Herbert & Momoko – Clay [Strut Records]
Uk producer Matthew Herbert and drummer/vocalist Momoko Gill collaborate on the blissful album “Clay”. The album weaves from the dance floor to quiet introspective moments. The peaceful opener “Calm Water” is a melancholy tune where Momoko yearns about getting closer to nature. Herbert’s sound is close to nature as well. He has a tone that is warm and subtle yet poignant. This comes through in his dance recordings as well as his film scores. “Fallen Again” is another highlight where Momoko’s tender vocals float over a early morning groove. “Babystar” is a polished chilled out dance floor banger. Momoko and Herbert have worked together before. Momoko covered Herbert’s “The Horse Is Here”. Herbert’s production aligned with Gill’s melodic arrangements are a superb match. Gill’s vocals are as tasty as butter on warm toast. The compositions are full of color and euphoric textures. Simply a marvelous record and one of the best of the year.
21st July 2025
Joe Henderson & Woody Shaw – Power To The People [Real Gone Music]
Bruno Repsold Quinteto – Quimera [Agogo Records]
Plunky & Oneness Of Juju – Shades Of Light [Strut Records]
Aldorande – Riviera Serenade [Favorite Recordings]
Marcos Valle – She Told Me, She Told Me [Verve]
Sault – K.T.Y.W.S. [Forever Living Originals]
Scuba feat. Imani Izuri – Bare Naked [Five Six]
Potatohead People & Slippery Elm feat. Bahamadia – Up Close [Mysterybox Records]
DJ Marrrtin & Tino – Paris Fashion District [Stereophonk]
Kuna Maze – Layered Memories [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Havana Candy – Curious George
Sue Wright – I Believe In You [Canopy Records]
Liberation Of Man – Lovely Day [Mr Bongo]
Rome Jefferies – Good Love [Backatcha]
Tryangle Man – House Of Desired Funk [Tryangle Man Records]
Cool Affair – Motoric Patterns (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [Cataleya Music]
NBI – Alphawaves [Burnin Music]
The Creeps – Change It (Simonelli’s Disco Family Sensation) [Clubvision Recordings]
Don Kamares – HausDans [Mousetrap Records]
Max Sinàl feat. Hutch The Great & Melodi Marsh – Let You In [Soul Quest Records]
SPD – Ferment [eatmybeat]
Bassment – Gumshoe Blues [Warm Communications]
Joy Spheres Rees – Solina [BBE Music]
Joy Spheres Rees is the trio of vocalist Allysha Joy, DJ/Producer Hidden Spheres and pianist Finn Rees. “Solina” is an intimate and ethereal recording that fuses the talents of each member. Together they compose nine tracks that touch on romance and spirituality. “Trust The Feeling” is warm and seductive with Joy instructing her partner to let go of any inhibitions. “When Will The Day Come” is a meditative yet intimate tune. Joy’s lush vocals and phrasing aligned with euphoric strings create a mood of passion. “Promise Me Love” is a balearic tune armed with Rees warm synths and Spheres deep grooves. Joy’s tone is in tune with the sound. The result is a mid-tempo gem filled with warmth and plenty of bounce. Bright moments abound on this record. The trio demonstrate their chemistry while the melodies stay with you long after the song is over.
Omar – Brighter The Days [Impressive Collective / BBE Music]
“Brighter The Days”, the ninth album from Omar was originally recorded around the pandemic. The beauty of the UK soul star is his recordings have never followed trends. It has made for a catalog of cherished timeless recordings. It also helps when you have a label that firmly supports your musical vision. Now signed to BBE, he’s free to continue delivering compositions in his own image. Lyefook has made a number of friends on both sides of the pond over his storied career. Many are on board here to take this release to another level. “Holding On to Life” is a mid-tempo burner that features the songstress Ledisi. “Lovey Dovey” is another highlight where he’s joined by vocalists Eric Robeson and Rahemm DeVaughn. The samba flavored “Latin Salsa” demonstrates that Omar can groove in all manner of styles. With eighteen tracks in all, there’s plenty of essential recordings to soothe your Omar fix. The wait has been long but this lp is worth the wait.
14th July 2025
Evidence – Nothing To See Here [Rhymesayers]
The Expert feat. Defcee & Jehst – Remember The Summer [Rucksack Records]
Dabrye feat. MF Doom – Air (K15 ReMiX)
Besøk – Rommet Snakker Tilbake
Tania Maria – Ficou Na Saudade [Jazzybelle Records]
Brigitte Fontaine – Il Pleut [Wewantsounds]
Space Travelers Union – Heliocentric [Folded Music]
Sault – S.I.T.L. [Forever Living Originals]
Mulatu Astatke – Netsanet [Strut Records]
Bembe Segue – Pyramids
Airplay – Nothin’ You Can Do About It [RCA]
Slimy Ape X Wintour feat. Pablogyal – Peace Of Mind
Benga – Killerstep [Bengabeats]
Artwork – Red [Big Apple Records]
Currency Audio – Adder [Exit Records]
Deeper Connection – Mystics [Fokuz Recordings]
Kelmo – The Function (Mutt Remix) [Lately Bass]
Rowpieces – Between Melancholy And Confidence [Rowtown Records]
Horatio Luna – Bubbly (Dufresne Remix) [La Sape Records]
China Charmeleon & Brandon Dhludhlu – Birds Sing [Stay True Sounds]
Offshore and Coen feat. Kali Mija – Always (Alone] [Atjazz Record Company]
Sunbörn Meets Clap! Clap! – Acarajé do Salmão [Wah Wah 45s]
gutinstinct – Pueblo [Fortunea Records]
Anghel & Prayon x Idd Aziz – Kipekeele [BBE Music/Batakari]
Mad Cliff – Goin’ To The Disco [Soul Brother Records]
Don Glori – Paper Can’t Wrap Fire [Mr Bongo]
Gordon Li, aka Don Glori returns with his third release. “Paper Can’t Wrap Fire” has plenty of the same flavors his previous compositions. That means an array of fusion forays combining soul, jazz and Brazilian rhythms. Vocalist ML Hall jumps on three tracks. One of those tracks, “Brown Eyes” combines Hall’s falsetto vocals with Glori’s sublime piano arrangements. Glori’s warm and melodic arrangements shine on “Song For Ants”. The tune begins with a flurry of horns layered over wordless phrasing. Glori tops it off with rhythmnic and harmonically adventurous soloing. “Power” is another highlight that begins with a heavenly choir layered over vibrant fender rhodes and a samba groove. Glori has built an impressive catalog. This release from the multi-instrumentalist may be his best.
Aldorande – Trois [Favorite Recordings]
“Trois” is the latest release from the Parisian band Aldorande. The five member group led by bassist Virgile Raffaelli deliver an array of cosmic jazz funk bangers. The compositions may transport you to the late seventies jazz funk period and give off Lonnie Listen Smith vibes. Florian Pellissier’s spacey synths and multiple variations of keys elevate burning tracks like “Gulf Of Mexico” and “Back To Mother Love”. He’s not alone. Laurent Guillet’s plucky guitar adds a touch of spice as well. “Opium Des Nuits” is one of a number of simmering mellow tunes highlighted by the rhythmic percussion work from Erwan Loeffel. If you want to journey through the galaxy of jazz funk then this is the record for you.
7th July 2025
Lalo Schifrin – The Human Fly [Warner Bros.]
Joy Spheres Rees – Trust the Feeling [BBE Music]
The Circling Sun – Flying [Soundway Records]
Nicola Kramer – All These Times [Village Again]
The Nostalgia 77 Octet – Desert Fairy Princess [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Ebi Soda – When Pluto Was A Planet and Everything Was Cool [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Brian Jackson feat. Black Thought – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised [BBE Music]
Wildchild – Season Of Kingsmen (Nottz Remix) [BBE Music]
Introverted Funk – Fan Out [Star Creature]
Erin Buku – Listen! (Osunlade Remix) [Inner Tribe Records]
Vick Lavender feat. Justin Dillard – Overdrive [Mister Bear]
Herbert & Momoko – Mowing [Strut Records]
Nasz – Baby Girl [Fokuz Recordings]
Bad 4 Life – My Love [Waterframes Music]
Science Of Man – The Real [Rebel Music]
Justin Martin – Hope (Christian Martin Remix) [What To Do]
Anton de Bruin feat. Fanni Zahár – Running On Slippers [Sundown Recordings]
Batavia Collective – Coded [Syndicate Singapore]
Slimy Ape – London Afterthoughts
Alexander Flood – Vibração (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Jerk Boy & Marcel Vogel feat. Million Miles – Real Love [Lumberjacks In Hell]
Mark de Clive-Lowe – Day by Day (Close Counters Remix) [Mashibeats]
Aroop Roy feat. Andre Espeut – Let Me In [Kaoz Theory]
FUTVRST feat. Danke – You Can’t Stop Me [Star Creature]
Gilles Torrent – Buleria [Jazzman Records]
Swiss Tenor Saxophonist Gilles Torrent is following the path of the esteemed tenor legends that have set the bar. Certainly John Coltrane heads the top of that list and his influence resonates throughout this disc. “Buleria”, his latest release is a modal jazz gem that pays tribute to the Tenor titan. The opener “Dense Tropicale” is a modal flavoured tune with Flamenco style sketches. “Ouannassa” is a warm and beautiful ballad that will instantly remind you of “Naima”, the Coltrane classic that Torrent also covers here. “Bahia” is an exotic modal journey that transports you to the sites of Iberia. Overall the compositions here are less intense and more elegant. Torrent and his band are in their element here. They have delivered a marvellous collection of warm and melodic modal compositions certainly worth a listen or two.
30th June 2025
The Mandala Vortex – Trip [NuNorthern Soul]
George Duke – Seeing You [MPS]
Georgie Sweet – Energy [First Word Records]
Agustin Pereyra Lucena – Pequeño Vals [Far Out Recordings]
Aldorande – Back To Mother Earth [Favorite Recordings]
The East Coast Affair – Run Inside My Mind [Funk Night]
Funky Bijou – Jet Raw Tool [Stereophonk]
The Circling Sun – Constellation [Soundway Records]
Rodina – Good People [Rodina Music]
Han Litz Group – Tucan Playa (Manoo’s Steps Remix) [Wicked Wax]
Pedro & Jenna Camille – Future Dance (It’ll Be Ok) [Wolf Music Recordings]
Marla Kether feat. Naima Adams – Morning Light [Re:Warm]
Yuu Udagawa – Quantum Blue [Phuture Shock Musik]
Boiler Room Collective – The Devil Made Me Do It (Remix) [Fluid Ounce Records]
Wez Walker – Heart Shaped Mistakes EP [Fokuz Recordings]
Bruk Rogers – Get Low (Zero T Remix) [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Mr Beatnick – Synthetes [Don’t Be Afraid]
Alton Miller feat. Maurissa Rose – Bring Me Down (Alton Miller Remix) [Cataleya Music]
AKTSHUN feat. Saucy Lady – Light Headed (What Do I Do) [Stereophonk]
Plastic Bamboo – A Scene At The Sea [Star Creature]
L.A.X. – All My Love [Epic]
China Charmeleon & Brandon Dhludhlu – Birds Sing [Stay True Sounds]
Land Of Echo feat. Kathy Diamond – What We Want [Wah Wah 45s]
Brylho – Se voce For A Salvador [Jazzybelle Records]