Flamingo Pier: Flamingo Pier [Soundway]
New Zealand collective Flamingo Pier’s self titled full length debut is filled with punchy Disco, funky boogie and infectious house tunes. This album builds on the highly regarded EPs released in 2019 and 2020. The nine track release packs quite a punch right out of the gate. “Eternal” has elements of classic Disco with soaring strings, sweet horns and infectious drums courtesy of label mate Julien Dyne. Another label mate, saxophonist Nathan Haines shares production duties on the tasty house banger “Last Call”. The eight minute banger will be an instant floor filler for many DJs. “Make You Wonder” has a percolating guitar infused boogie groove. The entire disc has an uplifting vibe that stems from a year of being in lockdown. The band was finally able to gather together in the studio and the energy manifested into a joyful recording that’s certain to make you dance, toe tap or however you choose to move.
Rolf Zielke: Beaches In Your Soul [Agogo]
Pianist Rolf Zielke’s engaging release “Beaches In Your Soul” is a tasty stew of contemporary Jazz with a tinge of Brazilian and Middle Eastern influences as well. Zielke and his band come out the gate swinging on the elegant “Awakening”. Saxophonist Stephan Abel’s warm yet robust melodies are the perfect compliment to Zielke’s shimmering flourishes. Cellist Stephen Braun adds another layer of melodic brilliance on strings. Braun shines even brighter on “Night Sea Journey”, a blissful atmospheric composition. Mohannad Nasser’s strumming on the oud adds a touch of a Middle Eastern vibe woven together perfectly. Zielke’s elegant playing and arrangements will evoke images of Bill Evans but he’s clearly carving out an identity for himself here. “Okavango Serenade” is a lovely ballad enhanced by Trumpeter Beeny Brown’s sublime melodies. Zielke’s playing and songwriting are top notch. The musicians on board here rise to the occasion. He has demonstrated a great deal of creativity by weaving a multitude of cultures into a deeply satisfying set. No doubt more attention will be coming his way.
Dego: The Negative Positive [2000 Black]
“The Negative Positive”, the latest from DJ/Producer Dego is filled with instrumental grooves and tasty vocal treats. Dego seamlessly blurs the lines between soul, boogie and broken beat and has built an impressive catalog since his partnership with Marc Mac as 4Hero. Under his 2000 black label, he has released countless grooves and bangers for himself as well as collaborations with mainstays like Kaidi Tathum, Lord & Ranks among others. With this release Dego has pulled back the tempo but the tracks still pack quite a punch. “This Is A Message To You” is one of the strongest tunes here. A catchy mid-tempo tune enhanced by Nadine Charles lovely vocals. The title is filled with effusive beats and funky synths. Vocalist Samii warms up the laid back boogie tune “Recovered Memories”. For moments when you need to chill this record will serve as the perfect antidote.
Wheel Up: Good Love [Tru Thoughts]
Danny Wheeler aka DJ Wheel Up releases his much anticipated full length debut “Good Love”. Wheeler teams up with broken beat pioneer Afonaut from Bugz In The Attic fame as well as his own solo projects. The essence of broken beat personifies this disc and the lead track “Good Love” is evidence of that. The infectious banger features Alabama based rapper Blint Story and vocalist Destiny Will and ignites instant body movement. It’s certain to find it’s way onto several DJs playlist. “Rise Above” is another Bruk flavored classic that features drum n bass duo Pola & Bryson, aka “Abacus”. Blint Story shows up again on the politically tinged Bruk banger “Stay For Long” which is woefully too short at under three minutes. Bembe Segue, a long time contributor to a number of Broken beat compositions with a number of artists displays her unique vocals to the boogie groover “Fusion”. “Good Love” is a triumph that celebrates broken beat and club culture. It’s an album filled with joyful vibes that deserves heavy rotation.
31st May 2021
Soulphiction – Midnight Funk Infinity [Sonar Kollektiv]
Soulphiction feat. Marcin Oz – Prison Song [Sonar Kollektiv]
Soulphiction – What’s Your Name [Freude am Tanzen Records]
Soulphiction – Used [Sonar Kollektiv]
Basic Rhythm – 3am On The Corner [Hypercolour]
Rafael Moraes feat. Jesse Gannon – Fingers [Yoruba Records]
Kid Fonque feat. Sio – In Love (China Charmeleon Remix) [Stay True Sounds]
Yelfris Valdés – Ancestry (K15 Remix) [Múscia Macondo Records]
DJ Q & Hans Glader – Thief in the Night (Al Wootton Remix) [Local Action]
Future Jazz Ensemble & XL Regular – Astral Sorcery [ANMA & Cognitiva Records]
Tek 9 & Sonar Circle – Filigree [AKO Beatz]
Apparel Wax – 009B3 [Apparel Wax]
Calibre – Good Times [Signature Recordings]
Peace Orchestra – Double Drums [G-Stone Recordings]
Ullr – Nut Cracker
Jerome Thomas – No B.S [Rhythm Section]
Potatohead People x De La Soul – Baby Got Work (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Kaidi Tatham Remix) [Bastard Jazz]
Larry Nozero – Tune For L.N. [BBE Music]
Freddie Hubbard – D Minor Mint [Blue Note Records]
Family of Eve – I Wanna Be Loved By You [BBE Music]
The Weavers Of Dreams – Weavers of Dreams [Super Disco Edits]
Dr Robert Blackman – Master Of Wood [Re:Warm]
Secret Night Gang – Journey [Brownswood Recordings]
Ten City – Under You [Columbia]
24th May 2021
Hector Plimmer – Still Here (Alexandra Hamilton Ayers Remix) [Albert’s Favourites]
K-65 – In My Mind [Seagrave]
Use Of Weapons – Switchblade [Droppin’ Science]
Lewis Parker – Incognito [Melankolic]
Hearin’ Aid – Meet My Approval (Up Hygh Remix)
Mara TK – Moon Song [Extra Soul Perception]
Edseven feat. Tan Brown – MGIC [Inner Tribe Records]
Plutonic Lab feat. Natalie Slade – Good Thing [Low Key Source]
Mato – Summer Madness [Stix Records]
The Haggis Horns – Give It Up (Don’t Take Part In The Madness) (Abstract Orchestra Remix) [Haggis Records]
Ricardo Bomba – Flutando [Far Out Recordings]
Westside – Don’t Take It Away [Favorite Recordings]
EESKRA – Belong [Ramrock Records]
Sweatson Klank – Slow Dancing To A Fast Break [Friends of Friends]
K.Mo feat. Byron The Aquarius – Space Funk [Wayout Records]
Elliott Hollins – Could You, Would You [Atjazz Record Company]
Blaze – Directions (Direct Mix One) [Spiritual Life Music]
Inkswel feat. Dwight Trible, Planetself & Michele Manzo – Astral Love (SMBD Ass-Tron-O-Mix) [Atjazz Record Company]
Pat Kalla & Le Super Mojo – Calin Bresil [Pura Vida Sounds/Heavenly Sweetness]
Damu the Fudgemunk- Archie Shepp & Raw Poetic – Tulips [Redefinition Records]
Gordon Beck – The Hustler [Jazzman Records]
The Parker Brothers – I Don’t Want To Make Believe [Favorite Recordings]
The Judy Roberts Band – Fantasy [Madonna Records]
George Duke – Brazilian Sugar [Epic]
Chico Hamilton – Mysterious Maiden [Elektra]
17th May 2021
Mark Graham feat. Sheila Ellis – We Dont Need Any Guns We Have Ideas [Smooth Agent Records]
Sun Circle – Life Stories (Reprise) [Futuristica Music]
Mathias Modica – Nippon Jonetsu [Kryptox]
Machinedrum feat. Mono/Poly & Tanerelle – Star (Shelley FKA DRAM Remix) [Ninja Tune]
Lootpack feat. Quasimoto – Answers [Stones Throw Records]
BudaMunk – Swivel [Kingtone]
LaNote – Alright (Mecca:83 Remix) [Futuristica Music]
Jose Mauro – Moenda [Far Out Recordings]
Sivuca – Ain’t No Sunshine [Real Gone Music]
Francisco Mora Catlett – Amazona [Far Out Recordings]
Arthur – So Close To You [BBE Music]
Carl Smith And The Natural Gas Company – Livin’ A Dream [BBE Music]
Mpeshnyk – Broken [Atjazz Record Company]
Domu – Let Me Be [Archive]
SPD – Pfhin [Keysound Recordings]
Agile Experiments – Inspectawreck
Babs Robert & The Love Planet – Pro Forma 1 [seriE.WOC]
Herbie Hancock – Palm Grease [Columbia]
JAB – Preface [Joon Dada Records]
Pete Josef – Giants (Jazzanova Remix) [Sonar Kollektiv]
Maroki – Birchgrove Pleasure Gardens [E-Beamz]
Apparel Wax – 009A3 [Apparel Wax]
Saidêra – Deixa Tudo Fluir (Ray Mang Mix) [Lets Play House]
Urban Sound Gallery – Introduce My Love [Clairaudience]
Arthur Verocai – Bis [Far Out Recordings]
10th May 2021
June Evans – Hardly Need To Say [Izipho Soul]
Kashif – Say Something Love [Arista]
Aura Safari – Niagara [Terrasolare]
Sweet Maya – Good Day [Luv N’ Haight]
Mara TK feat. 2My – Grew up Inna Chaos [Extra Soul Perception]
Amaro Freitas – Baquaqua [Far Out Recordings]
Anthony Joseph – Maka Dimweh [Heavenly Sweetness]
Sonny Fortune – Perihelion [Atlantic]
Idris Muhammad – The Saddest Thing [Kudu]
Rebecca Vasmant – With Love, From Glasgow [Rebecca’s Records]
The Regime – Deuzy Vibe [Izipho Soul]
Kenny Mann – Fun [Mad About Records]
Dego feat. Nadine Charles – This Is Message To You [2000 Black]
Sean Khan – Starchild [BBE Music]
Mark de Clive-Lowe & André Espeut – Sunrays [Boomerang Records]
WheelUp – Vitruvian Man [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Freeez – Flying High [Beggars Banquet]
Sneaky Jesus – Battledance (Awkward Corners Remix) [Shapes of Rhythm]
Sio – Woman feat. Charles Webster [Stay True Sounds]
FRZVL feat. Erik Rico – People Get Up [Big Box Recordings]
Fred Everything – Alone (Together) [Atjazz Record Company]
Cyclonix – Thrax [Amalgama Music]
Yelfris Valdés – Aceleyo Aña (Quantic Remix) [Múscia Macondo]
Inkswel feat. Andrew Ashong – Fallin (Eachother) [Atjazz Record Company]
3rd May 2021
Jose Mauro – Moenda [Far Out Recordings]
Ed Motta – Sus-Tenta [Whatmusic]
Lemos and Debtio – Morro Do Barraco Set Agua [Mr Bongo Records]
Hiatus Kaiyote – Red Room [Brainfeeder]
Mara TK – Highly Medicated [Extra Soul Perception]
Gérard Blanc – Dis Tout Bas Dis (Remix Club) [Favorite Recordings]
EESKRA – Belong
Joseph Malik – I Quit My 9 To 5 (North Street West Vocal Remix) [Ramrock Red Records]
Feiertag feat. James Alexander Bright – It’s Alright [Sonar Kollektiv]
Chris Kennedy – Good Times [Ecke Records]
Photek – Rings Around Saturn [Photek]
United Future Organization – Loud Minority (Alex Reece Remix) [Talkin’ Loud]
Tek 9 & Sonar Circle – Idiom [AKO Beatz]
Om Unit – Naiad [Project Mooncircle]
Crown City Rockers – Weekend Soul (DJ Mitsu The Beats Remix) [P-Vine]
Common – Come Close (Break Reform Remix)
Rob Edwards – Lonely Lover (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [Inner Tribe Records]
Frederic Robinson feat. Richard Spaven – MuscleMemory [Bridge the Gap]
Jaimie Branch – Theme 001 (Live at Moods 1/23/2020) [International Anthem]
Otis Sandsjö – Tremendoce Part 2 [We Jazz Records]
Kohsuke Mine – First [BBE Music]
Sven Wunder – Prussian Blue [Mr Bongo Records]
China Charmeleon – Hallelujah (Kid Fonque X Jonny Miller Remix) [Stay True Sounds]
Rafael Moraes feat. Capitol A – One Shot [Yoruba Records]
Tokyo Black Star feat. Rich Medina – Black Star [Innervisions]
Sun Circle: Love Stories EP [Futuristica]
“Life Stories EP” is the first release from Simon Skolfield and Deborah Jordan since 2009’s “Reborn”. The duo certainly has been busy during that span with Jordan’s solo projects and Skofield’s array of production credits for his Futuristica label. With all the activity it’s a pleasant surprise that they found time for this splendid six track EP. The disc kicks off beautifully with “Cry”. The steady deliberate down-tempo beat and heavenly melody create a perfect canvas for Jordan’s hauntingly beautiful vocals. “My Heart” oozes with emotion. Jordan’s heartfelt lyrics combined with the sublime classical instrumentation will tug at your heart strings. The title track is another down-tempo treat filled with warm keys and strings. Marc Rapson’s rework adds a little more bounce while transforming it into an atmospheric gem. Sun Circle delivers a marvelous EP that is warm, fresh and lush. The Futuristica family continues to gift us with one superb recording after another.