Review: Or Kantor - Snake Island (Anova Music)

"'Snake Island' is more than an album—it's a mythic, imagined soundtrack to a film that only exists in memory, rendered in tones that shimmer like heat on stone", Anova Music know the twang is the thang!

If you remember Bubble Wrap Trap's album 'Enter The Bab' (see review HERE) and Shakti Soundsystem genre-blender of album (see review HERE), you might have some inkling of Or Kantor's cinematic OST to a film that never was as a tribute to a Mediterrean spaghetti western that surfs and psychs with spoken word poetry, twangy guitars and 60s mod-organ.

So this is 'Snake Island' that has built and evolved from Kantor's debut album, 'Sarda Sarda' (see review HERE) and you can throw Herb Alpert and Mulatu Astatke in with his other named influences, Gábor Szabó (jazz electric guitarist), Omar Khorshid (Eygptian electric guitar) and Dorothy Ashby (spiritual jazz harp); there's a touch of Delia Derbyshire going on too!

The spoken word poetry is a bit Twin Peaks meets Jeb Loy Nichols which is scary and a treat all at the same time, I can see why you'd want to 'Escape From Snake Island' (the closer and "all guns blasing" monster of the ten track album) but don't be put off as you'd want to buy a ticket to this "Fantasy Island" in the first place: remember Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo?

PS. For those that don't know, Johnny Sharoni, A&R at Anova Records, met Kantor during a tattoo session which led to his first album being released: you couldn't make it up.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Snake Island | Or Kantor

Artist:  Or Kantor

Title:  Snake Island

Release date: 21st November, 2025 

Label : Anova Music

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: SHOLTO - The Sirens (DeepMatter Records)

SHOLTO's musical vision of sirens, being the every day tale of "a number of women or winged creatures whose singing lured unwary sailors on to rocks" is as dreamy and cinematic as the cover artwork!

There's been much anticipation of "cinematic maestro" SHOLTO's as the follow-up to 2024's double album, 'Letting Go Of Forever' (see review HERE).  

Being his third album in three years he's not running out of ideas and I think it's fair to say the 'The Sirens' is even deeper into the cinematic as a soundtrack to the film without a film, 'The Sirens' and the "themes of duality, temptation, and emotional dislocation, in SHOLTO’s words, “blurring grief with groove, seduction and surrender”".

We know that SHOLTO is based in Hackney (Ed. which is not London's version of Hollywood) where he's joined by Syd Kemp (bass), Clementine Brown (strings) and Rachel Horton Kitchlew (harp) which makes the sound so much bigger.

Singles like 'Tied To The Mast' that brings to mind the story of JMWTurner's famous painting, 'Snow Storm, Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth' or is it Odysses lashed to the mast; John William Waterhous et al? Either way, there's the 'after the storm' moment of calm as the harp generates the 'sea mists' .

What really gets this album deep into the romantics are the strings and the use of the harp that is perfectly embraced on the lead single ‘Persephone’s Perception’ that "sets up the mythological themes of the album, reimagining the Greek goddess’s descent to Queen of the Underworld as a choice!  A steady, rolling groove, low-slung bass, and euphoric string break set up a call-and-response between shadow and light, with SHOLTO embracing the beauty".

Follow up single ‘Smooth Sailing’ was a bit different as it features vocalist Phoebe Coco who perfectly reflects the other world nature of the lure of the sea. Other guests include Thomas McBrien on keys ('Temptress') and you're definitely warned by 'Invisible Conductor of the Orchestra (Come With Me)' featuring the mysterious spoken vocals of Lea Petges.

There's even more foreboding whilst there's some proper Morricone 'Swampland Of The Soul' and 'Purple Flow' (Ed. this must have been recorded in Italy?) and talking of OST, Oscar ‘SHOLTO’ Robertson has proved himself as the latest link between the likes of Sven Libaek, Piero Umiliani and David Axelrod and those is the wake of bands/producers of Surprise Chef, Sven Wunder and The Cinematic Orchestra/Jason Swincoe like on 'Ghibli's Dream'.  

This is likely to be all over those DJ's of choice like Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne, Huey Morgan and Deb Grant (BBCR6), Jyoty (Rinse FM) and Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) so recommended to get on the pre-order as demand will be high.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The Sirens | SHOLTO

Artist: SHOLTO
Title:   The Sirens

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : DMSH02

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Drums, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Flute, Percussion, Vocals – Oscar 'Sholto' Robertson

Vocals – Phoebe Coco, Lea Petges

Bass – Syd Kemp

Piano & Keys – Thomas McBrien

Harp – Rachel Kitchlew

Strings (Violin, Viola) – Clementine Brown

Cello – Sebrina Lambert Rose

Flute – Arthur Sajas

Artist – Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon

Vinyl Designer – Liam Kay

Review: Ballin'TheJackOrchestra - Con Man Firmation (Trygger Music)

Whether you know the term "Ballin' the Jack" as the title of the popular song from 1913 or another railway themed definition, here's the Swedish jazz orchestra that confirms that there's plenty of jazz swing/blues with their trumpet player, Thomas Driving, (the train)!

"Young" Mr. Driving knows his chops and with Håkan Trygger (double bass and arrangements) and Charlie Malmberg (baritone saxophone) who are themselves 50% of the Choco Chatru Quartet (see review HERE) together with Ture Trygger (alto saxophone, Håkan's son), Anders Färdal (guitar) and Martin Wikström (drums) with trombone duties split between Dicken Hedrenius and Olle Eklind you get this unique combination.

But don't expect any of CCQ's 'concept' jazz (they've got their next album on the label coming out soon called 'Lost Christmas' - review coming soon) as this is, what they describe, a "no-generation-band" as the age range is 18-81 years old (Ed. there should be some reference to 'Palindrome'?)

If you do a search on 'Ballin' The Jack' you'll come across a huge selection of jazz history but this band has its roots in the Swedish band Gugge Hedrenius Big Blues Band in which Håkan played in for 10 years, Charlie since the 90s with the 'Jazz Ballroom Night' LP and Thomas for almost 30 years; whilst Dicken Hedrenius (Gugge's son) has been involved all his life.  Such was the band's standing, over the year it's attracted guesting jazz musicians, from across the pond including Mel Lewis, Hank Crawford, Sabu Martinez and more.

With this heritage, it didn't take much for Håkan to spot the potential for a merger (or could that be a 'con(man)firmation'?) of like minds and arrangements.  Like the title track, that you might think Benny Goodman doing trad jazz but it's more subtle than that as we find jazz guitar in the safe hands Anders, Martin's swinging drums and Dickin's trombone. 

And then, you'd think that this formation, with their love of Big Band/Orchestra Swing, would stick to this formula? So they do to an extent with 'Blues For Ronnie' (written by Ture and not a tribute to the original baritone sax player was Ronny Stennson, but for the jazz drummer Ronnie Gardiner – a fantastic person and drummer, originally from america but who has lived in Sweden for many years) with Thomas, Anders, Dicken and the drum'n'bass team standing out.

Talkin' of the blues, 'Mood Indigo' is a long time standard from lounge to charity shop so this might be the best version you've ever heard! And then, Duke Ellington's 'Prelude To A Kiss' sounds inspired by a downtown sleazy night club (perhaps it was) and 'Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You' is the upgrade to a smokey jazz club with movie soundtrack aspirations.

But hang on, the tracks (like the band) are a mix of old and new. There's originals like 'Rena Hjärtat' ('Pure Heart', written by Håkan)) which is like an instrumental Chevalier Brothers big band without the vibes and bar room sweat (the campaign to get Daniel Kåse guesting on vibraphone starts here) and the boppy 'The Swedish Apple' (another written by Håkan) that's ready for the jazzdance.

At the time of release, we've had three supermoons events ('Harvest', 'Beavour' and 'Cold') and this album starts with a version of the blues standard 'Moonglow' that's a quicker version than Bob Freedman's (the one that appears on his 'Music To Strip By' album) and its a 'shared' track that sets the style for the rest of the album that needs to play on repeat to get the best out of it.

It's great to see Swedish jazz lineage go both ways here (with Håkan and Ture following Gugge and Dicken) and with exponents delivering a new take to a non-generational audience (much like when Gilles Peterson 'discovered' British Jazz 30 years after its peak).  What's that you say, "The Ornette Coleman Trio at the 'Golden Circle ' Stockholm?  I wonder!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://tidal.com/album/472271824/u

Artist: Ballin' The Jack Orchestra

Title: Con Man Firmation

Release date: 20th November, 2025

Label: Trygger Music

Catalog Number : TM3

Format : Vinyl LP / Spotify / Tidal 

Review: Run Logan Run - LV:HRD (EP) (Ankh Sanctuary)

‘LV:HRD’ are broadcasting part 2 of thier Prey For Peace (2022)/LV:HRD/Ears trilogy, this is the 'small' band version of deeper studio jazz avant-industrial - receivers at the ready!

Bristol's music scene has also been on an edge, both musically and location wise, like  the many Larry Stabbins projects, Portishead, Get The Blessing et al.  And Run Logan Run is another as Andrew Neil Hayes (saxophonist/bandleader) and longtime collaborators BB.JAMES (vocals), producer Jonathan Wolf and new recruit, Ryan Thrupp (drums) as they get more experimental with this 4 track EP. 

After Hayes’ broke up the original band that released four albums prior to 'Prey For Peace' (the last one being produced by Riaan Vosloo, he of Nostagia 77 and 6161 - see  review HERE and HERE) he wanted to experiment and now "explores compassion amid chaos, touching on illness, grief, and loving through hardship".   

The use of auto-tuned sax/vocal hybrids ('Without Comma Enough'), punishing industrial grooves ('Skew Yew')  and psychedelic rhythmic interplay ('Wake And Shake') gives the whole thing a Bristolian post-dubstep apocalypse that is 'saved' by the 'straight' sax elements that sit alongside the weirdness of electronica that sounds like (sort of) melodica A. Pablo vs. Throbbing Gristle disco ('Shit Poems').

This is far more NTS that Jazz FM and makes JMMR's new album (check 'Resistence Is Fertile' - see HERE) positively mainstream!  Exciting stuff!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: LV:HRD | Run Logan Run

Artist: Run Logan Run

Title: LV:HRD (EP)

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label: Ankh Sanctuary

Catalog Number:TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili - Selected Works 1984 - 2002 (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul are off the beach with an incredible retrospective of Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili!

We've had some great releases from NuNorthern Soul of late, like two remix EPs of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' (see review HERE and HERE) plus the stunning B.J. Smith 'Dedications To The Greats Vol. 4: Don't Be Cruel' featuring Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn (see review HERE) so when I say, in this office at least, the excitement of the news of a 'Selected Works' covering a near 20 year period of Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili as founded by the Dutch jazz keyboardist and bandleader.

Van't Hof has a big jazz heritage with albums alongside both US an European 'big heads' like Archie Schepp, Jean-Luc Ponty, Lol Coxhill, Philip Catherine, Larry Coryell, Joachim Kühn, Michael and Urszula Dudziak and many more so the formation of Pili Pili as an electro-acoustic Afro-fusion collective was a bit of a surprise, especially in 1984.

That said, don't be put off that it's only six tracks out of 11 albums on this 12".  Starting with 'Ile' from their debut album with is a bit like a Afro version of Chick Corea's Electric Band or the more World end of Weather Report the tracks are anything but 'standard'.

By 1987, 'Jakko Jakko' is more Afro synth pop vs. Yello and you can imagine this one being on any Sven Väth 'What I Used to Play' compilation or 'Life Size' (same year) that's basic percussion with Afro-football chant with the Nyabinghi; the band includes pecussionist from Benin and Mali (and at one stage, vocalist Angelique Kidjo).

'Hippo Hips' sounds like it should be the Afro-funker but no, that goes to 'My Gongoma' from 1985 that's heavy on the disco cowbell with echose of Manu Dibango the Cameroon/Paris fusion pioneer 20 years prior to the start of Pili Pili. 

The set ends with 2002's 'Soubatcha' on synth/kalimba/chant as Philophon goes Steve Reich which is another one set to dominate dancefloors as a early warm-up to the return of WOMAD next year (Ed. don't forget Hectic's Radio WOMAD overhight mix - HERE).

If you've already got the Ryo Kawasaki and Joan Bibiloni retrospectives on the label, this is a third must have to put next to their 12" of 'Pili-Pili' as 'Balearic' Coyote Double Drop edit from last year. 

Liner Notes music historian Matt Anniss. Artwork by Chris Maude.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Selected Works 1984 to 2002 | Jasper Van’t Hof’s Pili Pili | NuNorthern Soul

Earlier Volumes: 

https://ryokawasaki.bandcamp.com/album/selected-works-1979-to-1983

https://ryokawasaki.bandcamp.com/album/selected-works-part-2-1976-to-1980

https://joanbibiloni.bandcamp.com/album/selected-works-1982-to-1989

Jazz Cafe (London) Sunday 23rd November 2025: 6.30pm– (£150 – £195):  Angélique Kidjo and Alexandre Tharaud - Grammy-winning Angélique Kidjo and acclaimed French pianist Alexandre Tharaud unite to celebrate the French songbook. Together, they reinterpret classics by Édith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Joséphine Baker, and other French gems in a unique live performance blending Kidjo’s dynamic voice with Tharaud’s masterful piano.

Artist: Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili 

Title: Selected Works 1984 - 2002

Release date: 21st November, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSSW004V for vinyl and NUNSSW004D for digital
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yuu Udagawa - Urban Physicality EP (Razor-N-Tape Records)

After two Yuu Udagawa releases in one month and and a 'Beat Sculpture' with a Coflo remix back in May, no surprise Yuu Udagawa needed to take a breath before coming back with a 'Urban Physicality' that's full of Gold's Gym heavy Razor N Tape dancefloor muscle!

Following on from the 'Golden Glow' EP (see review HERE) and the impressive 'Beats Sculpture' EP with the Coflo remix (see review HERE) but this is the best yet!

A five track EP of 12" mixes of 'In Your Eyes', 'Recollection' and the title track plus not one, but two remixes of 'Urban Physicality' by Takuya Matsumoto; a 'special' remix and a piano mix.

What has been described as "moody deep house" sounds fun and jazzy to me - Carl Craig in San Francisco minimalism as in her 12" mix of Urban Physicality', brooding, yes, but "more alive" than she's ever been (perhaps). 

Which is then funny as Tokyo's Matsumoto gets as tough as Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens 80s style until he flips the vibe with the piano mix.

But I keep returning to 'In Your Eyes' with its loopy keys and cymbols of flutterng rain that make it have a beauty all of it's own.

BUY LINK: https://razor-n-tape.lnk.to/UrbanPhysicalityEP

Artist: Yuu Udagawa 

Title: Urban Physicality EP

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label: Razor-N-Tape Records

Cat. No: RNTD128

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jambal - Men Of Average Nature (Independent)

Luxembourg-based jazz quartet Jambal link up with Kenai Shogun as a new collaborative alias of Luxembourgish / Brazilian rapper (f.k.a Culture the Kid) to release 'Men of Average Nature'; did someone say, "Roy Hargrove's RH Factor?" - thank you Mr. Trumpet Man!

Well that's what you'd be thinking after the opening track but beware, these are not 'Men Of Average Nature', they are long term friends that have manage to condence years of jamming together into these eight tracks.

Jambal and Kenai Shogun joined forces for this project after being scattred aroun Europe (London, Oslo, Amsterdam and Antwerp) only to blend their favourite genres back in Luxembourg.

So what are their favourite genres?  On 'Fair & Well' you might think potty mouth grunge rock rap jazz: "You what?", yeah, all in one track - Red Hot Chilie Peppers meets Modern Jazz Quartet (or more likely, JMMR - see review HERE).   

'Thalassophobia' is a track with more of a calm control and makes it easier to imagine all this energy was recorded at the prestigious Charles Stoltz’s studios as the album chills somewhat blending "jazz improvisation with sharp penmanship", 'Glon Cherry', 'Haunt Me, Curse Me' are far more jazzy, featuring Mateus Wojda on guitar and Ben Bley on trumpet respectively.

Don't be put off by the cover photo as Jambal takes the success of UK jazz groups, Ezra Collective etc, into their own 'out there' hip-hop, jazz and rap further with the addition of Brazilian rap; with a capitol 'S'; are they getting at the spelling of 'Brasil'? 

In fact, the Brasilian influence gets more obvious with 'Marinheiro' and 'non-radio edit' single 'Start Like This' - there's some nice lines on this from the rap and "Mr Trumpet Man" makes it  totally engaging and by now you're loving this album - it's only a shame that the Jack Kerouac beat poetry improv theory of 'typebeat' didn't get expanded into more Thundercat influenced Dub Lab - perhaps one for another day as these guys are so talented they could so do that genre!

Release party: 22.11.25. 20:00: JAMBAL ‚quickly becoming one of the most exciting voices in the grand duchy’s new wave of underground music and youth culture’ Stued Theater Gréiwemaacher Res. stuedtheater@gmail.com

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://ffm.to/men-of-average-nature-9782

Artist: Jambal 

Title:  Men Of Average Nature

Release date: 21st November, 2025  

Label : Independent

Catalog Number : TBC

Format : Digital  / Bandcamp

Compositions - Ben Bley, Arthur Clees, Mateus Wojda, Rolan Eberhardt, Luca Garofalo
Vocals, Lyrics - Matteo Griz Wolff
Trumpet, Synth - Ben Bley
Vibraphone, Piano, add. Percussion - Arthur Clees
Electric Guitar - Mateus Wojda
Electric Bass - Rolan Eberhardt
Drums, add. Percussion - Luca Garofalo
Recording - Charles Stoltz
Mixing - Charles Stoltz
Mastering - Miklós Kovács & Marci Fenyvesi

Review: JMMR - Resistance Is Fertile (Nublu Records)

JMMR has all the Vitamin C you need in cans, Nublu Records we salute you for planting this seed!

 

It was only a month ago we were introduced to Ilhan Ersahin's Istanbul Sessions (see reveiw HERE) on New York's NUBLU label that followed The Phenomenal Handclap Band's 'We Are Worlds Away' (see review HERE) but nothing prepared us for JMMR that's even more jazz-rock-fusion of Acoustic Ladyland with cross-genre influences!

This 11 track album is amazing!  The cover version of CAN's 'hit' 'Vitamin C' has already made this album the 'must have' this month but jazz-funk electronica with sophisticated punk has never been as pure as this; there's even a spiriutal flute gang track 'Igor Stravinsky' featuring  Cochemea Gastelum (The DapKings) and Morgan Price (Ikebe Shakedown)

So who is/are JMMR who knows who's who in the New York underground jazz and funk scenes?   Founded in 2019 by trumpeter and long time Antibalas member, Jordan McLean is the leader/arranger of Jordan McLean's Musical Resistance (aka JMMR).

Antibalas themselves were Brooklyn's own agit Afrobeat band whose name translates as 'anti-bullets' in Spanish.  And JMMR is clearly dance/experimental: like a electronic Shrine?.  We're told that the album, "was recorded using layered first take performances. All tracks were recorded to “dance music” tempo markings (between 120-172 beats per minute, or BPM) beginning with voice memo beatboxes, layered on top by drums, synths and finally horns." 

However it was recorded, it sounds different as this proves to be a bed for reedman guests like Gastelum and Price plus Stuart Bogie ('Right To Die 162 BPM', Virtue Signaling 139 BPM', 'Dancing On The Precipice 144 BPM') and Ricky ('Uptown Swing 148 BPM) to improvise to the tracks.  

There's quite a bit of dubby experimentation going on so it'd be interesting to see if an Industrial Dub 12" is released but 'Climate Wars 172BPM' coinciding with the COP30 in Brazil is just what Miles would be up to in a post-Panthalassa dub-step big band?

I think it's pointless to put this in a genre bag as it's a crazy re-cylcled bag of it's own that would have fitted into any Jazz Chronicles playlists; let's all move to New York (new Mayor'n' all) if not physically, JMMR-ly as 'Resistance Is Fertile'.

BUY LINK: https://ffm.to/resistanceisfertile

Artist: JMMR 
Title:   Resistance Is Fertile
Release date: 14th November, 2025
Label : Nublu Records
Catalog Number :TBC
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: T.Markakis - Little Prince / Starlight (Vibe Me To The Moon Records)

T.Markakis' 'Little Prince' / 'Starlight' is coming to you on Vibe Me To The Moon Records to brighten up our days 

Markakis is from Greece and over the last couple of decades he's had releases on some of the biggest labels like, King Street, Deefected adn Glasgow Underground (Ed. don't mention Greece in Scotland afte the footie last weekend).

So it's about time Vibe Me To The Moon Records have signed him up for this two-track release.

Leading with 'Little Prince', a track inspired by his seven-year-old son, which races and grooves up and down the warm Mediterean beachscape with smooth vocals that keeps you moving.

'Starlight' takes us to the skies at a slower pace with a bumpy bassline, warm jazzy keys and some bah, bah, bahhhh vocals.

Seems like summer to me which is a good idea at any time of the year. 

BUY LINK: https://www.traxsource.com/title/2646532/little-prince-starlight

/div>

Artist:  T.Markakis 

Title: Little Prince / Starlight

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : Vibe Me To The Moon Records

Catalog Number : VIBE032

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Oliver Night - Between The Lines (Tru Thoughts)

London-based producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist, Oliver Night stunned us with the return of Roots Manuva on the single 'Boss' but he's even obvious as a candidate for album of the year with 'Between The Lines' on Tru-Thoughts!

 

After the debut single, 'Run Like The River' / 'Reach Out' (see review HERE) and Roots Manuva on the killer 'Boss', are you thinking that's as good as it gets?  Well, if you are, don't as here's a full 12 track album that's top draw from start, 'Undefeated' featuring Goldbar (that's got the soulful sound of an Omar) to the final track, 'Trance End' featuring David Mrakpor on vibes, he of Blue Lab Beats!

And then you've got Megatronic ('It's Alright' and 'We Are Love' - also check out her latest, 'There's Truth In Gospel' - see review HERE), Kaya Fyah ('Vibez' and 'Friends') and the best of the lot, Jay Phelps showing off on 'The City'!

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.

'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

Release date: 14th November, 2025  

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number : TRU475D

Format : Digital  / Bandcamp