Music Reviews
Legends of the Underground - Original Soundtrack
Kindred SpiritsSome time ago it was rumoured that a soundtrack was being produced by some of the hottest West London producers, which sent excitement around the music heads and message boards. Yes it's finally here and it's the work of none other than: Seiji, Domu, Bembe Segue, Rasiyah and Mark De Clive-Lowe. These guys bring together a mix of cinematic broken beats and nu-jazz, as well as techno and African influences. At a running total of 25 minutes you may be thinking that's fairly short-changed until you listen to the 9 min workout of 'Paradise Garden' which was the reason I bought this OST in the first place. I hope the film's as good as the music.
PermalinkSimon Harrison, 11/05
Lekan Babalola - Songs Of Icons
Mr Bongo RecordingsI've been lucky enough to have had a copy of 'Songs Of Icons' for over a year now and I thought it was time to write a review. The singles 'Asokere', 'Oba Awon Oba' and next up 'Kabioye' have been very well received with remixes from IG Culture, Afronaught, Mark De-Clive Lowe and Restless Soul. These are all ace but it's the originals that you'll keep going back to.
I'm not sure all 12 tracks will make it to the final release but whichever tracks see the light of day, this will be an essential purchase. Lekan has played on percussion with some of the finest musicians known to man; Roy Ayers, Pharaoh Sanders, Miles Davis and Fela Kuti. It's no surprise 'Songs Of Icons' is very heavily influenced by his upbringing in Nigeria and jamming with the legends, giving us a mix of tribal rhythms with some wonderful brass solos and hooks. Highlights for me are 'Oososi', 'Oya', 'Ide Osun' and of course the singles mentioned above, which of course you'll already own.
Half-way through writing this review I received notification this will be released by the end of 2005, fingers crossed.
Simon Harrison, 11/05
Leleo - Maravilhas
Acid JazzA star in Brazil since the days of Banda Bel and where he’s worked with a lot of big names like Gilberto Gil, Leleo is now resident in London where he’s been ripping it up with DJ sets as well as band sets (his band is same name as this CD). The CD however was recorded in Copacabana and brings Leleo’s acid samba style up to date, with the trademark Brazilian samba and bossa rhythms getting a base of beats, to get those feet stirring into dance floor action. Very good.
Graham Radley, 06/08
Leon Ware - Moon Ride
Stax RecordsI get the feeling that folks don’t realize just how influential Leon Ware has been to soul music. His contributions began during the height of Motown where among his credits is co-writer of Michael Jackson’s “I wanna be where you are” and the sensual Marvin Gaye album “I want you”. Still, his singing and songwriting remains relevant today. His latest release, “Moonride” is a collection of his signature compositions of melodic and lyrical love music. Leon has been quite busy recently working with the likes of Jazzanova, Liquid Spirits and countless others. Fortunately he saved plenty of good music for his own release. Leon’s falsetto voice is in peak form on tracks like “Hold Tight”, a tender, dreamy ballad that is a delightful listen. “I never loved so much” is an engaging lush down-tempo soothing track. “A whisper away” is another lush gem that features warm latin grooves that make you think of summer. The fact that this is Leon’s first major label release in two decades is a testament to his craft of creating timeless love music. “Moon ride” will certainly satisfy fans of his music as well as those that enjoy warm intimate music for the soul.
Reg Dancy, 01/09
Lewis McCallum - Syntheology
Finch StudiosLewis McCallum’s background is rooted in jazz but it’s his love of beats that make his records stand out. His latest release, “Syntheology” is no exception. Lewis’s synth flavored compositions on this disc are more progressive than on his debut “Wake”. As a result the groove is a little edgier but the vocals are still satisfying and the instrumentals are very funky. Speaking of vocalists, let’s start with Deva Mahal, who blesses the modern funky “Take A Step Back”. “Tales of Mingus” is a wicked instrumental that displays Lewis’s wizardry at beat programming. The track “New Someone feat Tama Walpara” is a high energy soulful house track that would feel right at home in a club. “Deviate” feat. Cherie Mathieson is a clearly one of the strongest tracks here. This is a great example of funky instrumentation and smoothing vocals merging together. There are many records rely solely on digital programming yet “Syntheology” still maintains a soulful quality, largely because the vocalists on board. Lewis is already well known in his native New Zealand but he is certain to build a bigger audience with this impressive effort.
Reg Dancy, 07/10
Life Force - Fearless Warriors
Sonorama RecordsOriginally released in very small quantities on the private Numu Numu label in 1981 'Fearless Warriors' was the debut recording by Life Force, an Atlanta based group founded by Joe Jennings and Howard Nicholson. Thanks to Sonorama this spiritual jazz-fusion rarity now gets a welcome reissue. The set sits somewhere between Pharoah Sanders and Jeff Lorber's early material and features the solid mid-tempo grooves 'Wow', 'Sister Bea' and the brilliant title track plus the bright and breezy 'To Pharaoh With Love', an awesome jazz dancer which should find favour at nights such as Messin' Around and The Jazz Rooms.
Andy Allen, 12/07
Lionel Loueke - Karibu
Blue NoteBenin born guitarist Lionel Loueke made a name for himself on the concert circuit and was spotted by none other than Herbie Hancock who championed his talents and passed on the good word to trumpeter Terence Blanchard who in turn used Loueke's services. Subsequently Loueke has released a trio of well received albums on the independent label Obliquesound, gaining a reputation in France, before moving to Blue Note for this big label debut. In recent years African artists and jazz have enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Richard Bona and the Kora Jazz Trio being just two of the more successful ventures and Dee Dee Bridgewater returning the compliment in the opposite direction. For 'Karibu' Loueke plays in a tight trio and, with the exception of three standards, pens all the other compositions. What immediately strikes is the degree of improvisation and abstraction to many of the pieces and their freshness, notably the radical reworking of the standard 'Skylark' which is one of the album's highlights. On a couple of numbers Loueke enlists the support of Hancock and Wayne Shorter. It is the latter who contributes a gorgeous soprano sax solo to Coltrane's 'Naima' which features lovely percussion.
Loueke's playing has a melodic folksy feel in parts and with scat vocals a la George Benson, he may in time gain popularity outside jazz circles. Perhaps, his own compositions could veer less towards the abstract and stress both the African and Brazilian influences which he was exposed to as a youth, but there is no questioning the promise of talent on offer, nor the rapport between Loueke and the other musicians. The duet with Hancock on 'Seven teens' is worth the admission price alone. A very promising future beckons for Loueke.
Tim Stenhouse, 04/08
Liquid Spirits - Music
Kindred SpiritsLiquid Spirits are an 8-piece band, consisting of drums, guitar, bass, keys and four vocalists, and, under the stewardship of producers Manuel Hugas and Wilboud Burkens, they make pure, unadulterated Soul music of the highest order. There is something of Kindred The Family Soul in their sound, as well as a touch of Acid Jazz along the lines of The Brand New Heavies, but there are no scratches, no samples, no drum machines; just real people singing and playing instruments. Even when Phonte, of Little Brother fame, pops up on the wonderful, Tribe-like ‘If You Don’t Love Me’, the grooves are understated and organic, but always, always funky. Elsewhere, Leon Ware adds to the feeling of overall authenticity with a performance truly befitting a legendary vocal veteran of his calibre. The album’s not quite perfect, for it displays a tendency to occasionally stray into syrupy, lounge territory, but to complain here would be to split hairs. Any Soul fan worth their salt will definitely want to give this a whirl and I’m guessing that most will be extremely pleased that they did.
Tom Breslin, 02/09
Lizzy Parks - Raising The Roof
Tru Thoughts RecordingsTru-thoughts has a new songbird on their roster and her name is Lizzy Parks. The promise that Lizzy displayed on her 2005 release “Watching Space” is shining through on “Raising The Roof”. With production from Ben Lamdin of Nostalgia 77, you know that the musicianship here is top notch. In addition, Riaan Vosloo does masterful job on string arrangements. As for Ms Parks, she displays a sultry voice and flawless phrasing on this eleven track disc. The disc starts out with the title track, what immediately stands out is the synergy that exists within Lizzy and the trio, particularly the crisp playing on double bass and the sparse drum beat. On a great sound system you would think you were at a live concert. Lizzy shows that she can groove on the soul jazz tune “All That”, a swinging tune that is aided by the funky riffs of the Hammond B-3 organ. On “Prayer”, Lizzy’s voice is so tender and yet so powerful as she weaves through an orchestral aesthetic of wonderful soundscapes. This is a climatic ending for a wonderful record that should catapult Lizzy to star status. Highly recommended.
Reg Dancy, 10/08
Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics
Strut RecordsMulti-instrumentalist and Ethnomusicologist Lloyd Miller teams up with The Heliocentrics to explore the methodology between Eastern and Western music and the results are deeply satisfying. Led by drummer Malcolm Catto, the UK collective utilize an assortment of instruments commonly used in world music like the oud, a pear shaped guitar and the harp like Chinese Swarm among others. Standout selections are “Nava”, a contemporary jazz piece with Indian influences that features James Arben on tenor sax and Catto on piano. “Spirit Jazz” is a beautiful Middle Eastern piece that plays like a musical canvas layered with many colors. The centerpiece is Jack Yglesias on flute and also features Lloyd Miller and Catto on vibes and various instruments. “Modality” features both Arben and Ray Carless on sax overlapping melodies that are augmented by percussion work of Adrian Owusu. Lloyd Miller’s musical passage of the last thirty years is skillfully brought back life and the Heliocentrics have provided the wings to make the music soar. This collaboration is a must have for any enthusiast of spiritual minded music.
Reg Dancy, 10/10