Review: Footshooter - Folding feat. Allysha Joy (Marla Kether Remix) (Tru-Thoughts)

Time to start 'Folding' again with Footshooters big track of the summer now on the remix by Marla Kether.

Following on so soon after Australia's leading funk and soul export, Lance Ferguson and his single with  Rita Satch (see review HERE), the cover of Billie Eilish's 'My Future' (out last week, see review HERE), is Tru-Thoughts acting as some musical embassy middle-man and here's Allysha Joy (last seen on Joy Spheres Rees - see HERE).

Not the best analogy in the world as Ms. Joy is based in the UK and DJ Footshooter (aka Barney Whittaker) is based in 'fashionable' South London.  The track 'Folding' appeared on his debut album for Tru-Thoughts, 'The Oasis' (Ed. 'Oasis' in 2025! What was he thinking?) and for this single, the rather edgey track has been smoothed out and jazzed up by Marla Kether's remix.

When I say 'jazzed', the bass is upfront, the synths are equal to the vocals and it's got some Latin percussion now and, is it just me, can I hear echoes of '2 People' (see review HERE)?

.

Love the orginal, remix and remix instrumental - don't miss this!

Artist: Footshooter

Title: Folding feat. Allysha Joy (Marla Kether Remix)

Release date: 21th October, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD685

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Bubble Wrap Trap - Enter The Bab (Anova Music)

Bubble Wrap Trap, here's an album that's ready of burst and pop as they 'Enter The Bab'. Alright bab-jazz!

Shakti Soundsystem had their own genre-blender of an out on Anova Music last year (see review HERE) and this year the label release the third Bubble Wrap Trap album, 'Enter The Bab'.

Has anyone set out to produce a 14 track album drawing influences from Coltrane to Devo, Molbey to Deerhoof?  I don't it but like Shakti Soundsystem, there's no boundaries here.

The Quintet consist of Tomer Zuzovsky (bass), Uria Hadad (guitar), Eyal Arav (keyboards), Noam Shapira (saxophone) and Guy Ben Ami on drums and they can travel from 'Bab's Vacatation' on a flutey beach Balearic cool to some edgey-jazz funk kraut rock to the Acoustic Ladyland of 'The Flight'; grunge jazz? Surely not!

It's a shame the Delia Derbyshire-esque synth interlude of 'The Elevator' is so short whilst they also dip-their toes into some pumpin' funky 'At The Gym'.

As with 'Epilogue', you're never too sure what's coming next with these guys but happy to 'Enter The Bab' to find out.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Enter the Bab | bubble_wrap_trap

Artist:  Bubble Wrap Trap 

Title:  Enter The Bab 

Release date: 17th October, 2025 

Label : Anova Music

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Good Vibrations Vol. 3 (Good Vibrations Music)

We're used to seeing Sean McCabe's name as an artist and remixer so it's about time we caught up with him as head honcho of Good Vibrations label, now on  compilation Vol. 3!

This time last year, Sean McCabe released 'Only You' featuring (see review HERE) and I said then th Various Artists at, "McCabe has released nearly as many tracks/remixes as Foliage has and he's going to be in demand as much as ever with this one".   

Well, I didn't need a crystal ball for that prediction but the third vinyl cut in this compilation series is sharp with four great tracks and first up has got to be his own collaboratio with Ellis Aaron on 'Got It Bad'.  Sounding like a Gilles Peterson 'golden era' of R&B crossover, it rolls with organ stabs and deep bassline and Aaron's soulful vocals as it evolves deeper into a dub mix.

Talking of Peterson, not Les Nubians but Last Nubian's 'Dance Together', with Goldbar featuring Josh Leon) ups the groove into the deep house BRUK mix as it rides into the string synth space warp.

McCabe is primarily know for his deep/soulful house and he does have a love of a choir, like The Matsiko World Orphan Choir!.  This 12" kicks off with an thier track 'Rise' with a Black Sonix & McCabe extended remix raising the profile of this Liberian based educational/charity project for vulnerable children: certainly worthy of support.

This set peaks (again) with East London's David Bailey's Undergroud Project featuring Austin Jennifer Teresa Harvey (aka MissFly) with a McCadbe vocal mix of 'Baby Don't Make Me Wait' that leads with lush piano and MissFly's soulful vocals that have seen her on stage with the likes of Thelma Houston, Andrew Tosh and The Notorious BIG in the past.

The vinyl versions of Vol. 1 and Vol 2. have long 'SOLD OUT' so don't miss out on Vol. 3.

BUY LINK: www.juno.co.uk

Artist: Various Artists

Title:  Good Vibrations Vol. 3 

Release date: 24th October, 2024

Label: Good Vibrations Music

Cat. No: GVMV007

Format: 12" Vinyl / Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Al Sunny - Summer End (Légère Recordings)

Extend your summer all year with modern soul-pop chanelling the spirit of yatch rock on a funk boat circa 70s and early 80s, that's Al Sunny's new album 'Summer End' - keep ya shades on people!

Légère Recordings' latest is from Al Sunny, the singer-songwriter now based in Nîmes who blends soul, pop, and groove into "a luminous and refined musical universe": if you ever wondered what a gentle George Benson would sound like without the jazz with Hall & Oates at the beach, this must be close with tracks like 'Take Your Time', 'So Lonely' and the title track.  

His debut album, 'Time to Decide' came out in 2017 which was followed by 'Planets' a couple of years later. This second album, recorded at Question de Son studio in Paris using analog equipment and captured live with the backing band of Guts (he of Heavenly Sweatness) which helped him gain recognition beyond France, especially in Japan, where both albums were met with great success.

While soul and pop remain at the heart of Al Sunny’s writing, 'Summer End' incorporates fresh influences from artists like Sault, Khruangbin, Daniel Caesar, Anderson .Paak and Tom Misch. The album stands out for its more nocturnal tones and atmospheric textures, offering an invitation to introspection and relaxation, while representing a subtle, natural evolution of the artist.

Because this sounds familiar and unusual all at the same time, it might take a couple of listens but be sure, you won't be alone digging this one.

BUY LINK: Al Sunny -Summer End - Légère Recordings

 

Artist: Luna Soul
Title: First Move
Release date: 15th Octobr, 2025
Label: Légère Recordings
Cat. No: LEGO385

Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Reiew: Jazzanova - In Between (Remixes) (Sonar Kollektiv)

On the release earlier this year of the live studio version of 'In Between' we were on the boarders of saying, "better than the original" and now we've got the remixes of the original album.

Not that long ago we had Jazzanova's birthday party of 'In Between Revisited - Little Big Beat Studio Live Session - see review HERE) as a celebration of 20 years since Jazzanova released 'In Between' with it's then unique mix of what were labelled as acid jazz broken beat, downtempo, nu-jazz, future jazz, hip-hop and house.

So it was groundbreaking, influencial and it was their debut album! Having themselves made a big name for themselves with the compilation of 'Jazzanova Remixes' back in 2000 it might seem odd that we're waited so long for a new 'In Between' remix but one of the consequences is that they were able to pick on all the hot names on the scene today who have grown up with the tracks.

Such as Crackazat (he of Lovetempo/Toribio - see HERE) with an electromagnetic take on 'No Use' (featuring Clara HIll), Eric Hilton (he of Thievery Corporation and 'Midnight Ragas' - see review HERE) also taking on 'No Use' to a dreamscape and Kid Fonque (he of Stay True Sounds) on 'Another New Day' as it races across the Senegeti.

And talking of which, the 11 remixed tracks album kicks off with a Afro-house inspired 'Another New Day' (Ed. of course it would) by Jacana People that sets the tone 'The One-Tet' still features Capitol A as a "Worldwide" rap on a fun The KBCS remix or the Groove Chronicles broken step refix of the same track perfectly hip-hop warped: It's the nu-style break dance - not for ameteurs. 

And talking of rap, Ursula Rucker words are true today as they were then with 'Keep Falling' with the Magro remix - the power of the MC can nunhuck the media?

But are you the sort of person that'd rush to the modern classic?  'Mwela, Mela (Here I Am'), the Nautilus rework (you won't be disappointed jazzy/broken beat/Rotary Corporation fans) and 'L.O.V.E. and You & I' by DJ Slowz or 'That Night (featuring the fantastic vocals of Vikter Duplaix as a Paskal & Urban Absolutes Remix.

Absolutely stunning whether you know the orginals or not as the album ends on yet another remix of 'No Use', by the Satin Jackets which would fit nicely on the 'Jazzanova Remixed' of 2003 - what happened to that?  Yep, you've guessed it, that's getting ready for a re-issue too!

BUY LINK: In Between (Remixes) | Jazzanova

Artist: Jazzanova

Title: In Between Remixes

Release date: 17th October, 2025

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number : SK500

Format: 2xLP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Reivew: Rubel - Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso? (Mr Bongo)

Last years' "Seu Jorge" is back with more heralded as sophisticated Latin soul-folk-jazz beach-pop that's even more refined and chilled - could that be possible? 

'Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso?' the "difficult" follow-up to 'As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2' (see review HERE) is a gently good as the first. 

If you know Seu Jorge's 'Carolina' (Mr Bongo, 2002), Rubel's has the antedote in 'A Janela, Carolina’ that's a Portuguese version of 'A la Ventana, Carolina' by Mexico's El David Aguilar (worth check that out for a very nice whistle): what a great re-work it is!

And there's only one other cover version and that's from a similar time, Radiohead’s ‘Reckoner’, from the album 'In Rainbows', 2007 that Rubel transforms with the assistance of "Brazilian maestro Arthur Verocai" adding to the beautiful, melancholic textures through his string thand horn arrangements" - it's a fitting climax as his vocal out-Yorke's Thom's original.  

So what of the other seven tracks on the album that are all Rubel's originals. 'Feiticeiro Gozador' is an absolute dream of a guide as it's drenched in Verocai-ist strings and gentle Jobim to Nacimento vibes.  This level of low intensity is a feature of his compositions with his vocals and acoutic guitar (Ed. the album cover photo almost says it all).

It's all beatiful but if pressed, I'd say 'Noite De Réveillon' is just that bit more with a gentle trumpet solo adding to the softness of the strings whilst, having no knowlegde of Portuguese as a language, I'm guessing 'Carta De Maria' and 'Praticar a Teimosia' are the the love songs of choice.

Not the same as Mr Bongo's last album release, Nina Maia's 'Inteira', the deluxe edition (see review HERE) but there's clearly some Latin American music history links and Rubel is an important addition to it.

BUY LINK: https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/beleza-mas-agora-a-gente-faz-o-que-com-isso

Artist: Rubel

Title: Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso?

Release date: 17th October, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP320

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Lance Ferguson - My Future feat. Rita Satch (Tru-Thoughts)

Lance is back for more with a single that singles the future is looking bright with Rita Satch - out today!

Australian musicians have a lot to thank Lance Ferguson for as it was he that largely funked and souled his way into putting the spotlight on Melbourne having worked with Kylie Auldist in the Bamboos, Cooking On 3 Burners, Rare Groove Spectrum, Machines Always Win, Menagerie and most recently, The Ferguson Rogers Process.

You'll recall his album 'L’Océan de toi' (see review HERE) from earlier this year but this single, 'My Future' is a return to another one of his areas of expertise, the cover version (this time Billy Elish) and features the vocals of Rita Satch; yes the same '[Meet Me In The Garden' Rita Satch (see review HERE).

And don't take this the wrong way Rita, the instrumental version is a corker with the trumpet solo - such a shame it fades out.

Ferguson has been a regular feature on Craig Charles' 'Funk & Soul' Radio Show (BBC 6 Music) and with the news that this is a taster for the album, 'Rare Groove Spectum, Vol. 3, expect to hear his all over groovy radio station.

Artist: Lance Ferguson

Title: My Future ft. Rita Satch 

Release date: 16th October, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD677

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Peter Evans - Being & Becoming - Ars Ludicra (More Is More Records)

Acclaimed trumpet player, improvisor, and composer based in New York City, Peter Evans 'Ars Ludicra' as the best jazz avant-garde experimental out-there  album of the the year!

This time last year, Evans made his debut on We Jazz records with an album called 'Extra' (see review HERE) so is 'Ars Ludicra' the "extra mile"?  We'll, we should say that this is the 'extra Miles (Davis) in his fusion era ludicrous extremes!  Possibly in the relm of 'Panthalassa' as re-imagined, not by Bill Laswell, but as a live jazz band trio plus Evans.

Recorded in the Van Gelder Studios, Evans in joined in the band by Joel Ross (vibraphone, synth), Nick Jozwiak (bass, synth) and Michael Shekwoaga Ode (drums) and it's fantastic; and hats off to the mixing/mastering/production as the sound is so pure it's like being there.

Of the top of my head, trumpet and vibes albums? Dizzy and Cal Tajder but nothing near this. Donald Ayler and?  No, this is definitive. And Nick and Michael as a drum and bass unit are superb.  And to top it off, added synth features is a further bit more.

Every track sounds better than the last so I'm not going to mention whether one is better than another but if you a fan of previous single, 'Pulsar' for it's full on attack of trumpet in a musique concrète setting of blending synths, you're going to love 'My Sorrow Is Luminous' (that features a guest appearance of Alice Teyssier on flute).

It's not all battering you senses as 'Images' is a gentle at dawn and contradictory, closes the album.

It might only be a five track album but it takes 'Jazz Not Jazz' over the 'More Is More' threshold and this was captured after a period of extensive touring so if you have seen them at any of their sell-out show this year, you will not be disappointed.

A great follow-up to 'Extra' as Evans' style of Davis' fusion is pushed further in to relm of "controlled abandom" and fans from  BBC 6 Music New Music Fix, Bandcamp Weekly, Jazz FM, New York City Jazz Record and Peter Margasak's Nowhere Street will be please to hear that there's rumours of a follow-up too!  Don't mis out.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (Vinyl): Ars Ludicra | Peter Evans, Being & Becoming | Peter Evans

Artist: Pete Evans - Being & Becoming 

Title: Ars Ludicra

Release date: 17th October, 2025

Label :More Is More Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: LP /  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: effgee - Your Light (with Nico Lahs Remix) (fellice)

effgee's relatively new label comes up with a great 12" and a bit of a coup with a Nico Lahs remix!

You'll recall it wasn't that long ago we we're eager for the "Bari Boys", Nicola Conte and Nico Lahs combination (as Tema Due) and their EPs 1 & 2 (see review HERE) and then we spot he's on this new 12".  So, you'll instantly expect an "Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Latin" element, the remix has fantastic soulful 'Your Light' vocals and a touch of the spiritual jazz harp; in fact there's a bit of a Bob Marley vibe to it - is that just me?

But that's not all as the original version is a little bit deeper and a touch of a dub and just to show that when the light needs to be shined, lets move to the electronic fields with 'Birds' on the synth heavy dancefloor and what do you think the rollin' 8 minutes of 'Roland Bass' features?

To celebrate, the 12" comes as a 'Special Edition' as each of the 250 copies comes with a hand screen-printed sleeve (Ed. Respect Sun Ra).

Limited edition and individual sleeves, don't hang around and pre-order as soon as!

BUY LINK: https://fellice.bandcamp.com/

Artist: effgee

Title:  Your Light

Release date: 17th October, 2025

Label : fellice

Catalog Number : fellice 005

Format: Limited Edition 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: NOVINE - Shot Me Down / Therapy (ft. Braxton Cook)

When it comes to titles, I think I'd prefer 'Knock Me Down' but you'll more than  likely knocked out by the vocals on 'Shot Me Down' with Novine's R&B soul vocals - if not in need of some therapy.

Berlin based, Heldelberg born and raised by German dad and Jamaican mum, a little surprising that NOVINE has such a mid-Altanic neo-soul vocal a la Sade.  This is not a put down, this lady is cool.

It's a shame 'Shot Me Down' has such a sharp ending but that's more than mad up for by 'Therapy' that features a great sax solo by Braxton Cook.

BUY LINK: https://tr.ee/R_nyDr9SPf

Artist: NOVINE

Title: Shot Me Down / Therapy (ft. Braxton Cook)

Release date: 16th October, 2025

Label : -

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp