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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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Nuclear evolution: The Age of Love / Sa Ra Creative Partners Sa Ra Creative Partners - Nuclear evolution: The Age of Love
Ubiquity Records
There have been many groups that have come through and displayed the ability lay down the funk. Very few have shown the potential to create the cosmic slop like Sa Ra Creative Partners. Since they emerged on the scene back in 2000, Sa Ra has teased us with a single here and there, most notably the underground hit “Glorious” before finally releasing their debut in 2007. Their latest release, “Nuclear Evolution” fulfills some of the promise that has been long associated with the group. With their trademark psychedelic funk spread across 23 tracks, Sa Ra waxes poetic on tales of partying and all night sexual encounters. Some of the highlights include “Dirty Beauty”, which features Erykah Badu. “Melodee N Mynor” and “Gemini’s Rising featuring Rozzie Daime”. “Traffika” depicts a wild night of chaos in New York City. They slow things down for a moment to enter the galaxy of love on “Love Today”. Each track features their trademark spacey synths, funky basslines and soulful production. Sa Ra’s stylish compositions have been sought after for many hip-hop and soul artists alike. “Nuclear” demonstrates a definitive progression from their debut and will satisfy the legion of fans who like their funk to stretch out beyond the outer limits. Simply put, this is one of the most creative and enjoyable records of 2009.

Reg Dancy, 08/09
Jidka - The Line / Saba Saba - Jidka - The Line
Riverboat Records
Debut CD (although well known as an actress in Italy) she explores the gap between her birthplace of Somalia and her adopted home of Italy. It's a modern tale that lets the traditional sounds and instruments of Africa discover more contemporary European influences and flourish in their company. Refreshing.

Graham Radley, 11/07
Sambistas / Sambistas Sambistas - Sambistas
Sambistas
Veteran sambistas Jair Rodrigues and Elza Soares are joined by two of the new wave - City Of God star Seu Jorge and Luciana Mello plus 40 (yes 40) of Brazil’s best musicians to reinterpret 11 classic samba songs plus a couple of new ones. My pick is Seu Jorge who does a geat version of Dorival Caymmi's ‘Samba Da Minha Terra‘. Refreshing.

Graham Radley, 12/08
Echoes / Sandboy Sandboy - Echoes
Hinterland Records
Tobias Meggle returns with his next instalment and he's gone and released another classic. 'Echoes' includes a few new tracks, some remixes of tracks from 2004's 'Wanderlust' album and some from the man himself. Things kick off with two corking new tracks, with Randolph Matthews featuring on 'Call Out' and 'Common Cause' with Clara Hill. I would have bought 'Echoes' on these tracks alone. Also included are wonderful remixes by Break Reform, Smiles Ahead and Gerd. For a bonus ball you have Sandboy's remix of Gerd's 'So Real' featuring Vanessa Freeman. Surely I don't need to sell this to you any more.

Simon Harrison, 09/05
Along Came The Devil One Night… / Scrimshire Scrimshire - Along Came The Devil One Night…
Wah Wah 45s
Adam Scrimshire is known to many as a producer, musician and dj, having delivered a number of singles over the years for Wah Wah 45’s. “Along came the devil one night” is his first full length release and it undoubtedly demonstrates that he is an artist deserving of a bigger stage. Scrimshire has taken all his musical influences in jazz, soul, Latin and folk to craft a record filled with great melodic tunes and an array of talented vocalists to propel them to greater heights. Let’s start with “The low road”, a lovely track that fuses elements of jazz and pop and is aided by the husky voice of Rob Hynd. The title track is a wonderful instrumental filled with tango influences and warm string arrangements. “Springtime” is a lush, eloquent jazzy number that features the beautiful voice of Claire Laurent. The disc finishes up with the folk flavored “I have come to you” which features Stac. I was a little disappointed that there were only nine tracks here. One can’t complain when every track embodies superb compositions, gorgeous songwriting and talented musicians to match. Simply put, this record is a flat out winner.

Reg Dancy, 07/09
The Silimbo Passage / Seckou Keita SKQ Seckou Keita SKQ - The Silimbo Passage
World Adventures
If ever the term ‘world music’ could apply to a band, then it’s here. Seckou Keita SKQ is a quintet, consisting of Senegal’s Keita on the kora (a 21 string harp/lute like instrument from West Africa, played using only the thumbs and index fingers), accompanied by an Italian double/electric bassist, an Egyptian violinist, and a percussionist and vocalist both hailing from The Gambia. But don’t let that scare you; this isn’t some kind of hideous concept fusion group (the stuff of politically correct, right-on musical nightmares). Far from it. This is genuinely beautiful and uplifting music that requires little or no explanation. The focus is on Keita’s crisp, clean and impeccable playing of established West African roots sounds, with sympathetic support from the accomplished musicians around him, adding little tweaks of Arabic or flamenco rhythm here and there. A wonderful album that had me engrossed and that played all the way through twice before I even touched the controls.

Tom Breslin, 05/08
Mince & Onions / Secret Stealth Secret Stealth - Mince & Onions
Bocajito Records
Secret Stealth are Nottingham's Bob Sadler and Jim Baron and the oddly titled 'Mince & Onions' is the follow up to the duo's 2005 debut 'Ssshhh'. With element of disco, boogie, electro and house all thrown into the mix this should appeal to fans of the Baron's other project Crazy P. The soulful cuts 'Drive Me Crazy' and 'Hooked On You', both of which feature Holly Brackler on vocals are the standouts for me along with 'Free' a gorgeous string laced arrangement reminiscent of 4hero.

Andy Allen, 03/07
Michel Ongaro / Senta Lain Senta Lain - Michel Ongaro
Hippo Records
Senta Lain are a great band from Kenya who were formed by blind band leader Michel Ongaru 8 years ago. Michel is a multi-instrumentalist and plays harmonica, guitar, flute, drums, marimba and piano. Musically the band combine a wide range of influences and cultures which include Kenyan benga and soukous styles with gospel and Cuban Son. Very good.

Graham Radley, 05/09
Red Handed / Sepalot Sepalot - Red Handed
Compost Records
Hailing from Germany, DJ/Producer Sepalot showcases a global presence on his third release “Red Handed”. Sepalot creates a hip hop album that provides plenty of funk, a slew of talented vocalists, a dose of electronica and much more. “She Likes Me” is a definite party banger that features Detroit’s Frank Nitti of Frank n Dank. Rapper Blu is enlisted for the irresistibly funky “Surrender”. Fellow German native Esther Adams, who has worked with Sepalot on her own solo project blesses the track “Liquid Embrace” with her soft buttery voice. On “Jump” Olivier Day Soul sounds like a young Bootsy Collins as he croons over this funky track. He also returns on the soulful “Lights” which is one of the best tracks on the disc. With seventeen tracks, the disc began to loose some momentum. The omission of two or three tracks would’ve made this a much stronger record. Having said that, “Red Handed” is an enjoyable disc that displays the beat making prowess of Sepalot and will undoubtedly expand him to a wider audience.

Reg Dancy, 08/08
Bean Unit / Setsubun Setsubun - Bean Unit
Accidental Records
How to classify ? it’s a folked up jazz, fired by dubby brass meets electro type thingy really. Formed by three members of Bellowhead, plus Japanese musicians and the Bon dancers, it’s a wildly different sound that’s often challenging but if we wanted safe we can find enough cans of mediocrity on the shelves can’t we ? Terrific.

Graham Radley, 02/08
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