Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Web Web are making a habit of musically kicking you in the solar plexus as the Munich based fusion jazz group 'Kover Kover' scores even more than Bayern's Harry Kane!
Don't 'Mind The Gap' when you can bridge it - and that gap is Naná Rizinni's 'Epiblast' album with roots in São Paulo with a gap of Latin/Rock/Jazz/prog!
The last release on the label was by progressive and contemporary trio St. Barbe (see review HERE) and now London based, Naná Rizinni has picked up something of their Math rock jazz on this album, 'Epiblast'.
Having trained in Brazil with top drummers (including Lilian Carmona, Vera Figueiredo, and Duda Neves) she's a much sort after musician in her own right having toured extensively and played in numerous groups. Having moved to London in 2020, this ablum is written and co-produced with saxophonist Mark Cake over the past two years its a proper mix.
The singles have been well received by the disperate radio stations like Radio 3 at one end and Rinse FM at the other and championed by Somewhere Soul (he of 'Rituals' -see review HERE) and Tim Garcia. 'Familiar Stranger' was a eye-opener with it's whispy vocals, Jazz FM sax solos and Chinese cinematic strings; compare with 'The Right Side Of The Esalator' battle of Cake's sax and a cross of BRUK Tango, Miles' melody and synth wobble.
The last single 'Fifth Life', we're told is Naná's favourite track on the album for it's Steve Reich soundscape that goes leftfield Latin flute gang to guitar/synth out-there (apparently influenced by David Fiuczynski, the founder and leader of Screaming Headless Torsos)
This album seems like a bridge between Café OTO and cinematic jazz beats and lots in-between, we're told that the title ‘Epiblast’ comes from "an early embryonic layer from which the entire organism develops. For me, it represents multiple births and rebirths — new roles, identities, and directions — capturing both fragility and infinite potential.” Perfect!
BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Epiblast | Naná Rizinni
Artist: Naná RizinniTitle: EpiblastRelease date: 24th April, 2026Label : Bridge The GapCatalog Number : TBCFormat: 12" Vinyl / Dgital / Bandcamp
Having trained in Brazil with top drummers (including Lilian Carmona, Vera Figueiredo, and Duda Neves) she's a much sort after musician in her own right having toured extensively and played in numerous groups. Having moved to London in 2020, this ablum is written and co-produced with saxophonist Mark Cake over the past two years its a proper mix.
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
"Balearic mainstays" Coyote return to a the endless inspiration of sky and sea with a new EP coming out on the NuNorthern Soul label.
Bandcamp listening Party 22.04.26 HERE
Label : NuNorthernSoul
Catalog Number : NUNS076
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
I'd normally say, "In typical Delusions Of Grandeur style", but when it comes to the Jimpster team and Declan McDermott's, they excell themselves as not only do they believe in 'Why Don't You Believe Me?', they've gone and got a couple of remix big guns on the case, again!
We know from Declan McDermott's Delusions Of Granduer debut EP, 'Doin' It All For U' (see review HERE) that not only is he a super talent in the deep house jazzy department that's got a thing for Ritchie Rome, but big names like Tom Trago and lovetempo are happy to step up to the plate on the remix.
The time you've got Versatile Records' veteran I:Cube from France and NYC-based DJ Nature. But once you'be heard 'Why Don't You Belive Me?' with some sexy Sparky/Rome interplay with female vocals in French and English on a Fender Rhodes bed - you may ask yourself, "Pourquoi?"
I:Cube speeds it up and has a choppy approach to the vocals and it kicks some with a tape loop switch!
I've always liked what DJ Nature does, from his earliest Golf Channel days and Tim Sweeny Beats In Space appearances as he got the perfect blend of Theo Parrish meets jazz not jazz house. And he hits that brief in buckets on this remix with mod/Blackpool organ undercurrents on the pourquoi to the why!
It's hard to tell if this taste is now or 1970s - I say, any excuse to have 'Another Taste II'!
"Dutch funk collective Another Taste returns with their second full-length album ‘Another Taste II’ on Space Grapes Records, a lable run by a certain Danilo Plessow - better known as Motor City Drum ensemble!
In a digital age, the band doubles down on analog and here ‘Another Taste II’ delivers eight new cuts of boogie, funk and obscure disco recorded live to tape".
Title: Another Taste II
Release Date : 24th April, 2026
Catalog Number : SGP 016
Monday, 20 April 2026
It's hard to believe that Jimpster has been releasing music for 30 years (under this name and many others) but there's no stopping him as he's back on Freerange Records with a four track EP, 'Bassic Rollers'
Coming in at squad No. 11 in the recent Traxsource 'Top Artist Of The Year', Jimpster (aka Jamie Odell) as DJ/Producer/Label Owner is more than busy and this keeps him in the public eye and ear and 'Bassic Rollers' will keep him there.
In need of some some self help? Let Jean Jacques Smoothie get you in the mood for success on the dancefloor with some disco/funk/boogie on the latest release on Colour & Pitch as it doesn't get much better than this!
Saturday, 18 April 2026
As an antidote to yesterday's Record Store Day madness, here's an opportunity to chill out to the Namas' 'Tonight' - the second album that is with us now and it's just as much a rich tapestry of modern jazz as their first!
This is a the Rennes trio of of Gaël Bourgeault (Grand piano, upright piano, Fender Rhodes, keyboards), Léo Debroise (Upright bass) and Victor Dubois (Drums) and 'Tonight' is perfect for a quiet, late or listening room one as they mellow out piano trio bad boys (like The Bad Pluse, BadBadNotGood etc) to a Dilla-esque cinematic orchestra.
The cinematic ambience created mostly by the range of Bourgeault's keyboard choices with particalarly emphasis on the jazzy Fender Rhodes to the classical grand piano.
The album consists of 7 instrumentals and one with vocals by Keysuna, the fittingly entitled 'Don't Rush' and it's alreay had plays on Gilles Peterson' 'Worldwide FM' show, Tina Edwards' 'Bandcamp Selects' show and featured by Laurent Garnier, Somewhere Soul (he of 'Rituals' - see review HERE) and Music Is My Sanctuary.
So if you've had a busy day and you're looking for a Saturday 'Tonight' luxury, check out the comfortable warm sounds of the Namas.
Friday, 17 April 2026
The new album by Kiiōtō is definitely "spine-tingling" and unique as who'dthere have thought that there could be a jazz-noir folk Carole King, Khruangbin, Alice Coltrane influenced duo could be so good!
Written primarily in Kiiōtō’s home studio in North London, Black Salt features guest appearances from a melting pot of musicians, notably guitarist Hawi Gondwe (Amy Winehouse), double-bassist Andy Hamill (4 Hero, Carleen Anderson), drummer Mykey Wilson (Corrine Bailey Rae), and even some impromptu guitar by the one and only David Arnold.
Debut single Butterfly is a dark and brooding critique of a narcissist, its prowling bass, angular chords and bell motif creating a claustrophobic chill. In contrast, Zero Gravity - inspired by Samantha Harvey’s Booker Prize winning novel “Orbital”- zooms out into space, reflecting upon the transformational experience of orbiting Earth, its heartbeat intro giving way to brush drums and stacked vocal refrain. Little Axe tells of the challenges of raising young men amidst the threat of violence in urban life, set to soulful guitar and congas, while White Noise highlights the hold of social media on the modern mind, in staccato rhythm and abstract piano. Lost Map reflects on the results of DNA tests the duo took in search of a deeper understanding of their disparate heritages, against a backdrop of spacious piano and muted trumpet. Closing track Five Eight, conveys the aching loss of Heath’s mother, Rhodes’ vocal stripped bare over shimmering Wurlitzer. Throughout, the arrangements remain spare and bold, leaning into jazz, broken beat and soul textures, with references as diverse as Carole King, Khruangbin and Alice Coltrane. The resulting album is impossible to define by genre, but is fused by the unique interplay of Heath’s melodic sensibilities and Rhodes inimitable voice.
Further UK & Europe dates TBC.
It's that time of year when we get totally overwhelmed with Record Store Day so lets look back 20 years for a significant 'Ninja Tune' release that's due another look/listen as 'Everything Is Under Control'?
Coldcut are Jon More and Matt Black and they have received as much promotion for their long-awaited album as any band could expect of their label. It’s a good job then that they are also the boss men at Ninja Tune. | |||||
With the release of Sound Mirrors, even if they weren’t the top dogs, no one could criticize them on the grounds of quality. True, some of the early reviews were a little less than ecstatic, but this is a great album and one that’s going to stand up long after Classic Gold radio stations stop playing their earlier chart hits. Having said that, this is no elitist album either. Of course, we’ve had a head start with the singles including the opener ‘Everything is Under Control’ (Jon ‘Blues Explosion’ Spencer and rapper Mike Ladd), ‘Man In A Garage’ [folky John Matthias] and ‘Mr. Nichols’ (Saul Williams). Not only do these tracks sound better on the album, they bind the album together along with some particularly catchy tunes. Such as the Indo-pop-dancehall rap with Roots Manuva, which is getting crossover support from the likes of Bobby Friction & Nihal. Roots is fresh from his own Awfully Deep success of last year on Ninja Tunes, the hip hop offshoot, Big Dada. The mixing on ‘Walk A Mile’ is great and it features the vocal house favourite Robert Owens. Based on the (worn-out) theme of walking in other’s shoes (Depeche Mode, Alwyn Evans, etc) it builds from a blues to a chill-out feel. The first half of the album is completed by the instrumental title track, ‘Sound Mirrors’ — no doubt inspired from somewhere within a Japanese Zen Monastery. Saxophonist, Mercury-nominee, Jazz Jamaica member and ex-Jazz Warrior, Soweto Kinch serves up a rap-rant on “Aid Dealer”. Former Ninja Tune Andrew Broder (aka Fog) joins in on downtempo ‘Whistle And A Prayer’ which is a bit strange in the saw-violin way and leads us into 60s Byrdslike tripness of ‘Colours The Soul’. So forget all that Yazz and Lisa Stansfield Coldcut history or the cutting edge stuff like computer programmes, VJing, art exhibitions, collaborations with minimalist composers and the like, just put on Sound Mirrors and enjoy an album. The best thing they’ve ever done. Reviewed: Coldcut - Sound Mirrors (Ninja Tune) Cat. No. ZENCD 115 Tracklisting: Press Quotes: “Never sounded so good. Sound Mirrors is mightily impressive; the production flawless and the songwriting exhilarating.” Blues & Soul “Coldcut are the influencers not the influenced… classy” Time Out “Coldcut come again - full blooded and schizoid… Still as fresh and relevant as ever.” Straight No Chaser Links: —Gerry Hectic Saturday 4 February 2006 | |||||

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