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Music Reviews

Show: New reviews | Artists beginning with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9 | Compilations

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Time to Rearrange / Aaron Jerome Aaron Jerome - Time to Rearrange
BBE Music
This seems like it's taken ages to be released but I think that is due to hearing that Aaron was signed to BBE such a long time ago. I've been really looking forward to hearing it. Aaron has been around for a while now and has been producing some ace tracks/remixes over the last few years. Next year should see his profile explode with this cracking debut album. Some of the vocalists maybe unknown to the masses but most people in the scene will know all about Bajka, Kathrin deBoer from Belleruche, Mozez, Andreya Triana, Yungun and Simphiwe Dana, and boy do they sound good on all their tracks. There is no real point in highlighting any one tune because they are all something special and fans of the Cinematic Orchestra and 4Hero will enjoy Aaron taking things to another level. Essential!!

Simon Harrison, 01/08
Invisible Cinema / Aaron Parks Aaron Parks - Invisible Cinema
Blue Note Records
On his Blue Note debut, pianist Aaron Parks creates an acoustic jazz gem with cinematic soundscapes of the highest quality. Parks weaves between melodic piano excursions and spontaneous improvising that will captivate any listener that appreciates atmospheric free jazz. The musicians listed here are on the A-list of rising stars, particularly guitarist Mike Moreno. His soloing on “Peaceful Warrior” is spirited and hypnotic. “Nemesis” is a rock infused tune of boundless energy. “Harvesting Dance” is another winner that starts off with a beautiful piano solo before Mike Moreno takes us on a journey of harmonic explorations that is fluid and rhythmic. Drummer Eric Harland does a great job of laying down the rhythm that allows room for everyone to create. Aaron Parks is one of a handful of forward thinking musicians that are pushing the boundaries of jazz. “Invisible Cinema” displays his enormous talent as a composer as well as a pianist with great tonality. Once you come along for the ride of this wonderful disc you will not want to get off.

Reg Dancy, 11/08
Al Rahman! Cry Of The Floridian Tropic Son / Abdul Rahim Ibrahim (Doug Carn) Abdul Rahim Ibrahim (Doug Carn) - Al Rahman! Cry Of The Floridian Tropic Son
Heavenly Sweetness
Following his releases on Black Jazz Records Doug Carn converted to Islam and took the name Abdul Rahim Ibrahim. Originally released in 1977 on Tablighi Records, the super rare ‘Al Raman! Cry Of The Floridian Tropic Son’ sees him fuse Islamic influenced spiritual jazz with Californian sweet soul. The result is breathtaking with immaculate cuts such as the lilting ‘Casbah’, the joyful ‘Tropic Sons’, the brooding ‘Al Rahman!’ and the Blaxploitation flavoured ‘The Watcher’.

Andy Allen, 09/08
El Camino / Adriana Evans Adriana Evans - El Camino
Expansion Records
When Adriana Evans' self-titled debut was released in 1997 it impacted greatly on the newly emerging neo/organic soul scene. Although her follow up 'Nomadic' failed to spark the same level of interest this, her third set sees a return to form. It features all the traits of her first, strong beats, infectious horn arrangements and of course Adriana's delectable vocal tones. She particularly shines on 'Hey Now', 'Calling Me' and 'Undercover' along with the mellow samba 'Blue Bird In Bahia' and the Latin flavoured 'All For Love', all of which are like a breath of fresh air.

Andy Allen, 03/07
Ketukuba / Africando Africando - Ketukuba
Sterns Africa
Fourteeen years and now 7 albums since the first came together, this is a tribute to the late Gnonnas Pedro who sang with Africando from 1996 until his death in 2004. The title song,being his last recording.

This album also sees Pascal Dieng of Super Cayor and Basse Sarr of Orchestre Afro-Salsa de Dakar joining the Africando family. My pick is Madilu System who joins Africando for an excellent version of "Mario", which he originally recorded with Franco's T.P.O.K. Jazz. Superb.

Graham Radley, 11/06
Flight 602 / Aim Aim - Flight 602
Atic Records
Aim aka Andy Turner is one producer whose productions I've always looked forward to hearing. Ever since his first 12"s on Grand Central, he's always been a name to watch out for. My interest is because I was brought up in a town not far from where Andy was brought up and still resides. I do remember seeing him at clubs around the area, back in the day. Whenever I have read reviews of his work, funnily Barrow-In-Furness always seems to get a mention and he way well be the only producer in the area making music. "Flight 602" is his third album and proves yet again he is a quality beats producer and serves up plenty of funkiness for prevailing dancefloors, especially with "Birchwood", "Smile" both of which should find a home with Quantic fans. Niko, Turner's wife features on vocals and gives the album a little more depth and variety. This is a great way to kick off Atic Records.

Simon Harrison, 10/06
Ma Yela / Akli D Akli D - Ma Yela
Because Music
Akli D arrived in France in the early 80's after fleeing Algeria. Discovered by Manu Chao playing in a cafe (I wish they had cafes like that around here) Manu Chao went on to produce this, Akli D.'s second album. Songs of our time, told by a modern day storyteller, songs that have an enlightened perspective on global issues that affect us all. Songs like 'Malik' which is the 'never again' story of Malik Oussekine, a pacifist student who died from injuries inflicted by the police at the famous student demonstration of 1986. Rooted in the Berber rhythms of North Africa he also mixes in reggae, celtic and global roots to produce a chilled backdrop to the songs. He's in UK next February but it looks like only playing the predictable 'big' venues as part of a package hopefully he'll be back soon playing a cafe near you.

Graham Radley, 11/06
Secret Sounds / Al Kent Al Kent - Secret Sounds
BBE Records
Without question, there are more than a handful of folks that doubted that Disco would still be relevant yet here we are thirty years later and Disco still has a home in the hearts of many. You can thank artists like Al Kent for giving it the respect it deserves. Fresh off his project with the Million Dollar Orchestra, Al pays tribute to the genre and the DJ’s that made the music so beloved by many and a lightning rod for others with “Secret Sounds”. Al starts things off with an intro for an advertisement for hustle lessons, the featured dance from the early seventies that everyone tried to master with varying degrees of success. This is followed up with the synth flavored disco track “I like it”. “Come back home” is a soulful tune due in large part to Tyrone Taylor on vocals and laced with strings that would make Vince Montana proud. This is arguably the best track on the disc. Normally I don’t get caught up with interludes but in this case it does provide a service in paying respect to the DJ’s in general and to pioneers like Jellybean Benitez and Tee Scott in particular. The impact they had would set the tone for all the prominent DJ’s of today. Other notable tracks include “Get Funky” starts out with a simple keyboard melody before sequeing into a funky disco stomper with horns. “Reverb is your friend” is a sublime mid-tempo track that isn’t quite a disco track; instead it’s a lovely reverb instrumental that could fit nicely into any lounge today. The disc concludes with the percussion laden “Tenner Rap”, a surefire disco jam floor filler. Al Kent’s love for disco is unsurpassed and if you ever loved the music, you’ll appreciate his dedication and no doubt enjoy “Secret sounds”.

Reg Dancy, 03/10
Better Days / AL Kent presents The Million Dollar Orchestra AL Kent presents The Million Dollar Orchestra - Better Days
BBE Music
When did you imagine disco died? Wrong! Because it happens sometime after 2008 and The Million Dollar Orchestra are here to prove just that. Creative, refreshing, gutsy disco blinders from start to finish. If you are bored with the way some of the genres have been heading then pick this album up and stimulate the parts of the brain usually left for alcohol and wickedness. Best of 2008? Here we come and you had better step aside!

Steve Williams, 01/08
Phantoms / Alan Hull Alan Hull - Phantoms
Market Square Records
Alan Hull solo release in 1970 for Rocket Records reissued for the first time on CD. Here there are 10 tracks from what was his third solo album 'Phantoms' although, as the sleeve notes point out, six had already been released on the Radiator album 'Isn't It Strange' then we get 4 tracks from the aforementioned Radiator album with the package completed by five bonus demos from 1975. A great songwriter who had the capacity to write catchy pop songs as well as address less lightweight subject matter . The albums twelve page booklet features extensive notes and previously unpublished photos.

Graham Radley, 08/07
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