Living On My Memories (feat Giulia La Rosa) (4:12)
Serenade (4:35)
Review: Ahead of his second upcoming album For Today, Etnean artist Agosta presents two unreleased tracks on a new 7" featuring Giulia La Rosa's poetic vocals. These gems blend chill-out electronics with Balearic vibes that are perfect for the brighter days ahead. 'Serenade' offers a sophisticated mix of elegant dance and relaxed atmospheres with inspiration taken from artists like Felipe Gordon and Nutty Nys. Its fluid groove, gentle percussion and dreamy synths create an immersive intimate vibe and both of these tracks evoke sunset serenity with real warmth in the vocals.
Review: This is another reissue of a record that remains an ongoing favourite. Original Gravity delivered again with the original pressing featuring two unique versions of 'Burning Spear'. Nestor Alvarez opens with a lively, Latin-inspired rendition filled with fluttering flute melodies, raw drum beats and vibrant dancing keys that radiate sunny energy. On the flip, La Machine D'Argent takes a more cosmic approach, smoothing the vibe and layering spaced-out sounds for a dreamy, immersive journey. This release showcases Original Gravity's knack for reimagining funk with flair by offering two distinct yet equally good takes on a timeless groove.
Review: Mexico-based duo Apocrifo serve up their debut single 'Indicut' with LA hip-hop and soul virtuoso Georgia Ann Muldrow on the vocal. This outfit is made up of producer Kefren Rivera and percussionist Carlos Huitro and they plenty of jazz, hip hop and electroacoustic elements into a unique sound that is exemplified here. The track is a broody, lo-fi world of sound with hip-hop beats and the yearning jazz vocals of Muldrow adding to the effect next to sombre piano chords. The instrumental strips everything back to the killer beats. This is a great first offering from this outfit who surely have plenty more to come.
Review: Much loved Michigan techno and ambient virtuoso John Beltran wraps up the so far so excellent Back to Bahia 7 series with the a final volume that proves to be the most dancefloor focussed offering yet. Leading with 'O Patio,' Beltran shows his class with a blend of jazz-funk and MPB that comes with a rather sunny Ibiza-inspired twist while echoing the vibes of Latin greats like Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. On the flip side, 'Belle Isle' is a perfect party anthem for those outdoor sessions - think beach gatherings or cookouts and you won't go wrong. This has been a brilliant series and while it's a shame it's over, this is a fitting way to end it.
Review: Celebrated composer, producer, techno talent and ambient craftsman John Beltran is a real Detroit don and now he is back on one of the city's own labels, Motor City Wine, with Volume 4 of Back To Bahia on 7". This one finds him going even deeper than before, starting with 'Laguna', which will soon uplift you with its Afro-Brazilian drums and live bass from James Simonson next to lush keys. 'Just Beyond The Sun' then gets fully Balearic with its mix of sultry trumpet, shuffling and Latin-tinged rhythms and wispy cosmic chords. A real delight.
Review: We have always got time for new heat from Big Crown and that's just what we have here from Brainstory. This trio of artists take cues from the label's co-owner Leon Michels and his work interpreting the Wu-Tang but with this own energy. They dropped a first EP back in 2014 and since then have looked to jazz, hip-hop old and new, soul and cinematic opulence for their inspiration. This new 7" comes as the outfit is finishing off its second full length and is a fine taster of what to expect with a show stopping two-sider that will soon find its way into you heart.
Review: To bear a name like Breakbeat Lou, you'd have to have earned it. And Louis Flores is indeed arch-digger numero uno: mainly having cut his teeth as a co-creator of the Ultimate Break And Beats compilations on New York's Streetbeat Records, Lou was born anew as a DJ as way back as 1974 (!), amassing a boss pile of vinyl and thus music intel, largely as to where and how to source the best breakbeats out there. With elite producers like DJ Premier, Large Professor, The Bomb Squad, Pete Rock, Dr Dre and Marley Marl all having sampled Lou's wholesale procurements over the years, the man himself now steps back up to flaunt his very own pump-action breaks works. From KRS-One to Loose Ends, the samples on this are electric, and the original beats bombastic.
Review: Multi-talented artist James Alexander Bright unveils soulful anthem 'Fall For You' and funky track 'Viper Flames' in the superb Athens of the North, all as a tease his forthcoming third solo album on the label in mid-2024. Reflecting on love's power in 'Fall For You', Bright's upcoming release follows his acclaimed debut album 'Headroom' and contributions to Groove Armada's 'Edge Of The Horizon'. His second album, 'Float', garnered praise for its eclectic blend of styles. These new tuns show what he is all about - sunny soul with standout keys and dreamy vocals that melt even the stoniest of hearts.
Review: Caruso's 'Thank You', released on Ten Lovers Music, delivers a refined blend of broken beat and nu-jazz. The title track on Side-1 is a smooth and jazzy number, featuring a laid-back, shuffling rhythm with subtle Latin or island influences. The groove is easy-going yet rich, making it an effortless listen with an inviting vibe. On Side-2, 'Breathe For Me' leans into broken beat territory with a smooth, soulful vocal and standout keyboard work. The track flows seamlessly, offering a mellow yet rhythmic experience. Both songs exhibit Caruso's ability to fuse jazzy elements with contemporary beats, creating a soothing and sophisticated sound that will resonate with fans of nu-jazz and broken beat.
Review: The cover of this new one from Tomi Chair is a whole lot darker, more menacing and moodier than the music within. 'Waiting For The Typhoon To Pass' is in fact a beautifully plaintive sound with a slow, calming rhythm. Gentle chords are draped over the top and no one is in an hurry to go anywhere as curious synth keys come and go like passing memories. On the flip, 'Dream Universe' is a more propulsive sound with metallic drums cascading over raw hits and distant winds howling with a hint of danger.
Review: Blending hi-NRG and Latin cumbia, Combo Chimbita present a brand new single for Wonderwheel Recordings, 'Dimelo'. Described as an internal dialogue - a sonic representation of what it feels and sounds like to choose yourself - the refrain "Cuando por fin yo me elegi" is heard repeatedly throughout the track, as self-selection is maximised, contra the impossibility of saving others before oneself. The band's Carolina Oliveros says of the song, "however much you love someone, you can't force them to love yourself in the same way - that is love you have to give yourself." The Busy Twist remixes the idea, self-caring through salvos of oily guitar and toe-tapping woodblock shot, hitting like a health kick.
Catch Me When I'm Falling (feat La Donna Wells) (4:04)
In My Mind (3:05)
Review: Derwin Daniels, an accomplished soprano saxophonist and composer, crafted this smooth r&b 45 back in 1989. Featuring the powerhouse vocals of the late La Donna Wells, who delivers a performance on par with Mary J Blige, this gem pre-dates "What's The 411" by three years. The track oozes slick, deep r&b vibes that are soulful enough to fit seamlessly into modern soul and disco sets. On the flip side, Daniels treats listeners to some jazzy brilliance, showcasing his versatility as a musician. An essential find.
Review: Dreamy house hooks from Stefano De Santis here, the house musician and multi-instrumentalist whose chops on the synth hear him blast through several difficult-to-master bits of gear, including Rhodes, Moog, Prophet 5, Solina Strings Ensemble, Juno 6, Upright Piano and Percussion. Musically, 'Barra Nova' contains interpretations of uplifting soulful house and bossa nova, producing a backstreety, neon-soaked mood.
Review: DJ DSK has released some heavyweight seven-inch singles over the years, with his 2016 45 "Laminate" - an original slab of funk made in cahoots with the previously unheralded "Lost Soul Collective". Here he gathers together the band once more for a follow-up four years in the making. "Lost Soul" is a two-part affair in keeping with the funk tradition. The A-side is an infectious vocal number that sits somewhere between Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the more psychedelic flavour associated with turn-of-the-70s San Francisco soul. As you'd expect, the flipside "Part 2" version strips out most of the vocals to allow the band's warm and heady instrumentation room to breathe.
Review: UK-Irish label Battle Weapons do exactly what their name suggests, releasing slab after slab of proverbial sonic weaponry for use on the dancefloor come warground. Here the outfit welcome two seasoned names, DJ LBR and DC's Finest, for 'Let Me Clear My Funk' and 'Can I Have It Like Wack'. The first is a hilariously hung slab of cutup goodness, mashing up a live recording of DJ Kool, Biz Markie and Doug E. Fresh's 'Let Me Clear My Throat' with the central lick-groove of Cheryl Lynn's 'Got To Be Real', among other crowd-jeering follow-ons. Then the B moves bustlier and heavier on the ride cymbal sizzle, with vocal sampleage from Pharrell Williams' 'Can I Have It Like That' together with some super-real big band bravado.
Review: Legendary turntablist and acclaimed beat maker DJ Yoda is back with a new album Prom Nite this month. Just before the full-length drops comes this single from it on essential 7". It follows on from the well-received 'Feel Like Home' 45rpm last month and this time offers more well-conceived and carefully sought-out fusions. The a-side 'My Energy' features Eva Lazarus. It is a lovely soulful slow jam that has a breakup melancholy to it and lovely doo-wop vibes. Completing this package is the flip side 'Lesson 1956' (feat Jamie Cullum & DJ Woody) which is another great revisiting of Americana.
Review: Hole In One is a label that's not mucking about. It is seeing up top quality tunes at a fairly busy rate and this sixth one is another joy to the ears of hip-hop lovers. Drunkenstein is the man in charge and he kicks off with the sunny sounds and dusty breaks of 'Live The Good Life' before 'Lean Back' is a much deeper, slower, more jazzy joins for the afters. 'Koi Song' toys with golden era boom bap and some pensive piano chords while a strange lead brings an almost country twist. A remix of MC Gruff's 'This is How We Do' is last up and maybe the EP's highlight.
Review: The Du-Rites is a superb funk combo based in New York City with Jay Mumford (no, not that Mumford) on drums, keys and bass guitar and Pablo Martin on guitar, bass guitar and keys. They have been turning out the jams now for almost a decade and 'Go Funk Me' on Od Maid is their latest. The short but sweet A-side rides on a deep cut funk rhythm that is softened by some fluttering flutes, though the baritone spoken words being a hint of menace next to the organ chords. 'Bucket' on the B-side is another percolating rhythm with cool spoken words and plenty of liveliness in the perc.
Review: El Michels Affair returns with a new two-track release that showcases his continued excellence as both a producer and musician. The A-side, 'Mr Brew,' opens with a menacing intro before evolving into a spacious tune masterfully balancing tension and release. Gentle guitars, strings, flutes and brass weave over a heavy drum track to make for a bright and immersive landscape. On the B-side, 'Kodak' is a lesson in space and arrangement with mellow drums and beautiful instrumentation setting the perfect mood. EMA's trademark restraint ensures the vibe remains the focal point while delivering a perfectly crafted sound that never overwhelms.
Review: Ever since their first record launched on Futuristica Music, back in 2008, Emanative have been quietly shaping the contemporary jazz-dance landscape - an achievement for which they are rarely accredited to. Hopefully, we can change some of those misconceptions by telling you just how special this new EP for Jazz45 is sounding! The opening "New Day" features the soulful vocals of Ahu over a rolling, breaks-centric groove with plenty of melodic quirks and, of course, the unstoppable euphoric power of the flute; the flipside's instrumental allows you to get even closer to the music constructed by Emanative, which is undoubtedly the outfit's long-running forte.
Review: Emapea is a bonafide Polish beat-wizard and man being many highly collectible albums, 12"s and 7"s. This lates is another call to action for when the sun arrives, a laidback fusion of soul, funk and jazz with lazy hip hop beats that just melt the heart. The opener '7 Inch' is a crisp boom-bap joint, 'True Fam' brings a steamy sax line and golden keys to the fore, then 'Smuggling Town' rolls us into downtown Jamaica on a blissed out dub. 'Takeover' is another lounge beat masterpiece amongst many in his arsenal.
Review: Greg Foat is a London-based keyboardist, composer, bandleader and DJ. Foat's latest full-length record displays the musician's lifelong, self-described 'love-hate relationship' with the keys, which he says began in childhood, when he fell off a piano stool at his aunt's house. A domestic homage, 'Spider Plant Blues' fittingly pays tribute to two houseplants that sit on Greg's bedside tables, and move periodically depending on his whims; 'Spider Plant Blues' is an evening high-flyer for electric piano, unbothered drums and backing strings, while 'Snake Plant Shuffle' is a darker and drier organism backed by arpeggiating sytnhy blossomings in the stereo mix.
Review: Gerardo Frisina, the Italian musician and producer renowned for his expertise in Latin jazz, delivers a captivating experience with Mystical Funk on Schema records. Side-1 presents 'Mystical Funk,' a mesmerizing blend of tribal drums, smooth funk grooves, and island vibes that transport listeners to exotic landscapes. On Side-2, 'Spaced Out' takes a more urban direction, featuring an infectious hip-hop/funk beat infused with sophisticated organ sounds and hints of jazz influences. Frisina's masterful production seamlessly merges diverse elements into cohesive compositions that exude elegance and groove.
Review: Soul Supreme is a master keyboardist best known for his covers of classic hip-hop songs by the likes of Mos Def, MF Doom and A Tribe Called Quest. Here side-steps his covers duties to handle remix productions for two of his contemporaries in the Netherlands neo-soul scene - Gallowstreet, LYMA, Shamis and Rebiere. The A side lends a wonky future house feel (a-la GoldLink, Crackazat) to '52 North', Gallowstreet's ode to the city of Amsterdam. The B tune strips it back to a lo-fi soul bapper, fleshing out its theme of loneliness in parenting.
Review: Street Corner's FliP Sessions is a great source of beats for hip-hop heads and this eighth volume is no different. It's limited to just 200 copies and features five more exquisite little sketches that are loveably rough around the edges and full of laidback and dusty soul. After the busted breaks of GREENMINDZ, Toby Glider zones you out with lo-fi loops and Beaulemaire brings heavier beats. Side 2 has a more jazz cut from Elusive and star gazing cosmic melody from Shri!. All five of these are delightful little pieces.
Review: Eric Hilton's most recent full length album Sound Vagabond, has been making some waves in the downtempo and chill out circles. Known for his smooth urban beats, catchy grooves and unique melodies as part of Thievery Corporation, he's a celebrated name in the downtempo scene, as well as being supportive of the vinyl DJ scene too. 'Midnight Milan' was taken from the album and sees a beautiful melody riding along perfectly to the easy-going rhythm. Simple but oh, so perfect - and that's before we mention the fact it's pressed on mint green colored vinyl.
Review: Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation has long been a ardent fan of the DJ community and his most recent physical output strategy is to take key tracks from his most recent album and place them on DJ friendly 7" singles, each released with beautiful artwork and matching coloured vinyl, with an unreleased track to compliment on the B-side. 'Poppy Fields' is a funky groove that features a unique melody and urban eastern vibe to it. The flip side, 'French Bird' continues the smooth downtempo happenings. With Eric Hilton, you can always expect a great groove and a wonderful approach to chill out music - this is no exception.
Touch The Sky (Funky Soul 45 Breaks instrumental edit) (4:00)
Review: Toronto's Icons Of Hip Hop follow up their inaugural 7" with a heavy second B-boy drop, pairing a titan of rap over an unmistakable funky 70s soul loop. The A-side delivers a vocal-led version that marries sharp bars with dusty horn chops and a butter-smooth rhythm section, channelling the crate-digging spirit of golden era production with modern flair. Flip it for the 'Touch The Sky' Funky Soul Instrumental Edit, where the sample's full groove comes into focusigritty drums, warm basslines and shimmering soul textures that nod to the track's roots while inviting DJs to get playful. Limited stickered dinked 45, this is essential heat for anyone still chasing that raw, loop-driven magic.
Review: Space Echo returns with a bold funk-fuelled trip here that is powered by irresistible rhythms built on downtempo grooves. The track reflects on war-driven forces destabilising communities and Gianluca Petrella's trombone work channels pure Fred Wesley-esque funk energy while 1970s-inspired choral arrangements amplify its introspective message. Alongside this, Agosta's remix of 'Mother Forgive Us' from The Invisible Session's Echoes Of Africa transforms the track into a futuristic Afro-funk odyssey with tribal percussion tubing up next to pulsating electronics. A great package with a message of climate urgency that calls for a reconnection to nature.
Review: This one oozes more cool than George Clooney sat poolside and sipping on Kool-Aid. It is the seventh offering in this fine series which features the most iconic reworked, retouched and edited tracks from the legendary soundscapes of Pikes Hotel in Ibiza. There is no better place to ask up the gorgeous vibrations of 'Mata' with its steamy trumpets and genre-breaking beats than under the Mediterranean sun. The flipside 'Xiprell' captures the essence of laid-back sophistication and the warmth of Ibiza with arching prog guitars and pensive chords draped over the most go-slow live drums.
Jerome Oscar & Oscar Worldpeace - "(Why You So) Green With Envy" (4:49)
Franc Moody - "Cristo Redentor" (5:20)
Review: Oscar Jerome, Oscar Worldpeace and Franc Moody have got new music coming on the latest Blue Note Re:imagined compilation this year which is already getting us hella excited. Before we hear what is sure to be a contemporary great, we get treated to a couple of singles from it on this tidy 45 rpm. Jerome Oscar & Oscar Worldpeace go first with '(Why You So) Green With Envy' which fuses jazz styles for across the age with Worldpeace's tight and thoughtful bars. On the flip side is Franc Moody with 'Cristo Redentor' which balances jazz's traditional past with its freshest future.
Review: Son of Todd Osborn (Soundmurderer/Ghostly) Kaito Ian makes a hugely impressing first outing on the Galaxy Sound Co label with a series of lo-fi hip-hop beat-strumentals that cannot fail to get your head nodding. He is a dedicated music lover and skater with a deep knowledge of his craft and that shows here with some refined sounds starting with the soul drenched 'Revert', then on to the warped angelic vocal samples of 'Sequoia' and the percussive jumbled and scratching of 'Trek'. 'Wait Up' is another excellently blissed out joint and 'Sloan' is a sunny, laid back, lazy vibe to close down a superb EP.
Review: Bosq's take on Konkolo Orchestra's 'Le Secret' feels like the moment when an Afrobeat anthem gets suited up for the club. Infused with his trademark Latin disco edge, the remix blends the rich pulse of Afro rhythms with sleek, dancefloor-ready beats. It's clear Bosq's move to Colombia has added a fresh sense of urgency to the track: percussion snaps with precision, while lush, warm keys wrap around the groove. The instrumental mix on the B-side strips it back, leaving only the track's hypnotic beats and intricate textures to breathe perfect for DJs looking to build atmosphere. This is Bosq's take on Afrobeat, refracted through his own shimmering lens, and it's infectious.
Review: After releasing two 10" and 12" records in 2019 and 2020, Paris-based punk-jazz duo La Recre are back to complete their EP trilogy with this fresh 45 rpm. '137' brings together the worlds of jazz and electronica with shimmering, skyward and celestial synths bringing mysticism to shimmering jazz drums and warped synths. 'La Lune' is another intense and cinematic sound with spoken words from a spacecraft launch adding grandeur to the cascading melodies and ever-evolving beats.
Review: Brazilian hip-hop star Laiz follows her breakthorugh Ela Partiu album from last year with a multilingual, percussion-heavy tribute to Jorge Ben Jor & Quarteto Em Cy, threading Brazilian hip-hop through Latin groove, Afrobeat and free jazz. Recorded at Nima Studio in Hildesheim with her 20-strong band dubbed the New Love Experience, the album sits between languages and borders, echoing Laiz's own migration from Jundiai to Europe in 2019. Shaped as much by cultural dissonance as it is by Babylonian joy, the record is sung in seven languages, leaning on lyrical mysticism and transitive instrumental interplay, telling particular stories of heritage, upheaval and diasporic unity.
Review: Two UK Battle Weapons fresh from the guys over at the eponymous edits label. On the A, we’re hit with a new one by a frankenstein whom we can only guess, by syllogistic intuition, is an invention of the label - LL Smooth K, with ‘Fix Up The Seed’, a rope-burning mashup incorporating acapella verses from Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’. Then there’s DJ Snatch’s version of Gregory Porter’s bluesy ‘Liquid Spirit’ on the B, a surprisingly pacy curveball compared to the cutthroat injunctions of the A.
Review: London's Original Gravity label is a trusted source for soul, funk and reggae 45s, and they're back with this seriously hot one from Mafumu. The project is a collaboration between Neil Anderson and Max Jere of The Umoza Music Project, based in Senga Bay on Lake Malawi. On the A side track you can hear Jere singing in Malawi's main language of Chichewa, urging listeners to "vina!" which means 'dance'. It's unmistakably Afro funk, with blasts of horns and a rolling, hypnotic groove that suck you in immediately. On the flip Anderson takes over for the instrumental 'Mkondo Wa Moto', which leans in on the talking drum and lays some funk and and Latin touches into the mix.
Review: Magic In Threes are back with a mind-mending, strings-laden disco masterpiece, 'Liquid Star Duster'. A nimble modern disco cut whose no-more, no-less agility would fail to charm few discothes, we can vouch for this one's function on the dancefloor. Drop it in your next set and neither you nor your crowd will be displeased. Towards its latter end, 'Liquid Star Duster' even comes peppered by sprung electric finger-plucks of the most talented type, an unusual feature for a disco tune of its kind. B-sider 'Sippin' After Midnight' lowers things to a beanbag pace, posing with its hands behind its head as wah-wah exploitation funk licks and a swung peak synth line, dually lead the charge with pomp and panache.
Review: Medline is on a mission to serve up his own fresh cover versions of well known tunes from the movies, library music vaults, jazz funk scenes and worldwide rare grooves. He is one man who plays flute, guitar, keyboard, pads, drums, percussions and violin and lays down each part of the tune and then puts them all together with some extra studio touches at a later date. He mixes the music himself so that it is live sounding and vibrant, and then shares it with the world. These latest two cuts are heavy Afrobeat gems with cosmic synth work, psyched-out melodies and jazz invention that makes them captivating in the extreme.
Review: F Spot kick off their year with a fresh new release from fresh new funk pushers, Mestizo Beat, emanative of the MagaNa Brothers's hillside studio in Topanga, CA.. Coming at the sound with a distinctive Afro-Cuban bent, this 7" flaunts the natural ends of their particular sound: 'She's A Rose' packs a beautiful brass section and charms the listener with it's extended pre-chorus section. 'Lotsapoppa', meanwhile, minimizes the sound with a simple kick, bass, and djembe groove to start with, before launching into a dynamic Afro-disco infection, the collaborative patients zero, one and two being Steve Haney of Jungle Fire on drums, Jason Cressey of the True Loves on trombone, and Jesse Audelo on arrangement.
Review: Brooklyn based Mighty Eye welcomes the Michael Leonhart Orchestra - which features some 20+ musicians - for their first single since 2018, although the collective has put out three albums in that time. These two cuts on this 45rpm are the first and second movements in Michael Leonhart's The Normyn Suite #1, which is a soundtrack to the five stages of grieving and is both a celebration and a requiem. The soundtrack is inspired by the death of an old dog and first appeared on The Normyn Suites album. Here it is expanded with the original brass, woodwinds, and strings now siting with choir and found percussion as well as gritty breakbeats from Nick Movshon.
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