Tag: jazz

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Tell Me I’m Dreaming for Noods

The first show for Noods is now up on mixcloud to listen at your leisure. Featuring these lovely tunes…

O$VMV$M – Dill Big Choo
Mark de Clive-Lowe – Memories of Nanzenji
Edmony Krater – Gwadloup
Garrett – Apocalyptic Sunrise
Budgie – Sometimes
The Reboot Joy Confession – Enjoy Solitude
Sun Runners – Can’t Wait
Kuniyuki Takahashi – Echoes Of The Past
Zazou Bikaye – Mamo Lenvo
Andy Mac – Dancehall Style
Dominique Guiot – La Danse Des Méduses
RAMZi – Fuma
Mr G – Strollin’
Eddie C – Auf Der Ufer
Pedro & Jenna Camille – Keep It H 2000
Afrikan Sciences – Tick Ballad Variant

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Mark de Clive-Lowe – Heritage

I’ve always had a lot of time for Mark de Clive-Lowe.  I managed to see him live in various guises a fair few times during his years in London.  These days he resides and continues to make music from the sunnier climes of Los Angeles California.  This new album is an ode to his Japanese Heritage through the lense of jazz and electronics.  The first of two volumes apparently.  The first track we have is a beautiful jazz number, ‘Memories of Nanzenji’, as featured on our First of the Year mixtape.  The abum will be released in full on February the 8th and can be pre-ordered at the link

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Repair Your Soul – First of the Year

For the first episode of the year I like to take it down a notch or two.  So here you can find some lovely jazz, Estonian soul, a little ambient and a touch of dub.  Hangover compatible, relax yourself…

Mark de Clive-Lowe – Memories of Nanzenji
Makaya McCraven – Young Genius (feat. Joel Ross)
30/70 – Steady Hazin’ (Live From The Living Room)
Velly Joonas – Stopp, Seisku Aeg!
Jaubi – Lahore State Of Mind
Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
O$VMV$M – Dill Big Choo
Annette Brissett – Betrayed Dub
Andy Mac – Dancehall Style
Bantam Lions – Red Streaks in the Sky
Klaus Krüger – Detroit Bells
Yasuaki Shimizu – Semi Tori No Hi
Martyn – Try To Love You
Marlui Miranda – Tchori Tchori (feat. Uakti)
Blue Heron’s Tribute 2 PH – Hymn to a Whale Talker
Aretha Franklin – Wholy Holy

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EPs / Singles of 2018

These are the EPs that did it for us in 2018, it was hard to get it down to ten, what do you think is missing?

10. Kyoto Jazz Sextet – Rising (Ron Trent remix)

Taken from a 2017 Blue Note album, picked up by Local Talk for a little remix action. Ron keeps most of the original elements in check, adding a little of his trademark house thump and keys. One for the end of the night.

9. Ultramarine – Breathing

A lovely little hypnotic taster of a forthcoming album from Ultramarine, who’ve been in the game since the early 90s. These are apparently early versions so a turn differently when the album arrives. The title track with it’s haunting sax is an absolute beauty.

8. Linkwood – Fresh Gildans

Kicking off with a super-charged electrofunk belter of a tune in ‘Fresh Gildans’, this is another great release from the Firecracker label. The varied b-side jams are not to be ignored either. Linkwood’s other release, ‘Night Theatre Volume One’ EP is also worthy of your attention.

7. 30/70 – Elevations

Rhythm Section put together a great remix package for Australian soul band 30/70. As well as the remixes there is a little stripped back live track. All the remixes on offer here are ace, but it’s the Setwun one that stands out for me.

6. Drummotive – Coral EP

Next Phase Records have been putting out marvelous atmospheric music for a good while now. Rooted in but not limited to drum & bass, this EP was a particular highlight for me. Coming off like classic Mo Wax at times, this is music to lose yourself to.

5. Selectors Assemble Volume 2

Broken Beat’s second coming is in full swing right now, not that it’s really ever been away for some of us. Curated by Co-Op originals IG Culture and Alex Phountzi, but with plenty of young blood along for the ride. All 6 tracks are fire, I can’t pick a favourite.

4. Sonar’s Ghost X GMHA – 3 X 2

OK we’re biased here, but this is so good. Big up Mr Stanton and GMHA, smashing it with a late entry to the list.

3. Kamaal Williams – New Heights / Snitches Brew

I think this is the best Kamaal Williams record yet. New Heights is great, but ‘Snitches Brew’ is like nothing you’ve ever heard before. Listen at least once a day and become as obsessed by it as I am.

2. Afrikan Sciences – Reciprocity

In my opinion Afrikan Sciences is one of the best out there (and he is out there in every way). He had quite a few releases this year, including a couple of excellent self-released albums. This EP came out on his original home Deep Blak Recordings, back in February. I have to say the whole thing just blew me away. Put ‘Hullman Z’ on, crank up the volume and see where it takes you!

1. Karmasound – Probabilidades

Karmasound’s 2018 EP for the Phuture Shock Musik label is absolutely rammed with broken infused gems. The tracks where he pushes the tempo up to the max work the best for me, but the whole thing is pure heat.  For me, this has been the EP of the year.  Looking forward to his new single, ‘Can See Thru You’ which is coming early Jan.

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Albums of 2018

This is my top 10 albums of the year, any I’ve missed or got completely wrong?

10. Space Ghost – Endless Light

Lovely warm analog sounds from Space Ghost out of Oakland California on this LP for Tartelet Records.  This album is a bit like your favourite blanket.  A collection of mellow synth funk which occasionally shifts gear towards for the dancefloor.  Not really heard this one played much, maybe a little under the radar?

9. Mansur Brown – Shiroi

Black Focus Records got a lot of attention in 2018, mostly for the also excellent Kamaal Williams album.  But for me this album from guitarist Mansur Brown was the stronger of the two.  There’s so much going on, I feel like I notice something new on each listen.  Smokey late night vibes, very enjoyable

8. Pursuit Grooves – Felt Armour

I’ve always had a soft spot for the productions of Toronto’s Pursuit Grooves.  This self-released album is hard to define.  Crunchy, industrial, electronics like nothing you’ve heard before.  Another album that’s probably a little slept on, but I recommend you seek it out.

7. MGUN – Axiom

Don’t Be Afraid had another cracking year, and this is I think their finest release of the year.  The sophomore album from Detroit’s MGUN.  This one’s full of raw party jams, but works equally as an album you can listen to start to finish on your cans.

6. Bantam Lions – Romantic Views

Bantam Lions follows up his amazing ‘Short Stories’ album with this more experimental but just as excellent collection.  The album has a haunting lo-fi feel, with a lot of the tracks being little 2 minute vignettes rather than twelve inch bangers.

5. Mildlife – Phase

Taking in jazz, funk, disco and a little pych, this album was a highlight of my summer, even though it came out a lot earlier in the year.  The debut album from Australian band Mildlife is hard to resist by even the coldest of souls.

4. Makaya McCraven – Universal Beings

Everybody’s been talking about the jazz revival this year.  I’m not sure it’s ever been away, but it’s great to see the music getting a lot more attention in 2018.  This for me was the jazz album of the year.  I picked it up when I was looking for interesting music to play on a modern jazz show I put together for NTS earlier this year.  The album is made up of a series of live performances in New York and Chicago alongside studio recordings in London and LA.  The album features many of the great young players of modern jazz and makes for a stunning listen

3. X-Altera – X-Altera

Not content with putting out a new album under the Dabrye alias, the man of many names, Tadd Mulinix knocked me for six with this one.  X-Altera is influenced by a love of jungle and drum & bass alongside a re-connection with melodic techno.  All this retro love and the result is an album that feels amazingly fresh

2. Insolito Universo – La Candela Del Rio

I absolutely loved this album, so much it was one of the first blog posts.  The album is a mix of traditional Venezuelan styles with a modern electronic edge.  A blast from start to finish, great artwork too!

1. Max Graef – Lo Siento Mucho Pero No Hablo Tu Idioma

So here we have my favourite album of the year.  Max Graef’s second album (under his own name at least) is an absolute belter.  Very different to his earlier stuff, I really love the out-there, lo-fi vibes.  Also worth checking out the Ratgrave album Max was involved in this year, also sick!!

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Repair Your Soul – Episode 2

Episode 2 of the Repair Your Soul show with Neil Sherwood.  We start with a lovely little jazzed up hip hop beat from Cat Therapist.  Move through the monumental new one from Kamaal Williams, that guitar solo damn!  Touching on a couple of nice DNB tunes and a slightly pitched up Linkwood.  Before hitting the broken house techno stride with a few killers in the 130s.  Enjoy the ride!

Cat Therapist – Springtime
Kamaal Williams – Snitches Brew
Harvey Sutherland – I Can See (Rings Around Saturn Remix)
Footshooter – Mars (feat. And Is Phi)
Linkwood – Fresh Gildans
Max Graef – Midi Lisa
Overmono – Quadraluv
Bad Channel – A
Pacific Coliseum – Ocean City
Partner Music – Patu
Kaidi Tatham – Freddie Can’t Run Away
Feeling Kréyol – Las Palé
Kevin Murning – Mode’s Arp (190 In The Polo Edit)
Alex Attias & Sidi Touré – Agabory

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Andrew Wasylyk – The Paralian

Update : out today!

The Athens of the North record label are mostly known for their reissues of glorious, long forgotten soul, disco and jazz music. Their releases favour in particular the 7 inch vinyl format. There have however been a few exceptions, most notably the beautiful Hampshire and Foat album and now this new one from Andrew Wasylyk which appears to be in a similar vein. Andrew Wasylyk is a pseudonym for Scottish musician Andrew Mitchell. So far only one track is available to preview, Greendive#2 as well as a little YouTube trailer. The tune is a stunning piece of music that certainly whets the appetite. Athens of the North promise an album touching on modern classical, ambient, jazz alongside a touch of folk. We’ll have to wait until next February to find out for sure, but for now you can check out the teaser track and pre-order at their bandcamp.

pre-order on bandcamp

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Insólito UniVerso – La Candela del Río

Olinda records, run by the Colectivo Futuro crew, have been gathering momentum with each release over the last year or so. This their fourth release is particularly special, an album from a Venezuelan quartet, based in Paris, Insólito UniVerso. The music on offer is equal parts joyous uptempo numbers mixed with deeper more melancholic moments. The album successfully fuses traditional Venezuelan styles with a more modern electronic sound. The band are also playing a gig this coming Friday at the Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston, support on the night from the Colectivo Futura DJ’s.

Update – the band will be performing live Friday afternoon on Worldwide FM for those who didn’t get a ticket for the gig

Bandcamp

Tickets