Review: Jean Jacques Smoothie - Sleeping In The Flowerbeds (Colour and Pitch)

The growing season is upon us but don't let Jean Jacques Smoothie catch you 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' whilst his new album is out on Colour & Pitch as their first album release!

You know that we've had the return of Jean Jacques Smoothie with '2 People' re-launch (Richard Earnshaw & The NRG remixes - see review HERE) along with 'Success For Dummies' (PJ Principle remixes - see review HERE) and finally, the album is with us that's been 25 years in the making, 'Sleeping In the Flowerbeds'!

It turns out the Monsiur Smoothie is plain old Steve Robson in real life and based in Cardiff and if it wasn't for the COVID lockdown the album may never have been completed after the 2001 massive '2People' hit based on the Minnie Ripperton sample. 

So the album must start with that track and it's the Rochenko Dubwise mix featuring Tara Busch that's manages to 're-create' Minnie in a too-slow-to-disco Augusto Pablo meets Scientist groove.  And whilst the nine track album closes on the original version of, 'Success For Dummies', Steve proves that he's no dummy: success! 

Blue guitarist/singer Rohan Tarry features on a couple of the tracks, 'Heavy Lifting' and 'Cowgirl'; the pair being a bit on the edge of The Swamp Fox (Tony Joe White vs. Flying Mojito Bros. - see review HERE) and just what you need for "psychedelic electronic Country"!

And then Tara returns on a track 'Over The Edge' with a jazzy-house piano lead and dubby vibe; note this is the 'Album Version' so lets hope we can have a remix like PJ Priinciple's Disco Mix of 'Alpin Morning'.

So that's dancefloor, house, disco, trendy and fun covered before you get to the club instrumentals 'Deep Down', 'Night Jet' and the soft-acid title track, 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds'.

As regular readers with know, we're keen on the musings of 'Weeds Up Me Knees' (with One Deck Pete) but even he won't be 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' -100% Colour & Pitch cool!

PS. Great artwork too - oh yeah!

ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY: Sun Jun 07 2026 at 03:00 pm to 07:00 pm, Pop'n'Hops, Cardiff, Wales 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://go.protonradio.com/r/rlekfQNU676Pg

Artist: Jean Jacques Smoothie

Title:  Sleeping In The Flowerbeds 

Release date: 5th June, 2026

Label:  Colour and Pitch

Catalog Number: CAP094

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kronstad 23 - Dødehavet (Batov Records)

Kronstad 23 are Norwegian  friends who sound like Jerry Garcia and Coco Chatru on the edge of a wood, fjord, beach, naturalist camp with a perfectly 8-track album of Scandi-cool, 'Dødehavet' !

 

Batov Records have already treated us to Bolbec's' 'Foutu Félin' (see review HERE) earlier this month and end it with this "richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that feels less like a record and more like an imaginary film" that's jazzy, libarary, psych rock with a smattering of Scandinavian folk, global influeneces and summer heat!

They recorded the tracks live to tape at keys player Øyvind Arnodd Vie Berg's Bergen home studio, most tracks were captured in one or two takes using a 50-year-old console and tape recorder, with no post-production intervention - perhaps that's why it's got a Grateful Dead 'live' vibe..

The group's first two albums drew praise from Record Collector, Prog Magazine and Sweden's Lira; Dødehavet marks a step further into collective propulsion and rhythm, with jazz, soul, folk, Afrobeat and raga merging into what the band describe as a single, unforced language.

Tracks range from gospel-tinged soul ('Menigheten') and Latin-inflected rock ('Stratosfæren') to heavy Afrobeat ('Høytrykk) and modal jazz ('Bolverk'), all unified by a loose, improvisational feel rooted in collective instinct over rehearsal.

It is a tour de force and super cool, let it all hang out and be free.... but not too free.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Dødehavet | Kronstad 23

Artist: Kronstad 23

Title:  Dødehavet 

Release date: 29th May, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR137

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Him & Earl - Better Days (Wah Wah 45s)

The WAH WAH 45s release today the soulful, psychedelic folk-pop 'Better Days' as the third and final single to be unveiled ahead of the duo’s upcoming debut album ‘Falling Backwards’ and you'll want to get your orders in before the 26th June! 

As long term fans of the label and head honcho Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM, Soho Radio and many more) we are always taken aback at the timing of hitting the vibe on the button and this new single is exactly that as we (UK/Europe) emerge out of a heat down into "strangely uplifting and mellifluous feel, the forthcoming album is a mystic brew of desert blues, English folk, Americana and stirring southern soul, with tentacles stretching out into psychedelia and prog".

With a "hooky heat-haze" with kora/Afrobeat guitar and West Coast Beach Boy/Simon & Garfunkell cool that could be King Sunny Adé surfing into WOMAD.

Him & Earl singer/songwriter Olly Him says: “I wrote this about coming out of a difficult time and seeing light at the end of it and better days ahead. An early version was performed with my previous band Creatures of the Deep as a guitar and vocal harmony track, and when it came to recording it for this album we added horns, drums and percussion.”

Living and evolving, it’s one of those timeless songs that can relate to whatever someone might have on their mind. “Like looking forward to seeing someone you miss, or getting through a long winter and looking forward to happier times coming round, and being together again with friends or family”, Olly elaborates; “And it also resonates with the general current feeling of living through fairly depressing and uncertain times and hoping that better days are ahead.

I love this insight and the sense that there will be 'Better Days' to come.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Falling Backwards | Him & Earl

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Artist: Him & Earl

Release: Better Days
Release Date: 29th May, 2026
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: DOUBLE VINYL LP / Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Intr0beatz - It's Been Good EP (SlothBoogie Recordings)

Iceland’s finest export, Intr0beatz returns to the cornerstone of SlothBoogie for his latest 4-track EP - and 'It's Been Good'!

Just over a year since Intr0beatz' 'Static Motions' (see review HERE) and the Icelandic producer's appearance on SlothBoogie's '15 years of SlothBoogie' (see review HERE), Arsaell Thor Ingvason (aka Intr0beatz) is back with a "masterclass in the deep, soulful business he’s spent years perfecting".vibe 

With the title track, It's Been Good', 'Undeniably', 'Auf Wiedersehen' and 'At Ease' you get the jazzy, the Latin, the 90s, the swing, the vocal sample and some Balearic beachwear all in a deep house groove.

No pets allowed on  'Auf Wiedersehen' as it taps into the Zachary Berns 'trumpet on a train' vibe (see review HERE) but you'll have your own favourite as 'It's Been Good'; in fact, it's better than that!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:It's Been Good EP | Intr0beatz | SlothBoogie

Artist:  Intr0beatz 

Title: It's Been Good EP

Release date: 29th May, 2026

Label: SlothBoogie Recordings)

Cat. No: SBR020

Format: Digital/Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Inkswel - Mystery Man ft. Reggie B (Flat White Records)

Inswel is still working on those "synchronicities" in sound; this time it's with Reggie B (vocals) and Just One (remix) with the 'Mystery Man' - and he's more than alright!

Fast on the heal's of joining forces with Lizzie Bradley for 'Sunshine In A Cup' (see review HERE - out June 1st), here's a 'Mystery Man' for the fast lane.

Both Inskwel and Reggie B have been game tuned for over 20 years and RB sounds are as fresh today and just made flat white brew.

And another in the two decades of goodness is Just One (aka Justin Chapman) as first heard of with the 'Soul Revolution release in 2005 (on the then trendy Neroli label) and he's still brings the BRUK sound to the deep house on his remix.

If you know, etc - but if you don't, here's a great place to start and the instrumental version showcases the jazz horn.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Mystery Man ft. Reggie B | Inkswel

Illustration: @backdowntrav 

Artist: Inkswel ft. Reggie B

Title: Mystery Man 

Release date: 29th May, 2026

Label : Flat White Records

Catalog Number : FW016

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Lizzie Bradley & Inkswel - Sunshine In A Cup (Inner Tribe Records)

You'll recall that we said, when it comes to "synchronicities, Inkswel is pretty good at spotting them" for the Bloom Meadows collab, 'The Passion'.  And he's done it again with Lizzie Bradley as the 'Sunshine In A Cup' runneth over!

Bloomy Meadows' 'The Passion' (see review HERE) was 'typical' of Inkswell as he can draw on his extensive contacts book for just the righ mix of musicians to join the party to modern soul, hip-hop, broken beats, some jazz, house and more.  And 'Sunshine In A Cup' is more than an upfront single as on one part, it's hip-hop culture throughout the 11 tracks and on the other there's some leftfied remixes, notably South Beach Recycling who released one of our favourite albums 'Obsessive Compulsive Disco' on Atjazz (see review HERE) back in 2022.

We're told that Sean Peter (aka Triple J) described Lizzie's voice akin to a “jazz Billie Holiday, Björky underwater feel to a dark, machiney thing” and I'm not sure that even touches it but the b-boy/girl sessions have that Ninja Tune/DJ Vadim groove that frameworks the album so that there's a freedom to experiment on the top!

And get ready for the reggaefied 'No More' featuring Blu and Harrison Smith the jazz-blue-beat of 'Leave Behind' featuring J-Live, Bloomy Meadows and Marley Love.

Having a range of guests and tracks that more than varied make this another Inswel 'must have' and as Gary 'South Beach Recycling' lives near the We Out Here Festival site, wouldn't that be fun to have Lizzie and gang booked for that this year?. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://inkswel.bandcamp.com/album/sunshine-in-a-cup

Artwork: Michal Rafaj 

Artist: Lizzie Bradley & Inkswel

Title: Sunshine In A Cup

Release date: 1st June, 2026

Label : Inner Tribe Records

Catalog Number : ITRLTD09

Format:  Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp  

Rview: Franck Roger - Everything You Are ft. Rona Ray (Vibe Me To The Moon Records)

Fans of Franck Roger probably can't believe that he's got yet another hot release on Vibe Me To The Moon Records but that's what he has as that's 'Everything You Are' (featuring Rona Ray).

 

After EPs 'March On', 'The Truth' and 'Can You Believe' (see review HERE), the ultra busy Franck Roger has teamed up with Rona Ray, (she of 'Playground' - see HERE; 'Can't Let You Go' - see review HERE and most recently, Turbojazz's 'The Joy' - see review HERE) on a track 'Everything You Are' (which was not featured in the Vibe Me To The Moon' "unreleased tracks" mix - see below).

Showcasing the original mix (and Ms. Ray's vocals) and a stripped-back instrumental, it's typical of the Paris-based legend and the label's committment to high quality deep soulful house.

 

This is "a track that feels both classic and forward‑thinking — a soulful house record with emotional weight, dancefloor energy, and the unmistakable stamp of two artists operating at their highest level" so we're backing this one to be on the next dancefloor and the Colour & Pitch Monthly mixtape, really 'Everything You Are' is this!. 

BUY LINK / RE-ORDER: Franck Roger, Rona Ray - Everything You Are on Traxsource

VMTTM PODCAST 002 - Franck Roger -unreleased track. 

Artist: Franck Roger

Title: Everything You Are ft. Rona Ray

Release date: 29th May, 2026

Label : Vibe Me To The Moon Records

Catalog Number : VIBE045

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA – Summer Selections Six (NuNorthern Soul)

Being hit for six in the summer is a good thing when its NuNorthern Soul with the hits on this compilation by B.J. Smith, Sasha Foam, Roots Artefact, Visions Of Light, Lonely Deckchair and Perth Lewis: sounds like a beach 'n' party to me.

Billed as tracks "built for early evening transitions, late-night drift, and those moments where things just open up" and that's not the full story as the selections are more than an advert for what the label in planning as it's not a given that all these tracks will turn up as a vinyl release; i.e. get/pre-order now!

Especially ith you want to be one of the first to play B.J. Smith's cover version of Outkast's 'Prototype' as the Wrekin' Havoc 8 minute re-work.  Smith has a history of the 'out-there' cover (see review HERE) and lets hope there's more like this in 2026.

And not to be outdone on the cover front, after the amazing version of 'Blue Monday' by Visions Of Light (see review HERE), this time it's a '[Re]Born Slippy' that's a sitar'd the slow mo' vision (Ed. no pun etc]  of the mid-90s Underworld track that got pimped on the 'Trainspotting' OST. Brilliant!

Perth Lewis has been a bit of a revelation of late with his albums 'Moments In Time' and 'Distance Between' (see review HERE) and 'Monolith' is another rock sold synth-wave beach wear dreamboat.

Some folks we haven't heard before are Sasha Foam ('Curious' that's quite synth-poppy for an 'acid' instrumental), Lonely Deckchair ('Adaflo') that aint going to be lonely more much longer 

as it sits proudly on the beach looking out to sea.

Roots Artefact, who released 'Different Perspective' EP late last year (see review HERE) is here with 'Call To Wind' as space synth dub dream and that's coming with me to Chilled Cider Festival.

The 'Summer Selections' series carefully picks up future winners that co-incidently are tied to NuNorthern Soul radar and needless to say, these players have out done themselves on No. 6.

Did someone say, "Brilliant"?

BUY LINK / PRE ORDER:  https://mynunorthernsoul.bandcamp.com/album/summer-selections-six

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Summer Selections Six

Release date: 29th May, 2026
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSSS006 
Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - XPRESS Remixes Vol. 6 (Hotmood, Empher, Tommy Glasses, Scruscru, Mr. Moudz, Boogietraxx)(The Disco Express)

There no faster transport system than the XPRESS - Straight to disco and in the case of 'Remixes Vol 6' we're in the goods yard all loaded and ready to go!

"Firing on all cylinders" and ready to turn around at the buffer - what a way to pack the first carriage of TDE's 'XPRESS Remix series with Vol.6' than the Gabriel Deb/Michelle Weeks' 'Turn Around' as remixed by Empher on an 'extended soulful lift' remix (the original on TDE100, see HERE).

But hang-on, Hotmood's turned on the hot taps for the 'Jacuzzi Sunset' (Magnolia) over the horizon for sub-jack jazz boogie - you might say typical TDE as its big! 

Over highlights include Mr. Moudz flipping Joi N' Juno's 'Kaa Moto' into a world groover (a track that came out on TDE before the Joi N' Jono's 'Samemala' album was released on Canopy Records - see review HERE).

Dirty Supercar can't be over-Boogietraxx with a major dancefloor timetabling of 'Nothing But The Music' - it is what it says on the tine and if you add that to the disco balls of 'Discomeraviglia' (Da Lukas featuring Di Martino) you're Italo has never been squeezed so hard: Scruscru is a monster (as seen on Deepa and more - see HERE).

And before the whistle blows, time enough to get your Tommy Glasses on for a remix of Georges 'Love's Away' before it you're ready to fire up ya engines and start again.

'Discomeraviglia' baby - get your season tickets.

BUY LINK / Pre-Order: https://thediscoexpress.bandcamp.com/album/xpress-remixes-vol-6

Artist: Various Artists (Hotmood, Empher, Tommy Glasses, Scruscru, Mr. Moudz, Boogietraxx)

Title: XPRESS Remixes Vol. 6 

Release date: 29th May, 2026
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS110
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Corselette - Don't Doubt Your Power (Terry Farley & The Wade Teo Remixes) (White Label)

In an increasing digital world, it's fun to see that there is still such a thing as a White Label that can squeeze through the letter box! Especially when Farley and Teo remixes are stamped on it but who are/is Corselette?

As so ofter is the case with these white label drops, it's a great dancefloor track that's got "Balearics" future classic written all over it (no litterally of course) but what it's all about is shrouded in "nod, nod, wink wink" tones.  Well, the nead to know folks have let out that Martyn Ware (he of Human League, Heaven 17 and more) have liinked up with vocalist calling herself Corselette for the debut, 'Don't Doubt Your Power'.

And the timing couldn't be better with the recent re-issue of Heaven 17's 'Penthouse To Pavement' (Record Store Day re-issue), Jamie Taylor's book 'Studio Electophonique - The Sheffield space age, from The Human League to Pulp (2025) and, dare I say, my recent Charity Shop Classics show (see HERE including the single version of '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang').

Added to the, JBO/London House legend Terry Farley (co-founder of Junior Boys Own and best mate of 'UK House Serman's Stuart Patterson) has teamed up with Wade Teo (he of 'Got To Get Over You' remixes - see HERE) who take the remix to NYC, The Loft et al for some 90s house/nu-disco along with some quirky Sheffield pop-variants which gives it that hook in the head element.

The other 2 versions are a House Vocal mix and a dubby-ish instrumental that just doesn't leave the YATM office deck.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER

Artist: Corselette

Title: Don't Doubt Your Power (Terry Farley & The Wade Teo Remixes) 

Release date: 29th May, 2026

Label : White Label

Catalog Number : TBC
Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital