2nd August 2021
Marcos Resende & Index – Martina [Far Out Recordings] Kamal Abdul-Alim – Brotherhood [Soul Brother Records] Roy Ayers / Wayne Henderson – For Real [Polydor] The Louis Hayes Group – What’s Goin On [Gryphon] Airto – Mixing [Real Gone Music] Trio Mocotó – Dilê [Mr Bongo Records] Duke Pearson – Lamento [Blue Note Records] Lemos and Debtio – Morro Do Barraco Set Agua [Mr Bongo Records] Isaac Aesili – Creatress [Bastard Jazz Recordings] Pursuit Grooves – Sparks [What Rules Recordings] Spacek – How Do I Move [Island Records] Breakthrough feat. Maspyke – This Way Before [Ki/oon Records] The Black Seeds – Cool Me Down [Best Seven] Hector Plimmer feat. Ego Ella May – Sonnet 17 (Scrimshire Remix) [Albert’s Favourites] E. Live – Flotational Device [BBE Music] Aaron Jerome – Time To Rearrange [BBE Music] LCSM – More Brilliant Centre (Alex Phountzi Remix) [CoOp Presents] Hidden Agenda – Inside Outski [Straight Ahead] 4Hero – Unique [Talkin’ Loud] Pete Josef – Giants (Jazzanova Remix) [Sonar Kollektiv] Thap Soul & T.Roy feat. Robert Owens – Change (Future Dub) [Broadcite] R.O.D. (Rainie Of De’Lacy) – The Cure (Conway Kasey Remix) [Makin’ Moves] Feiertag feat. Msafiri Zawose – Trepidation (Kyodai Afro Mix) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Barton Think: My Last Album [Time Is The Enemy]
The enigmatic Barton Think reveals very little about himself but his music is speaking volumes. “My Last Album” is filled with an assortment of genre bending grooves enhanced by an array of talented vocalists and MCs. “Beautiful Place” is a mid-tempo soul burner fronted by broken beat pioneer Colonel Red with assistance from Dynamite MC. Colonel Red also appears on “Voices” is a reflective downtempo tune. “In The Dark” has a percolating beat punctuated by the feathery vocals of Denitia. “I Can’t See” is a tasty instrumental filled with jazzy hip hop beats. Let’s hope this isn’t Barton’s “last” album because he certainly has more to offer based on the strength of this impressive release.
Rafael Moraes: Reconnection [Yoruba records]
Eight years since his debut, Rafael Moraes returns with his sophomore release “Reconnection”. Moraes stepped back into the studio and emerged with an album loaded with infectious Afro house compositions that sink into your body and is certain to lift your spirits. “Fingers” features fellow labelmate Jesse Gannon and erupts with spirited percussion, swaying piano and lush vocal harmonies. Nadiirah Shakoor is another long time Yoruba soul contributor and her warm soulful vocals ignite the deep house gem “In Love Again”. “No Escaping” is another heater where Moraes is joined by premier DJ/Producer Aroop Roy, who adds his mix of Afro, funk and Latin rhythms. Moraes combines an array of musical sensibilities that takes the album beyond the dance floor. This is deep house at it’s best and a long overdue gem.
KVRVBO: Euphoria [Stay True Sounds]
“Euphoria” is the debut full length release from KVRVBO (pronounced Karabo). KVRVBO is one of a number of talented DJ/Producers to emerge from the meteoric house music scene in South Africa. With two critically acclaimed EPs under his belt under the impressive label Stay True Sounds, this record is an ode to classic house and he represents himself very well here. “Conspiracy” is a perfect example of that. A traditional four to the floor banger with warm emotive synth lines juxtaposed against a pulsating rhythm. “O Flopo” is a mid-tempo Afro house tune armed with a gentle thumping bass groove. It’s also one of the few vocal tracks here and features Okay GOD. KVRVBO slows down the pace with “Call For Truth”. A meditative tune filled with potent poetic words of wisdom on top of a steady hypnotic beat. KVRVBO taps into his musical roots to create a deep house gem with his signature sound combined with classic deep house rhythms. A triumphant release that should put him all over the map.
26th July 2021
Kutiman – Guruji [Siyal Music]
Ishmael Ensemble – The Gift [Severn Songs]
Esinam – Lost Dimensions [W.E.R.F. Records]
Sampology – James Chatburn – Reassemble [Middle Name Records]
Miryam Solomon – Pushing The Tide [Albert’s Favourites]
Quinn Oulton feat. Demae – Show Your Face [DeepMatter]
Pursuit Grooves – Cheer [What Rules Recordings]
Tekilla – 90s [Batakari]
De La Soul – Stakes Is High [Tommy Boy Records]
De La Soul – Itzsoweezee (Hot) (De La Soul Remix) [Tommy Boy Records]
Jerome Thomas – No B.S [Rhythm Section]
Scrimshire feat. Jessica Lauren – Within Without [Albert’s Favourites]
Menagerie feat. Lance Ferguson – Hymn Of The Turning Stone [Freestyle Records]
Minnie Riperton – Reasons [Epic]
The KBCS – Popsicles [Sonar Kollektiv]
El Turronero – Las Penas (La Caña) [NuNorthern Soul]
Secret Night Gang – Captured [Brownswood Recordings]
Mark de Clive-Lowe – El Dia Perfecto [Universal Jazz]
Sean McCabe & Karmasound feat. Erik Rico – A New Day [Phuture Shock Musik]
Henry Keen feat. Ben Hadwen – Dexter’s Breakfast
Fradinho feat. Colonel Red – Much We Have (Inkswel Remix) [Fradinho Music]
Aybee – Revolution Of 1 [Deepblak]
Tryangle Man – Pursuit [Atjazz Record Company]
Martin Iveson – Life On Titan [Less That Ten]
19th July 2021
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Fragments Of A Lost Language [Reinforced Music]
Survival – Heeding The Signs [Exit Records]
MOY – Cyberweapon [Batrachian]
Afronaught – Shapin’ Fluid [Apollo]
Afronaut – How It Goes [Thu Thoughts Recordings]
LCSM – Frequency (Cengiz Remix) [CoOp Presents]
Dego – What’s An Inferiority Complex [2000 Black]
Telemakus – Mars Blues [Radio Juicy]
Awkward Corners feat. Tamar Osborn – No Words [Shapes of Rhythm]
Flowers – For Real [LA Xpressio]
Amazin Five – Only With You [Tramp Records]
Herb Geller feat. Mark Murphy – Space A La Mode [Tramp Records]
Hiromasa Suzuki – Screwdriver [Columbia]
Jazz Orkestar Radio-Televizije Beograd – Krug [Cosmic Sounds]
The Fantastics! – Pyramid [BBE Music]
Ricardo Bomba – Flutando [Far Out Recordings]
Bah Samba feat. The Fatback Band – Let The Drums Speak (Harvey Lindo Edit) [BKO Productions Ltd.]
Beatchild – Adapting [BBE Music]
St Germain – So Flute (Ludovic Navarre Amapiano Deep Sunny Mix) [Parlophone]
LyricL – When You Read This (DSS Original Vocal) [Makin’ Moves]
Sabrina Chyld feat. P.M. Project – I’m Fine (Abel Club Mix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Sheldon So Goode – Dreaming [Makin’ Moves]
12th July 2021
Sune – That Place Between Time & Space [Apparel Music]
My Friend Dario – Malvasia (Blair French Remix) [NuNorthern Soul]
Reuben Vaun Smith – Truth [Soundway Records]
Super db – Stealing Shadows [Légère Recordings]
As Valet feat. J.Mcfysian – Inevitable [Futuristica Music]
Sven Wunder – Impasto [Mr Bongo Records]
Scrimshire feat. Nat Birchall & Faye Houston – I Hear You, I See You [Albert’s Favourites]
Shamek Farrah & Folks – The White Lady [Jazz Room Records]
Kamal Abdul Alim – Dance [Soul Brother Records]
Matters Unknown – BlindSpot [Bridge The Gap]
George Sauma Jr. – Vou Mostrar Que Sei Viver [Favorite Recordings]
Elis Regina – Noves Fora [Mr Bongo]
Valéria – Pé na estrada (Mendal Edit) [Notes On a Journey]
Quantic & Nidia Góngora – Balada Borracha [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Besøk – Hard Hitting 7-8
Postdrone – Qaha [Rakete]
Allysha Joy – Better (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [First Word Records]
JD73’s Electrio – The Shapeshifter [Atjazz Record Company]
Atlantic Starr – Yours Forever [A&M Records]
Netwerk – Hard To Give It Up [Past Due]
Groove Boys Project feat. Lucas Piette – New York Always On My Mind [Amsem Records]
Frederick Alonso & Pat Lezizmo – Emotion (Alt. Mix) [Atjazz Record Company]
KVRVBO feat. Rephlex – Gotham Groove [Stay True Sounds]
Secret Night Gang – Journey [Brownswood Recordings]
5th July 2021
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Brazil [CTI Records]
Toquinho – Carolina Carol Bela [Soma]
Web Web x Max Herre feat. Yusef Lateef – Akinuba / The Heart [Compost Records]
Kinkajous – Convolution [Running Circle Records]
Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet – Hot Rod [Jazzman Records]
Archie The Goldfish – First Light [Funkiwala Records]
Linkwood – Refresher [Athens Of The North]
Damu the Fudgemunk feat. Nitty Scott – Four Better Or Worse Pt. 1 [KPM]
Lewis Parker – Sunny Dedications [Melankolic]
Andrew Pearce Vs. Urban Soul Gallery – Day By Day [6 x 6 Records]
Moroka – Glassala [Apron Records]
Oyobi feat. Maite Inea & QVLN – Crossroads (Vincent Sebastian & Atjazz Remix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Nicola Kramer – Need To Learn [Village Again]
Taylor McFerrin – Broken Vibes [Rude.]
Edwin Starr – Eavesdropper [GTO]
Glass Beams – Mirage [Research Records]
Cheryl Lynn – If You’ll Be True To Me [CBS]
The S.O.S. Band – High Hopes [Tabu Records]
Àbáse – Agangatolú [Oshu Records]
Balimaya Project – Balimaya [Jazz Re:freshed]
Hector Plimmer – Circle (Alexa Harley Vocal Version) [Albert’s Favourites]
Flytronix – The Rhode Tune [Moving Shadow]
Steve Survival – Rouge [Creative Source]
Aquasky – Tranquility (Big Bud Remix) [Moving Shadow]
Mista Monk: Multi [Inner Tribe]
Austrailian based rapper Liam Monkhouse aka Mista Monk brings a truck load of funk on his new release “Multi”. Monk has partnered up with an array of like minded eclectic artists who relate to his vision of forward thinking soul music and hip-hop. “Crossroads” packs a load of boom bap as Monk spits hard hitting rhymnes along with vocal assistance from fellow Austrailian native Laneous. “Mind Zone” is a laid back soulful number with an impressive cast. Fellow rapper Illa J jumps on board alongside Pugz Alomz, Lord Lobe and vocalist Charli Umami of Plantself. “This Is For…” is another favorite with thumping beats certain to get your head nod on. “Rains” is a wicked dub track that provides a nice change of pace. Produced by notable producer Inkswell, “Multi” is quality hip-hop. There’s plenty of funk, supreme vocals and beats by the pound that will warrant several spins.
Gizelle Smith: Revealing [Jalapeno Records]
Manchester based vocalist Gizelle Smith returns with her latest lp entitled “Revealing”. The soul and funk chanteuse’s third full length release takes a shift from the high octane raw soul compositions she’s become known for. Like all of us, the past year took a toll on Smith. Aside from the pandemic she also lost her Dad Joe, former musical director for legendary Motown group The Four Tops. She decided to scratch her original compositions and came up with the material we’re treated to here. The opener “Agony Road” has a catchy guitar hook and provides the perfect canvas for Smith’s restrained but potent vocals. “Better Remember” is a mellow tune fueled by a wicked wah wah guitar pedal and a soulful rhythm section. Smith shows a softer side as she confronts social distancing and the anxieties that come along with it. “Riot Cars” and “The Girl Who Cried Snow” have a rock tinged edge to them yet Smith sounds right at home. Although she’s been in the game for more than a decade, Smith has just scratch the surface. This marvelous lp showcases a new side to her and you’re gonna to love the results.