Review: VA - Thirty Years Of Freerange Vol. 2 (Freerange Records)

30 years is a long-time and in Freerange Records timezone they're celebrating with 30 tracks from 30 artists on 5 EPs - and VOLUME TWO is now here!

Fast on the heels of VOLUME ONE (see review HERE) and this second set of "a handpicked cross-section of the Freerange continuum from artists who’ve shaped the sound alongside up and coming voices pushing it somewhere new. Different shades, different voices, same ethos: independence, longevity, and an unwavering commitment to the dancefloor and beyond" is equal to the first.

Representing are 'scene' ever-present names Aroop Roy, Coflo and Fred Everything on the A-side team. Roy seems to have been booked to do quite a few Back-2-Back DJ sessions which might be why the track has a spoken word element that includes, "Let's celebrate the things that brings us together.... give thanks to the music and cherish every moment on the dancefloor", 'We Are The People' is an anthem!

Coflo, who had 'Who The Frequency' EP out on Freerange earlier this year (see review HERE) last year gets Rawb Boss to help out on 'Unlocked' and that sythn is wild and free flowing.

Fouk is another artist that we've seen on a number of labels of late including the Heist '100' compilation (see review HERE) after the Dutch duo's 'Sundays EP' - see review HERE) and they're definitely on a rocket with 'Moon'.

Matt Master's track is called 'Everywhere At Once' and incorporates a dream sense of space travel whilst Radic The Myth takes us into a 'Forest Of White Trees' (don't forget his 'Back To You' EP on Freerange Records - see review HERE).

Lazy Days' Fred Everything (who had 'Love, Care, Kindness & Hope' out a couple of years ago (see review HERE) and he provides the kindness of an uptemo 'Elysium' to complete the set.

When you think that there's going to be another 3 Volumes - this is a series you'll want to invest in this summer - don't miss out.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: 30 Years Of Freerange - Volume Two | Freerange Records

Artist: Various Artists

Release: Thirty Years Of Freerange Vol.2
Release Date: 26th June, 2026
Label: Freerange Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Clara Hill x Crackazat - Better / I Want You to Know (My Heart Beats Slow) (Sonar Kollektiv)

They say in surfing that you need to get behind the wave in order to get ahead of the curve and you can kind of apply that to this combo of Clara Hill and Crackazat as they can only get 'Better' after this new single release on Sonar Kollektiv!

Hot on the heels of the STREETON single, 'Where We Started' (see review HERE), the label have got long time favourite singer Clara Hill from Berlin and Bristol-exile, Crackazat to get modern jazz-funky together.

Ben Jacobs (aka Crackazat) couldn't have been better timed the release his album 'SUN' (in May! see review HERE) and it's clear that a partnership steeped in mutual respect and long-standing admiration as, we're told, Clara first discovered Crackazat’s music via Instagram on her birthday in 2022 and was immediately captivated.  Whilst Ben has been a long time fan of Clara's even before he started producing music having been a fan of her work with Jazzanova (see review here of the 'In-Between' reissue(s) that came out last year - HERE).

So ahead of an EP, 'Harmony', the first single, 'Better', explores the internal battle between self-doubt and self-belief. Inspired by the tendency to overthink and hesitate, the song encourages listeners to move beyond their mental barriers and trust themselves. “Better is a hopeful song,” says Clara. “It acknowledges the chaos of doubts inside our minds but ultimately encourages us to trust ourselves and keep moving forward.” Driven by uplifting keys, warm grooves and Clara’s velvet vocals, Better is an elegant blend of electronic soul, jazz-infused house and timeless songwriting.

The second single, 'I Want You To Know (My Heart Beats Slow)' (out August 21st), turns towards a different kind of emotional reflection. Rather than focusing on uncertainty, it explores mature love, gratitude and the quiet strength of relationships that deepen over time. “My idea of the song was to explore the sentence of ‘I love you because of him’ through a long-term relationship,” Clara explains. “It’s a poetic and emotional confession from someone who loved someone else in the past, but now loves another person in the present because of that past love. Not with overwhelming passion or burning intensity, but with something quieter: consistency, gratitude, trust and a love that continues to grow over time.” The phrase “my heart beats slow” became a symbol of that enduring connection. Sonically, the track embraces the duo’s shared love of deep house, combining a sturdy 4/4 groove, shimmering keys, Benson-inspired guitar licks and Clara’s unmistakably soulful delivery.

  

Release dates are as follow:
26.06.26 Clara Hill x Crackazat - Better (SINGLE 1)
21.08.26 Clara Hill x Crackazat - I Want You to Know (My Heart Beats Slow) (SINGLE 2)
04.12.26 Clara Hill x Crackazat - Harmony EP

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://sonarkollektiv.lnk.to/Better

Artist: Clara Hill x Crackazat 

Title: Better / I Want You to Know

Release date: 21st August, 2026

Label : Sonar Kollektiv

Catalog Number: SK576-S1/S2

Format:  Streaming / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Him & Earl - Falling Backwards (Wah Wah 45s)

Hey, Hey, Hey, this is something different for the "soulful, psychedelic folk-pop" of Him & Earl that's the debut album ‘Falling Backwards’ on Wah Wah 45s and out now! 

You'll recall the special combination of singer/songwriter Olly Him and DJ/producer/composer Wynham Earl from the single 'Better Days (see review HERE) but there's even more Afro-funk, Paul 'Diamond' Simon and Art Garfunkel harmonies on the new 11 track album.

If there's just one track you need to raise your spirits, 'Better Days' would be it - but now there's another ten glorious sunny tracks to pick from 'Falling Backwards'; trust these guys to catch you.

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

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Artist: Him & Earl

Release: Falling Backwards
Release Date: 26th June, 2026
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: DOUBLE VINYL LP / Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Lucas Moinet - Visions Of Love (To The Rock)

To The Rock returns with Lucas Moinet's 'Visions Of Love' which is just what when there's so much news of leaving this rock for another rock - let's celebrate the things that bring us together!

Lucas Moinet is a Paris-born producer with his roots planted firmly in the soul of house music. Through projects like Keraw, Groove Boys, Project and Projecture, he’s built a catalogue that doesn’t chase trends, it’s goes straight back to the source. Chicago, Detroit, New York.

His discography established him as a producer who understands how to combine the nostalgia of the 90s alongside the flavours of the 2000s. Jazz laced drums, deep chords, and a low end that means business.

Visions of Love is his debut on To The Rock and it feels right at home. There's a nod to David Mancuso and the spirit of the Loft, a dubby slow burner that rides with a hypnotic ease, then into swinging drums & jazzy chords, a track that carries the spirit of Olivier Portal without trying to replicate. Closing out with a record built around a vocal that reminds you why this music exists in the first place.

Four tracks. Deep, soulful, deliberate. Made by someone who clearly loves and lives the culture.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER. Visions Of Love | Lucas Moinet | To The Rock

Artist: Lucas Moinet 

Title: Visions Of Love 

Release date: 26th June, 2026

Lable: To The Rock

Cat No: TTR027

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Serious A - Diagonal Wave (Global Caress)

Star Creatures' Global Caress hits the surf with a deep synth board that rides a 'Diagonal Wave' with a Serious A!  

Following Fugitive Artifact's latest 7" (see review HERE) and Arsene's 12",  'It's A Feeling' (see review HERE), the Chi-Town turns to France to get the waveform where "electronic music and video games collide".

But the result is no explosion and Serious A's "sacred mission [is] to weave together the threads of sound, pixels, and soul into a singular, transcendent formula. For more than 20 years now, the French producer and DJ, has been collecting records (and video games) and developing her own sound to be a bridge between the ancient and the unknown. Her sonic blueprint, a living testament to her journey, echoes the influence of her dearest inspirations from Tokyo, Detroit, and her own city, Paris".

What with the instrumental 'Sogno Blu' and 'Spinto Veloce' it's another example of multi-genre sample create digging that's echoed in the soon to be released Star Creature & Twilite Tone presents 'The Twilite Tone Bundle' (a 3 x 7" release) that takes some mega tracks stripped back to the underground: could these tracks possbiley thread "influences all the way across the sea, from the spaced-out vibes of Eumir Deodato to Tomb Raider 3 water sound effects"?

You might say, it's like a Daedelus meets Ellie Wilson's 'Listen To The River Ching' (see review HERE) with a touch of NYC Peech Boys; this is what happens when you cut the sonic cloth on the diagonal wave

OpenLab:  Star Creature Vibes Radio - Tim Zawada HERE 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Diagonal Wave / Sogno Blu | Serious A

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Artist: Serious A 

Title: Diagonal Wave 

Release date: 26th June, 2026

Label : Global Caress / Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7090 / GLOCAR008

Format: 7" Vinyl  / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Various Artists - Mr Bongo Record Club Vol. 8 (Mr Bongo)

Mr Bongo are back with another edition of their Record Club that's just as much of an eye (and ear) opener as Vols. 1-7 and just as essential! 

I can't believe it's been nearly two years since Vol. 7 of this series landed (see reviw HERE) but how can you cram 18 fantastic tracks onto 4-sides of vinyl - or more onto a CD/digital release.

As you've gathered the aim of the 'Record Club' is to expand your listening pleasure to the outer reaches of Mr Bongo's vast expertise to find soul, boogie, disco-reggae, jazz-funk Latin/Brazilian that's going to keep dancefloors happy that are fresh: think you know Tapper Zukie?  Here's 'Visons Of Love for a "cosmic fusion of disco and reggae" that'll funk up your chart of favourite groovers. 

Of course, diggers will head straight for anything that's marked up as a 'Kenny Dope Editfr', especially if its a less known 'Wish I Could Talk To You Baby' as a smooth soul 70s sample favourites, The Sylvers (Note: this is an exclusive Kenny Dope edit).

That said, I'd recommend going from start to finish as these compilations by the in-house Bongo experts don't throw their "favourite tracks, hard-fought finds, andunsung gems from the global stage" together willy-nilly.  In fact, there's seems to be a Latin/World half and the eclectic rest (of the World).

Thhis includes the blistering dantcefloor-focused cut from Ubunto - a DJ and producer with over 10 years in Brazil’s electronic music scene. Putting an electronic tropical twist on a Brazilian classic, Ubunto reinterprets Dorival Caymmi’s sublime folky MPB song ‘O Vento’ from 1959, into a modern-day dancer. 

And other highlights (Ed. but it's all great) include the little known soul group The Trinkas, 'Remember Me', Tommy McGee's 'Now That I Have You' that might owe something to 70s disco-soul, the slow-mo Wilfred Luckie ('My Thing') and where did the 7 and a half minutes of Mac Mathunjwa's 'Give Us More Love' come from?

And not content with that, there's some digital bonus tracks you don't want to miss out on, particularly the lovers/reggae mix of Take Three's 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love' and DJ Nature (remember him from Golf Channel?) with an edit of 'Straight Forward (Non-Stop)' by P.J.City as a new synth-disco-funker big tune.

Of course, there's at least one from the leftfield that becomes an earworm like the magnificent Urias' 'Vontade De Voar' - very cinematic!'

By coincidence, I came across Mr. Bongo Record Club Vol 1 and it's an interesting comparison as to how this series has grown from including, for example, well known/sort after tracks like 'KM110' and Big Youth's 'Mammy Hot, Daddy Cool') to 'Freak' by "No.1" Tapper Zukie (him again!) 

I strongly suspect Vol. 8 will sound as good as Vol. 1 (2016) in 10 years time - and longer!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://bfan.link/mr-bongo-record-club-vol-8

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Mr Bongo Record Club Vol.8

Release date: 26th June, 2026 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRB335

Format : 2 x LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Ella Thompson - Promise To Keep / Change Of Heart (Mr Bongo)

We normally have to wait for a Record Store Day to get a 45 as good as this Mr Bongo release as Ella Thompson has a promise to keep and avoid a change of heart that's got SOUL! 

You'll recall we met Ella with her 'Ripple On The Wing' album (see review HERE) that came out on Hopestreet Recordings, the Naarm/Melbourne based label. 

Being based in the area, she collaborates with members of Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo plus trumpeter/composer Liam McGorry (Temporary Blessings) joins her as co-writer/producer with Henry Jenkins (JNBO) recording the track (Ed. talk about a 'College Of Knowledge'!)

Fans of Timmion, Daptone Soul/R&B will love this as it's as much classic as contemporary, especially 'Change Of Heart' (like Amy Winehouse?  On the A-side, 'Promise To Keep' is more 60s pop-soul that could fit a Modern Northern room; or sould that be Southern?  Or Belgian Popcorn.

There's an album coming out but this is definitely more appeal that DJ 45 soul buyers - recommended.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://ellathompson.bandcamp.com/album/promise-to-keep-change-of-heart

Artist: Ella Thompson

Title: Promise to Keep / Change of Heart 

Release Date : 26th June, 2026

Label : Mr Bongo Records

Catalog Number : MRB7237

Format: 7" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Vince Watson - Eminesence (Cee ElAssaad, Atjazz & Osunlade Remixes)

Vince Watson returns with a famous 3 on the remix: Cee ElAssaad, Atjazz & Osunlade all get in on the action and all get it spot on!

As we know from the re-issue / remake /  rework / remodel of Vince Watson's classic track 'Eminesence' (see review HERE), 2026 has already been packed with new varients of classic tracks already, most notable Razor-N-Tape's re-invention of Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul ft. Sabina ,'When You Find Your Love... Hold On' (see review HERE - with new DJ Spinna and Musclecars Remixes) and Fish Go Deep's 'Love's Cloth' (see review HERE),

So lets keep 'em coming!  This time its remix versions of 'Eminesence' by 3 of the most regular artists found on YATM.

And as the original track was on Osunlade's label, before being picked up by Defected, you can guarantee Osunlade will be on the guest list for taking on for a Yoruba Soul groove sound along with some Italo-balearic saxy house with some mesmeric percussion to give it that jazzy throb.

Along with an Atjazz remix that skips along with piano twinkles with dub overtones and Ce ELAssaad does his spiritual house sound that'd sit next to Claussell, Trent, Vega for it's focus on Latin and piano solo focus. 

Not surprisingly, the vinyl version of the Rework It looks like it's already sold out on some of the major online retailers so get your orders in for the remixes of Watson's "delicious piano squencies, light chords and majestic vibesgt  that effortlessly scale towering heights" NOW!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  Vince WATSON - Eminesence: The Mixes Vinyl at Juno Records.

Artist: Vince Watson
Title:  Eminesence [Cee ElAdssaad, Atjazz & Osunlade Remixes]
Release date: 23rd June, 2026
Label : Everysoul Audio
Cat. No. ESOL 027

Format: Vinyl / Digital 

Review: Ayanna Witter-Johnson - Pioneers (Bridge The Gap)

We've been keen follower's of Ayanna Witter-Johnson since her 2011 album 'Truthfully' came out so very happy to hear that this new single 'Pioneers' is a taster for her brand a new album coming soon!

It wasn't just me who was a fans back in the day, (it's the truth, although the album review and gig review with pianist Robert Mitchell seems to have been lost to the digital ghost of the Internet), Gilles Peterson, DJ Spoony and Jools Holland are all fans; along with her touring and recording collaborations with the likes on Nitin Sawhney, Anoushka Shanka, Peter Gabriel and more; even Andrea Bocelli!

It was actually touring with Bocelli that the MOBO-nominated singer-songwriter, cellist, composer had the the idea for 'Pioneers' which is more than appropriate as the track developed as the 2nd movement of a commission with the LSO Percussion Ensemble, 'Ocean Floor Suite' (Ed: A cool 'companion' to 'Ocean Suite'?- see review HERE).

Often compared to the likes of Esperanza Spalding an Meshell Ndegeocello, Ayanna's new album 'New Roots' will be released along with some European tour dates so recommend you stay tuned for more from this UK superstar.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: New Roots | Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Artist: Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Title: Pioneers

Release date: 24th June, 2026

Label: Bridge The Gap

Catalog Number: TBC 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: BATB Meets Loopcinico - The London - Maranhão Connection (Beauty & The Beat)

The first ever double release on the London based Beauty & The Beat label - founded by  Cyril Cornet (Belle Bete), Jeremy Gilbert & Cedric Lassonde - is distinctly deep as it hails from "reggae capital of Brasil", São Luis in the state of Maranhão but this ain't reggae or Latin: be prepared for 'The London - Maranhão Connection'! 

The label that evolved out of a London dance party with the aim of releasing previously unreleased music with then a remix project over 10 years ago may have been "underground" but they've really excelled themselves with this new release for a taste of electronic, folk, World, Deep House, Balearic, Latin, Funk, Soul, BPM, Samba shuffle.

Like other regions of Brasil, there's a huge cultural mix and these guys seem to have captured many bits to make a conhesive whole for a dancefloor party from a CD album originally released in 2013 by Loopcinico.  Four original tracks, 2 remixes by Leonidas (who is mates with Kay Suzuki) and a Vidock remix.

It's safe to say,  Luiz Claudio, Beto Ehong & Lobo Siribeira (aka Loopcinico) make/made music that "sounds like nothing else!" and lots of other things at the same time making the "result is a unique blend of electronic sounds, beats and poetry".  Lets say it's Honest Jon's and/or Mr. Bongo that's gone the extra mile. 

It's said, "Loopcinico establish a pulsating balance between live percussion and electronic sound programming, with words and vocals inspired by the beat of eight different musical rhythms of Maranhão".   The opener, 'Curimobata' is a mesmorising start 

Leonidas' ‘Curimbóbatá Axé Mix’ and ‘Maquiô Vidock Mix’ have already been tested on the Beauty & the Beat dancefloor over the last few months as well as by the likes of Hunee (Ed. Oh! yes) so don't miss out on the record and the incredible artwork too!

 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The London-Maranhão Connection (BATB 009) | BATB meets Loopcinico | Beauty and the Beat

 

Title: The London - Maranhão Connection (Leonidas & Vidock Remixes)

Label : Beauty & The Beat

Release date: 29th June 2026

Catalog Number: TBC

Format: 2 x 12" vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp