - Commonsur EP (Lovemonk)

Lovemonk latest single on 7" and digital EP harks back to a 'golden age' of hip-hop, R&B soul-jazz, you'll want to fall in love with Commonsur! 

 

Just perfect modern contemporary soul out of Geneva/Madrid based production team that's on the beat and, to mis-quote, the 'sample not sample' with their tracks.

Rolita provides the vocals from her Spanish base and there's some 'real' vocals on the lead track 'Let's Make It Happen'.

These guys can walk 'The Walk', which harks back to some funky breaks and, as common with these things, is far too short.   But not to worry, Rolita makes up for it on the off-psych 'All Is Love' and 'Better Place'.

This is quite a bit different.to the last couple of Lovemonk releases,  Keita Sano & Sauce81 with the 7" 'Feeling Alright' (see review HERE) and Soulnaturals' 'Give Me The Strenght To Be Me' (see review HERE), but no less welcome.

BUY LINK: https://onerpm.link/113115501518

Artist: Commonsur

Title: Commonsur EP

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label: Lovemonk Records 

Cat. No: LMNK85

Format:  7" Vinyl / Digital EP / Bandcamp

Review: Ryan Sadorus - Hot In The D ft Simon Black (Beretta Music)

Chances are that you'll know Beretta Music from releases by John "Zoetic" Briggs, Dez Andrés or Nic Joseph if you're into your Detroit underground but if you're really 'Hot In The D', check out label boss Ryan Sadorus'  EP with a Delano Smith remix.

This is very Detroit heavy as these lions (and tigers) of house, or should that be hot house, bounce their way with this 4-tracker: 'Hot In The D' original and Delano Smith remix, 'Nobody's Fool' and 'See The Light' that all feature Simon Black on vocals.

Both 'Hot In The D' versions have that, WTF is this about them, as much for that hook as anything but these guys have clearly seen the light.  In fact, you need to 'See The Light' as these guys do with a full pallet as deep as the artwork: they are what's right!

You don't have to be as Detroit as Jeffrey Sebelia (PR) or Barry Sanders (RB) to get how 'Hot In The D' is hot - just get it!   

Baretta Music was founded by Ryan and Brian Kage (they also record together as 

Airport Society) and have been releasing music that's especially for fans of Laurent Garnier, Seth Troxler, Soul Clap, Fred Everything, Lars Benrenroth and the like (Ed. none of which have ever been a Running Back, nor on the label Running Back).

BUY LINK: Hot in the D EP (w Delano Smith Remix) | Ryan Sadorus feat. Simon Black | Beretta Music

Artist: Ryan Sadorus 

Title: Hot In The D ft Simon Black (with Delano Smith Remix)

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label : Baretta Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" vinyl   / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Cenk Esen - Endlessly (XVI Records)

Are you ready for the next big thing ready to explode from the underground that'll put Erza Collective digging out their Dad's jazz fusion collection?  Are you ready for Cenk Esen's 'Endlessly'?

With tracks like 'Air Traffic Controller' out Jaco-ing Jaco and seven minutes of 'They're Just Not That Into Me Anymore' and the BRUK/Corea fused 'A&C', this has 'Monster' album all over it, I'll be amazed if Gilles Peterson doesn't champion this album and get Cenk on the WeOutHere Festival this year (see current tour dates below).

Cenk Esen may be a new name for many folks but if you've had a eye on the credits to Chaos In The CBD album's credits you'll have spotted YATM favourites / London jazz  based elites like Nathan Haines. Finn Rees and Cenk on 'The Eternal Checkout'.  Not only that, Cenk is the son of Turkish jazz-fusion keys player Aydin Esen (Ed. acorns and trees etc) so there's little surprise how good he is on piano and synths (also check '23 - Live In Istanbul') especially as he attended Berklee College before relocating to London.

Don't expect any Turkish funk-psych on this one but do expect a fantastic jazz trio with Tom Driessler (Electric Bass), "the incredible" MckNasty (Drums) plus Leyla Huysal on the single, 'Endlessly, I'm Erazed' and Dad (Aydin) with some additional synths.

This is like a nu-fusion of Maarten Goetheer's 'Suite For Chick (see review HERE) that you can do without this year.

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/endlessly-i-m-erased

Live Dates 
13th  April - The Vincent (Hackney, London)
16-17th May - Bova (Istanbul)
29th May - 91 Living Room (London)
5th July - Love Supreme Festival
27th July - High Tide Festival
31st July - Ronnie Scott’s

Artist: Cenk Esen 
Title: Endlessly

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label: XVI Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Limited LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Infinity Plus One - Reflexion EP (Cyphon Recordings)

We all know reflexology but Infinity Plus One have added soulful acid house for a 4 track 'Reflexion EP' plus some GPT warp vocals for us to find our inner electronic dancefloor: and it's perfect.

Infinity Plus One follows up the 'Rebellion EP' from last year with another post tech-house stunner that's got elements of electro, funk and future (Ed. should that be phuture?) sounds that takes Detroit to today.

If lovetempo's 'Live Or Die By Love' is his "manifesto" (see review HERE), 'Stand For Love' on reflex(ion) is the main track banger with the story of the constant dance floor clash of good and evil - we all need someone to show us the way and Infinity Plus One is on a winner here.

It's a kind of antidote to the acid-ey 808 modular 'Dush And Darkness' which is for a sophisiticated Detroit rave-up at a ChatGPT bot poetry slam in an amusement arcade

And you may recall 'Rebellion' contained the track 'Utopia', on the new EP we've got 'Ubiquity' which is everywhere on the space synth orbital journey.  As the closing track is like the return ticket to the opener, the cheeky 'Innocent Beginnings'. 

So different to the last release on the label, Synaptic Voyager's 'Dawn Till Dusk EP' but that's what happens when you take infinity that little bit further.

BUY LINK: Infinity Plus One - Stand For Love on Traxsource

Artist: Infinity Plus One 
Title: Reflexion EP 
Release date: 2nd May, 2025
Label: Cyphon Recordings
Catalog Number CYPHN16
Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yasushi Ide - The Journey (Grand Gallery)

When folks say the old cliche, "It's a small world", sometimes that world just goes and proves it as Yasushi Ide comes back and delivers 'The Journey' - and what a journey it's been!

Just to repeat, nearly 2 years ago, seemingly out of the blue, we got the fantastic 7" release of Yasushi Ide's 'A Place In The Sun' (by way of Karou Inoue remix on Brooklyn's Love Injecton Records - see review HERE) and just to backtrack, you'll recall Ide made a name for himself (in the UK anyway) as Lonesome Echo Strings some 20 plus years ago on some 12 inchers with collaborations with nu-jazz/Gilles Peterson golden era 'names' as Monday Michiru and Big Youth and getting remixes by Joe Clausell, Nuyorican Soul (both doing loads of house remixes at the time) and Mr. Glücklich himself, Rainer Trüby (see review HERE).

Now, the 'Don of Shibuya-ker', Ide latest project involves "merging past recordings with futuristic production, redefining what remix culture and musical storytelling" thus, creating  a new level of remix album - prog-remix? Especially when it's a non-stop 115 minute log mix, re-edited and dubbed up by Ide & Watusi.

The 15 featured artist include the diversity of Ken Ishii (he of Sublime Records who have just released, Ayane Shino - 'River せせらぎ The timbre of guitar #2 Rei Harakami' - see review

HERE), Shuya Okino (as name checked in the review of Masaru Imada Trio + 1 - see review HERE), Charles Webster (DJ/Producer/Remixer), the cult DJ Nature and Blue Room veteran, Chris Coco.

This album is the perfect introduction to the ever expanding world of J-Jazz, J-Reggae or J-House and more out-there dance and dub culture.

Artwork: Japanese painter Yuko Kamiyama..

Artist : Yasushi Ide / Various Artists

Title : The Journey

Release Date : 25th April, 2025

Catalog Number : TBC

Label : Grand Gallery

Format : Vinyl LP 28th July 2025 / 2 x CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Aural Float - South Of The Clouds Pt. 2 (Incl. Gregor Tresher & Extrawelt Remixes) (Break New Soil)

Some time ago; in fact, way back, 1995, Aural Float released an album of dub/ambience called 'Introspectives' that had a track 'South Of The Clouds' Pt. 1 & 2.  Some 30 years on, here's a golden opportunity to look again at the Pt. 2 plus a couple of remixes!

To be honest, 30 years ago I would would have had little interest or knowledge of Aural Float (a collaboration between Pascal FEOS, Gabriel Le Mar and Alex Azary) as a post-Tangerine Dream project wouldn't have worked that well with the Kraftwerk hip-hop sample community. 

So it's a good job that Gregor Tresher does remember and he's linked up with Extrawelt and a new remaster of the original for this new release on Tresher's Break New Soil label.   And all three are great: Extrawelt goes a deep gothic train drive of a bang and if you put that with the remastered version, that's a full 20 minutes that'd put Jean-Michel Jarre to shame (JMJ being in the news recently due to the Sping 'Equinox'). 

I remember sciving off to listen to Gregor's debut album (on the legendary Great Stuff Recordings label in the Hawley Arms, Camden Town in 2007) - see Rainer Weichhold interview HERE) and wondering whether I should become a fan, well I can't say I am the biggest fan but if you want to go 'South Of The Clouds', you'll need his remix: infact, just put all 3 on repeat.

Gregor has form with the remix/re-issue having done a similar job on The Streets' '3 Minutes To Midnight' a couple of years ago but his version of 'South Of The Clouds Pt. 2' surpasses Mike Skinners' anthem as it's clearly one of Gregor's favourite tracks that's "no nonsense hypnotic sound of Frankfurt" that's even better now he's updated it to 11 minutes of for the "modern day dancefloor".

On pre-order now so get on it as it'll fly faster than any express on the Deutsche Bahn or should that be Lufthansa?

Artist: Aural Float 

Title:   South Of The Clouds Pt. 2 (Incl. Gregor Tresher & Extrawelt Remixes) 

Release date: 28th April, 2025

Label : Break New Soil

Catalog Number : BNS090

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: John Beltran presents Sol Set - Love Revolution (All Good Music)

John Beltran's production history has always been quality and basking in sunshine and love - so what could be better than to present Sol Set's 'Love Revolution' on All Good Music?

Mr Beltran has a been a name for over 25 years having released music on Exceptional, Ubiquity (who are releasing Flying Mojito Bros.' new album 'Just Passing Through' this week - see review HERE), Detroit Dancer, Motorcity Wine and many more.    

All Good Music features musicians from Detroit and around the world currated by John and label partner Shane Donnelly.  And not just anyone from Detroit (see Blair French) or afar (see Kaidi Tatham, Ezel, Cee ElAssaad, Kiko Navarro). 

So even from YATM reviews, that's a pretty impressive set list but there's a couple of more that'll you'll need.  The new 'Love Revolution' set includes a 'John Beltran Soul Disco Mix' and the house Soulidan's remix (that's definitely for fans of 'UK House Sermon' (see review HERE).

The truth is, this is great!

Artist: John Beltran presents Sol Set

Title: Love Revolution

Release date: 24th April, 2025

Label : All Good Music

Catalog Number :  AGM005

Format: Vinyl (due late May) / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Cinephonic - Refuge (Marlow Records)

The perfect follow up to Cinephonic's last album 'Visions', 'Refuge' takes Pierre Chrétien's vision to a deeper lounge of jazz meets beats; I didn't see that one coming! 

Pierre Chrétien, also known for his work in Souljazz Orchestra and Atlantis Jazz Ensemble, is the leader/multi-instrumentalist front row of piano, vibraphone and guitar with long time collaborators Philippe Charbonneau (bass) and Mike Essoudry (drums). 

So this album of 12 tracks is perfect Jazz Chronicles/Futuristic Beats as it's merges lounge/OST 'trio' jazz without being too soul-jazz or hip-hop all at the same time.

Like 'Visions' (see review HERE) and album made for Resonant FM's OST Show, in the 'music for film that's yet to be made' category and a perpect 'companion' album for the new Ayane Shino album 'River せせらぎ The timbre of guitar #2 Rei Harakami' on MusicMine Records (see review HERE).

Don't forget to check out 'Visions' after finding 'Refuge' with the Cinephonic.

Artisit: Cinephonic

Title: Refuge

Label: Marlow Records

Catalog No. MRLP069

Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Release date: 25th April, 2025

Personnel:

• Bass – Philippe Charbonneau
• Drums – Mike Essoudry
• Photography – Tim Queng
• Piano, Vibraphone, Guitar, Composed By, Producer, Design – Pierre Chrétien
• Producer, Engineer, Mastered By – Jason Jaknunas

Review: DIL Organ Trio - Hammonday (A.MA Records)

I've always been a fan of a jazz organ trio that's based around the iconic Hammond, so when you've got a whole album by DIL Organ Trio called 'Hammonday', I'm as  excited as getting a free ticket on the Oblivion Express!

Whilst I haven't I asked Brian Auger (he of 60s post-Mod Supergroup Oblivion Express - see review HERE) if knows of The DIL Organ trio, these guys are part of the Serbian Wave of jazz artists who have recorded this album in Belgrade that is a 'love letter' to 60s Mod-Jazz/Hard Bop with the Hammonad organ at the heart of it.

Dusan Petrovic (guitar), Irina Pavlovic (the Serbian Shirley Scott, 'Queen of the Organ') and Luka Jovicic (drums) who appeared on Irina Pavlović's album, 'The Soulful Heritage' (see review HERE): see where they get DIL from? (Ed. hint, Joy Spheres Rees - see review HERE)

So you can imagine Irina's move from piano to Hammond C3 on these 9 tracks is immersed in pumpin' soul-jazz that tributes Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Grant Green, Wes Montgomery and more with a big Balkan trip with the spirit of 'Indian Rope Man'.

A variant is when the trio is joined by Corey Wilcox on trombone on 'Lights Off (Alt. Take)' and Irina's vocals on 'Balkan'.

Somewhat different to the label's last releases, bass clarinetist Matteo Pastorino's, 'Lightside' (see review HERE) and Miloš Čolović's 'To The Beat of My Footsteps' (see review HERE), 

Artist: DIL Organ Trio

Title: Hammonday

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label : A.MA Records

Catalog Number : 

Format: CD / Digital / Bandcamp (Pre-Order on Bandcamp, Friday, 25th March)