Review: Jean Jacques Smoothie - 2People Remixes (ft. Richard Earnshaw & The NRG) (Colour & Pitch)

Hold on! Jean Jacques Smoothie is on Colour & Pitch! With '2 People' remixes! How exciting is that as a 9 track EP? No duplicitous accusations of YATM being duplcitous here as we all need to get the duo spirit in the remix.

It might surprise you to hear that the original '2 People' came out nearly 25 years ago.  Time has treated the love for the track well in a diso-deep house-synth-pop classic sense.

But as Jean Jacques Smoothie (aka Steve Robson) himself says, "you can't be a 'One Hit Wonder' and not celebrate your one hit!"   And this is just a perfect celebration and perfectly timed. 

JJS kicks off with this own 'Dubwise' version with 'classic' downtempo dub addition of a melodica solo by Rochenko and talk of downtempo - and has already been featured on Saturday's Dubmission show, #1378, WYEP Pittsburg - see HERE,

From dub to ambient extremes with 'The NRG Chillout' version that is so dreamy sublime, you need this for alone.

Does that mean we can ignore the Richard Earnshaw 'Inner Spirit' remixes?   I don't think so with the house vocal and instrumental versions drenched in echos.  

The vocals are by Tara Busch (from a 2011 remix package re-issue) should not to be compared to the original Minnie Riperton sample of the original, when French sample-based disco house was all the rage, as its equally emotional and "spinal shiver sending".

This will 100% be featured in this months' Colour & Pitch Mix: in fact, it's so mesmerizing, it could fill the full hour! See below, sort of, with special guest appearances of, not "Steve from Legal", but Jean Jaques Smoothie himself.

BUY LINK: 2People Remixes | Jean Jacques Smoothie

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Jean Jacques Smoothie - September 2025

Artist: Jean Jacques Smoothie

Title:2People Remixes EP

Release date: 3rd October, 2025

Label:  Colour and Pitch

Catalog Number: CAP094SDG1

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yarni - Anemoia (Stanhope Records)

If you put together the spirit of Galliano, Urban Species, Brand New Heavies, Roots Manuva, Ty, early Cinematic Orchestra and similar together, Yani's 'Anemoia' isn't too far from that: yes, it's that good! 

So Yarni is a multi-instrumentalist that's absorbs influences and manages to producer more than the sum of the whole - heard it before?  Well tune into this 'Neon God' and tell me I'm wrong. 

There's no surprise that Benjamin Harris (aka Yarni) has got mates like Sheffield-based Franz Von's, Jeff Darko and Plumm to help out as his fan base is already full of the best of BBC 6 Music's DJ's Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan and Deb Grant plus the maverick, Luke 'É Soul Cultura' Una.

We've heard the single 'Natural Light' and we know Franz Von from 'We Live' that featured wolf peaches (see review HERE) whilst the hip-hop beats takes us down Brazilian cuica and soul-jazz groove and even as good as the sax matches the lyrics - wait 'till you here 'The Romantic Ghost' featuring Plumm: don't you dare treat her like a nutter!  "Tiger Bay", I say no more.  And whilst it's possibly easy to romanticize this album (no pun etc), it's the overall choice of collaborator that gives the ten tracks such a wide appeal; like the string arrangement on 'Temperature's Rising', featuring Nathaniel Short, although it's a shame it doesn't extend into a full-on 'Roy Ayers' vibes solo 

Talking of jazz-funk, James Atashroo's trumpet-purity turns up on 'Silent City' and 'Spell Is Ovr' which adds to the Balearic-jazz-beach.

Bes Bluma vocals on 'Locked Down' remind me a bit of a Fat Freddy Drop (and also see Louis Baker's 'Keep On' - see review HERE); wonder if they'll be as many remixes for 'Locked Down'?

There's another stunning vocal on 'S.W.A.L.K' by Scarlett Fae (Ed. that's 'sealed with a kiss').

The album ends on his take on Afrobeat with 'Nino' (again with Atashroo at his best) and as the vinyl availabilty is very limited so we'd advise to get your pre-orders in now.

BUY LINK:  https://linktr.ee/YarniAnemoia

Artist: Yarni

Title: Anemoia 

Release date: 3rd October, 2025
Label : Stanhope Records 

Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Limited Vinyl LP/CD package / Limited Edition LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Joseph Malik - Adult Contemporary (Oddball Creatives Remix EP) (Ramrock Red Records)

For those keeping up with Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony' story, 'Variant Issue', the Nippon diversion via Shuya Okino - and here's the latest twist from Edinburgh as The Oddball Creatives gets on the remix at La Beat Soul Club!

As regular readers will know, YATM has been a big fan of Joseph Malik since his early days on Compost, Altered Vibes/Hundred Strong and most recently on the Ramrock family of labels.  As a duo with Daniel 'Digital Liquid' Walls (aka, the 'Oddball Creatives') they've gone to town (or should that be the soul club?) with a couple of Edinburgh pals.  Well known jazz trumpeter Colin Steele (inc. the Proclaimers) and Steven Christie (keyboards) with new remixes as a and final relese for Joseph on Ramrock Records.

This one is for fans of Pépé Bradock, Moodymann, Peven Everett et al with old skool soul-jazz house: and those with good a memory will recall the a previous jazz collab with Linkwood on 'Miles Away'.

Darren Morris (he of North Street West Studios, Union I & II - see HERE - and more) mixed the Oddball Creatives ‘La Beat Soul Club Tribute’ remix and added additional piano, bass and strings as Joseph's tribute/dedication to his favourite soul club in the world, Edinburgh's ‘La Beat Soul Club’. 

Shout outs to The La Beat DJs, Gavin Elder, Brian Gordon and Ross Wilson’s DJ who  inspired Joseph and Daniel to go home after the club night to reinterpret ‘Adult Contemporary'.

And when Terry Farley (FAITH and much more) "gets it" and has said, "That’s incredible mate. It's the kind of track that reminded me of the 'I Need You’ era, Sylvester mixed with NYC morning music/sleaze that got played at iconic Manhattan clubs like The Saint as the dancers came down off their uppers and the Quaaludes kicked in. The vocal is beautiful, and the mix never takes the turns you expect. To make such a very left field and clever track without losing its core danceability isn’t an easy trick but Joseph’s vocal performance nails it in the most beautiful way”.

Can't argue with that - a great way to start the week - out today!

P.S. Irvine Welsh (Edinburgh notable) likes it too!

BUY LINK: RRR091 - Joseph Malik - Adult Contemporary 'Oddball Creatives' Remix EP | Joseph Malik, Oddball Creatives, Steven Christie, Colin Steele | Ramrock

Artist: Joseph Malik

Title: Adult Contemporary (Oddball Creatives Remix EP)
Release date: 29th September, 2025
Cat. No: RRR091

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: James Hayford & BiggaBush - Split EP (Filtered Deluxe Recordings)

Fans of Glyn 'Bigga' Bush will know he's likes to play with himself, as a solo artist, with different personalities as Lightning Head, Studio Don and more shades of BiggaBush than you can shake a trip-hop / dancehall / dub / funk stick at.   And that doesn't stop when working with other artists or remixers like this 'Split' EP on a brand new label goes to show.

As regular readers will instantly recognise, James 'Shoes' Hayford from the remixes on 'A Differen Style' EP that came out at the very end of 2022.  His version of 'Sole Sister' is a warped Augusto Pablo electronic dub that's very Steve 'On The Wire' Barker, One Deck Pete & Madtone, Wetherall, Peel, Gökmen (see below) etc: remembering the 'Freevisited' version was much more 'Mary Celeste'-Balearic.

So, after that successful collaboration, it only seemed right that BiggaBush would remix one of James' tracks.  Like many others, James made a name for himself with the 'Shoes Edits' from Kraftwerk to Bohannon to Al Green and loads more; some quite obscure too!  I wonder how he felt letting Bigga reverse the favour but the ambient shuffle dnb of his original 'Flowers Of Thy Womb' lends itself to a deeper dub a la Bigga style.

With both these versions on the New EP, the four track are made up with Biggabush's 'Come To The Cruch' that starts "with a smooth mid-tempo beat, a layered piano groove, and slowly building into a head-nodding chugger".. It ['Come To Crunch'] perfect is so many wasy as it "delivers layers of beefy drums, a slinky bassline, vocal samples, and strings that conclude into a beautiful summertime jam".

So as the honors are evenly shared with a track each and a remix of the otheres' each, this 'Split' is anything but acrimonious and with this much love, expecting more collaborative releases with James Hayford and BiggaBush (Ed. and others?), as well as labels Filtered Deluxe and Tru Thoughts Recordings.

Other BiggaBush info can be had HERE with the interview and the review of 'A Different Style EP' (see HERE) that includes the Hectic Extended version of 'This River' which only the other day, Kerem 'Dubmission' Gökmen described as 'iconic' on his show 28.09.25 (and featured in the 'I blame the Coal Board mix').   

Artwork[Collage]: Brian Covet

Artwork[Design]: Brian Covet

Artist: James Hayford & BiggaBush
Title: Split EP
Release date:26th September, 2025
Label : Filtered Deluxe Recordings
Catalog Number: FDRV01
Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various - Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza (selected by DJ Alfredo) (Rebirth)

Alfredo Fiorito was an Argentinian DJ who has been credited as the "Father of the Balearic beat" after moving to Ibiza in the 70s and being 'discovered' by London centric 'big heads', Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Johnny Walker and Nicky Holloway as early Chicago house gets mixed with jazz-funk grooves and "Bob's your Uncle", we've had years of Balearic dancefloor cool.

After DJ Alfredo's sad passing last Christmas, it's taken a while to get an album that he was working on together that truely celebrates his legacy and the Island with a combination of tracks to give us that mix of ambient synth Italo lounge groove that'll fit in to any elongated Pikes session that other wise can link the likes of Nitzer Ebb, Fania Records' legend Willie Colón to one hit wonders like Funkapolitan and Mary Smith (yes, that one - if you don't know, don't bother to look her up). 

And that's often the beauty of the of the original scene of the foresight of what is 'Balearic' as it could stretch to Chris Rea whilst today, we've got dedicated label's with long histories like the pre-eminent NuNorthern Soul and they're that's releases like JILO's 'Mirage's Colours' (see review HERE) which also follows the equally essential Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE) and Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE).

Don't the road at Ibiza's 'Café del Mar', José Padilla (another originator who passed away in 2020) is represented by a A Man Called Adam mix of the track 'Still Waters'.  And you couldn't have a compilation with the presence of Andrew Weatherall (RIP), a remixes of the jazzy 'Fall' by Deep Joy and The Woodleigh Research Facility plus as The Sabres of Paradise.

DJ Alfredo, being a man for all seasons is represented by a couple of his own tracks, a collaboration with Cathy Battislessa and Arain 911 on the previously unreleased and poignant,  'Moral Of The Story'.

Equally such a compilation could not include 808 State's 'Pacific State' which itself has been included on 100s of comps but with my Charity Shop Classic hat on, what I do love about this is that you can also Mr Fingers and Penguin Cafe Orchestra alongside an unrelease Thrashing Doves track; 'Old Grey Whistle Test' anyone?

It's been said that this release "beautifully reflects Alfredo's musical life... well composed and a great selection!"; it's what he'd have loved too!

BUY LINK: Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza (selected by DJ Alfredo) | Various Artists | Rebirth Records

Cover image by Yves Uro. Artwork by sanchelife.com

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza (selected by DJ Alfredo) 

Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label : Rebirth
Catalog Number : REB131,REB057CD
Format:   2 x LP Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Artist: AgostaTitle: For TodayRelease date: 26th September, 2025Label : Space Echo RecordsCatalog Number LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Amazing modern Balearica form Space Echo Records with Agosta's album 'For Today' that's got dreamy dub, jazz, psych and trip hop elements to take it even further out to space.

A genre-defying album blending trip-hop, folk, indie rock, psychedelia, and electronic textures into a cinematic, emotionally rich soundscape.

A deeply introspective work, pairing poetic lyrics with themes of love, identity, and the human experience, all delivered with refined production and melodic depth.

Features five tracks with female collaborators, whose voices add emotional nuance, generational perspective, and lyrical sensitivity to the album’s narrative.

Balances vintage warmth and modern sound design, inviting listeners into a thoughtful, immersive experience that resonates both intellectually and emotionally.

Perfect timing for pre/post listening to the significant of DJ Alfredo's retrospective selections on the compilation, 'Paraíso. The True Spirit Of Ibiza' (see review HERE).

Artist: Agosta

Title: For Today

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label : Space Echo Records

Catalog Number  LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: BABON - Tropical Desert (Wonderwheel Recordings)

Indonesian instrumental jazz outfit BABON's album is fantastic atmospheric and cinematic instrumental that going to be a big, there's life in that 'Tropical Desert'!

To follow up previous singles, 'Wolter Waltz’ is "BABON's interpretation and tribute to one of Indonesia’s revolutionary heroes, Wolter Monginsidi. While many in Jakarta may recognize his name BABON peels back the layers of familiarity and reveals a more human and complex narrative. The waltz—a dance marked by elegance and tension - mirrors the struggle, luck, and resilience required to resist oppression and fight for independence. As the music builds in intensity, the track ends with three gunshots, symbolizing the tragic end of his life and the ultimate sacrifice he made for freedom".  

Now that's cinematic and somewhat unexpected after their single 'Deset Rose' / 'TNT' on Batov Records last year (see review HERE) but as the press says, they're inspired by "legendary Spaghetti Western composers like Piero Umiliani and Henry Mancini, Latin grooves reminiscent of Trio Los Panchos, Afro-funk, Middle Eastern influences from Elias Rahbani, and the soul-funk vibrations of Menahan Street Band."

The rest of this 10 track debut albumis just as good as the three singles.  The album starts like an upbeat desert 'Openness Trio' (by Nate Mercereau, Josh Johnson & Carlos Niño -see review HERE) with 'Bubuka' before getting into their-Batov-style with the previous single, 'Cacti Traveller'.

'Heat', 'Big Cat, Small Jungle' and 'Sawduzt' are brilliant as the band add elements of The Doors organ sound, 60s surf and Pulp Fiction OST; Oh! why not Herb Alpert too!  Get you're Marlboro's out for 'Tabacco Country' and ya 60s dancin' shoes on for 'The Chase' a la Randal & Hopkirk vs. The Prisoner. 

There's nine instrument tracks plus 'Pesan dari Gurun' that features Frau, a "well known voice on the Indonesian indie-folk scene" which is a perfect role in this setting, you could say, it's very much in the band's dramatic Wheel House (Ed. shouldn't that be, 'Wonderwheel House'?)

The album ends on the other single, 'Mirage' as a Morricone meets guitar twang which, at 6 mins kind of encapsulates the album's character, as at the same time, I'm thinking at some stage, this LP is going to be supptorting 'Album of the Year' stickers on it as it's pushes world-folk-jazz-funk-psych in all departments.

,

BUY LINK : https://ffm.to/tropical-desert.HGW

Artist: BABON

Title: Tropical Desert

Release date: 26th September, 2022

Label : Wonderwheel Recordings

Catalog Number : WONDERLP72

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Afrodream - Guiss Guiss (Rubik Music)

Wth members from Senegal, Argentina, France & Italy, Afrodream are a mini-WOMAD in themselves but as a whole, with the new album 'Guiss Guiss' it's a mini-Festival in itself.

Having played Glastonbury, Saalfeld Jazz Festical, Jazzahead and more, the Turnin based band's message of tolerance and understanding to the dance of Afrobeat, ethnojazz and tropical funk fusion is spreading far and wide.

Mostly sung in French, apart from the Française/English lyrics of the "declaration" of intent of the opening track, 'La musique de mélange'.  But this album is full of fun, life, movement and some killer horn.  This is typical Charlie Gillett (who sadly passed some 15 years ago now) who would have played this on BBC Radio London and the World Service without doubt; thankfully, Gilles Petterson and DJ GUTS are still with us spreading the word.

'Ma mère', 'Jambar' (translates as "warrior" in Wolof, as spoken in Senegal/W. Africa) and 'Ma belle” are all tributes to women whilst 'Afrotrip' and 'Bamako' are big crowd pleasers: particularly the rockin' 'Afrotrip'.

'Ethnique' is another call for love and unity and the eight track album closes with a ballad 'Où va le vent' which shows, as if we didn't know before, what great musicians these guys are.

WOMAD is back in Afr2026 so lets make sure Afrodream's dreams come true and get 'em on the bill.

Radio WOMAD 2024 - OVERNIGHT MIXES - Gerry Hectic - HERE

Artist: Afrodream
Title:  Guiss Guiss
Release date: 26th September, 2025
Label : Rubik Music

Catalog Number : RM003
Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound - Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood (DeepMatter Records)

Not usual to see trades in the NFL but there's a healthy respect between Vikings and Eagles so, musically, when the lead singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer best known for Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos (Minnesota) teams up with the Eraserhood Sound (aka Maxwell Perla & Vincent John of Philadelphia) we get ‘Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood’ that's deep into the golden era of soul.

Nine tracks drenched in that combine Jr. Thomas' vocals and songwritig with the production of the duo of Maxwell and Vincent in thier Philly studio (with was Questlove's at one stage!).

Fans of modern soul like the Cold Diamond & Mink at Timmion, Jalen Ngonda and Steven Bamidele (with the recent THE CRASH! album - see review HERE) with some great flute gang and vibrazone jazzy flavours.

Very different to the label's recent SHOLTO releases and Blue Earth Sound (see review HERE) but it'll be somewhere in the middle with 'Thank You Honey' and the Modern Room of 'Can't Leave You Alone'.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Jr. Thomas in The Eraserhood | Jr. Thomas

Vincent John – Bass, Guitar, Synth
Maxwell Perla – Drums, Auxiliary Percussion, Congas
Raynier Jacildo – Piano, B3 Hammond, Wurlitzer, Synth
Ron Kerber – Flute
Angelo Outlaw —Vibraphone
Turquoise Cobb – Backing vocals
Zeek Burse - Backing vocals
Thomas McDowall - lead vocals, backing vocals, synth

 

Artist: Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound 
Title:  Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Michael Reinboth – Morbus Mütze (Compost Records)

It's been over a year since we had a release by Michael Reinboth, but when they do come along, you know it's going to be a good 'un! 

Last seen with the single 'Let The Spirit' / 'RS6 Avant' (see review HERE), Reinboth is back with a 3 track EP of "techno-tinged, ocean-deep instrumentals" - 'Morbus Mütze' comes in two forms, 'Curable Piano Version' and 'Incurable Version'.  

I wonder how long he was looking for a "cure" for the incurable and what alturnatives he tried before settling on the piano; heavy Latin percussion?  Spacey synth house?   Either way, Dr. Michael has found his 'Morbus Mütze' (Ed. it's a 'secret' term used by doctors to describe patients with hypochondria. These are people who never actually have anything concrete to show for their condition, but constantly imagine that they do).

On the flip, he finds more inspiration in the medical science with 'Neurodiversity' that hits electronic connections all over the dancefloor that's dark on some listens and enlightening on others.

Michael Reinboth?  Just to re-cap, "After early Beanfield productions, circa 20 remixes (some old ones labelled simply Compost Remixes), more than 30 compilations and 30+ years of running Compost, a few 12”s under alter egos, Compost boss Michael Reinboth finally decides to liberate the alias and mystic".  I'd say, Beanfield were at their zenith 20 years ago with 'Tides' with Ripperton and Carl Craig remixes so it's great to have a more 'Reinboth' as a 'revival' of sorts and hopefully a full album soon(?)

BUY LINK: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/MichaelReinboth_MorbusMutze

Artist: Michael Reinboth

Title: Morbus Mütze

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 659-3

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp