Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band - "What Can You Bring Me?" (2:45)
Review: You just cannot miss with this superb label which is now up to release number 33 in this series. And the latest is a golden-era classic featuring legendary mic men A Tribe Called Quest and top soul boy Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band. The A-side features the track taken from A Tribe Called Quest's Love Movement album so is packed with their signature beats and bars. On the B-side, you are treated to the funky original sample source from Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band which delivers a raw, infectious groove. If you love classic hip hop and funk, and why wouldn't you, this is a great pairing.
Review: Coolin' Out's back with a fourth volume of seductive edits for those more cultured dance floors. This one kicks off with 'Solstice' which is laidback and oozes cool. Gentle drums and mellifluous synths rise up from the deep cut and slow-motion groove with plenty of cosmic edge. The tight instrumentation creates a sublime atmosphere that is both full of relaxation and subtle euphoria. The flipside, an edit of Soul Vibrations,' flips the script with dusty drum breaks, a hint of Italian Library music instrumentation and some rousing melodies that get you on edge.
Review: Jimi Tenor's upcoming album July Blue Skies on Timmion Records is previewed with this single which offers two contrasting moods. 'Summer of Synesthesia' captures dreamy summer vibes and sounds that transform into rich colours and flavours. The track features building synths over Cold Diamond & Mink's rhythm with Tenor's soft vocals adding beauty. On the flip side, 'Tsicroxe' begins with a haunting organ arpeggio evoking a Dario Argento-inspired atmosphere. Cold Diamond & Mink's funk provides relief, but Tenor's eerie flute solo intensifies the ritualistic vibe.
Review: Since emerging in their home country a decade ago, Caixa Cubo have flitted between labels (most notably Heavenly Recordings and Jazz 'N' Milk) while establishing trademark sound that expands on the jazz-funk-meets-samba-jazz template created by fellow countrymen Azymuth (like that band, they're a trio based around drums, bass and organ/electric piano). Unsurprisingly, they've now found a home on Joe Davis's Brazil-focused Far Out Recordings, a stable that has done much to champion Azymuth in the UK. Modo Avia (air mode) is typically warm, breezy and gently tropical, fusing killer grooves and infectious, off-kilter rhythms with brilliant solos, infectious riffs and far-sighted musical flourishes. It feels like the sort of set that will be talked about in hushed tones in 30 or 40 years, and we can think of no greater praise than that.
Review: Stones Throw alumni Rejoicer hooks up with longtime collaborator and Apifera bandmate Nitai Hershkovits as Cinema Royal for a new self-titled album that is refined yet bold and quietly commands attention. Rooted in modern classical, it blends ambient, jazz and global orchestration with piano-led compositions intertwined with synths, Afrobeat drums, East Asian zithers and Ethio-jazz keys. This global sound is effortlessly fused and inspired by film scores that evoke Fellini's moody cinematic excellence. Despite its complexity, the music feels light and playful here and is driven by improvisation. Cinema Royal thrives on deep creative flow and is enriched by contributions from close collaborators.
Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te (feat Gilberto Gil) (3:26)
Con Una Rosa (4:23)
Que Me Importa El Mundo (4:23)
Va Bene, Va Bene Cosi (5:23)
Io Che Amo Solo Te (feat Chico Buarque) (4:15)
Never Never Never (3:55)
Metti Una Sera A Cena (4:06)
Una Sigaretta (3:21)
Fortissimo (3:44)
Incantevole (4:16)
E Penso A Te (feat Ana Carolina) (4:00)
Il Mondo (4:06)
Senza Fine (3:26)
I Mulini Dei Ricordi (The Windmills Of Your Mind) (feat Esperanza Spalding) (4:25)
Arrivederci (with Strings) (3:04)
Estate (4:43)
Senza Fine (English version) (3:41)
Roma Nun Fa La Stupida Stasera (3:08)
Hurry To Me (Metti Una Sera A Cena) (4:20)
Review: A decade after its original release, Chiara Civello's Canzoni album is finally available on vinyl in a deluxe double LP edition with a gatefold sleeve. This record is known for having showcased Civello's talent as an interpreter and it solidified her place on international stages. Fusing Italian musical tradition with genres like Northern soul, bossa nova, blue-eyed soul, jazz and pop, the record was produced by Nicola Conte and recorded in analogue across Bari, New York and Rio de Janeiro. Featuring extraordinary guests like Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, Ana Carolina, Esperanza Spalding and orchestrations by Eumir Deodato, Canzoni remains as rich a listen as ever.
Review: This life-affirming new record from Down Under is a fine celebration of soul, broken beat, house and jazz that brims with rhythmic percussion, dynamic synths and syncopated basslines. Close Counters' effortless instrumentation shines throughout as paired with intricate production that maintains energy while allowing spaciousness with plenty of drum power. The album highlights the band's collaborative spirit with standout performances from Lyric Jones, Tiana Khasi, Allysha Joy, Jace XL, Shiv and others while the presence of Adam Halliwell of Mildlife on the opener further enriches what is a richly musical and adventurous album.
Wherever I Go (feat Lawrence & Michael McDonald) (2:48)
Summer Rain (feat Madison Cunningham & Chris Thile) (4:29)
A Rock Somewhere (feat Anoushka Shankar & Varijashree Venugopal) (4:57)
Mi Corazon (feat Camilo) (2:48)
Witness Me (feat Shawn Mendes, Stormzy & Kirk Franklin) (3:43)
Never Gonna Be Alone (feat Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer) (3:52)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (feat John Legend & Tori Kelly) (4:05)
Over You (feat Aespa & Chris Martin) (4:05)
Box Of Stars 1 (feat Kirk Franklin, CHIKA, D Smoke, Sho Madjozi, Yelle & Kanyi Mavi) (4:05)
Box Of Stars 2 (feat Metropole Orkest, Suzie Collier, Steve Vai & VOCES8) (4:05)
World O World (4:05)
Wild Wild Sea (6:15)
Magic (feat Emily King) (3:46)
All Around You (feat The Mystery Of The Bulgarian Voices) (4:20)
Stars - Voice Memo (8:06)
Review: You will be hard-pushed to find a more eclectic record than this as it collides folk, samba, glittering pop, doom metal and rap with plenty of broken beats. DJESSE Vol. 4 concludes Jacob's thrilling series and was again crafted in his iconic home studio and around the world as a way of encapsulating his most vivid dreams. The unclassifiable music blends a spectrum of emotions into a joyous celebration of collective awakening and human potential and this deluxe edition includes four new tracks featuring collaborations with stars like Shawn Mendes, Stormzy, John Mayer, Lizzy McAlpine, Kirk Franklin, Brandi Carlile, Lawrence and Michael McDonald.
Review: Following the success of two cult-favourite EPs, Common Saints now drops the debut album Cinema 3000 which continues its exploration of the blurred lines between soul, funk and psychedelic sounds. Created by writer and producer Charlie J Perry in 2020, Common Saints embraces an organic production style by recording live instruments in Perry's London home studio with one mic on the drums, a beloved piano, and amps turned up loud. By blending vintage recording techniques with modern dynamics, the album offers a rich sound reminiscent of Tame Impala and Khruangbin.
Review: Charleston artist Contour, aka Khari Lucas, showcases his ever-evolving creativity on Take Off from Mercy, his debut album for Mexican Summer. Originally a beatmaker, Lucas has expanded his sound across projects like Onwards in 2022, Love Suite in 2021 and Weight in the same year, all of which blend noirish, sample-driven r&b with plenty of other diverse influences. Take Off from Mercy moves away from sampling, instead embracing guitar-led compositions that weave blues, Tropicalia, hip hop, post-punk and indie rock. This album solidifies Lucas's status as a dynamic lyricist and collaborator and has great contributions from Saul Williams, Mndsgn and co-producer Omari Jazz.
Review: Polish producer Latarnik and American vocalist Anthony Mills collide on this new album for Polish label Astigmatic to explore lo-fi hip-hop, soul, dub and experimental electronics. Mills's falsetto vocal brings great Neo-soul warmth to Crack Rock with emotionally charged tones soaring over the production which ranges from sugary and 80s-tinged disco and boogie on 'Crack' to deep, seductive and gooey on 'Passive Lover' which is a more romantic sound. Latarnik's work is often minimal yet immersive which creates space for Mills' voice to shine and is delivered in equal parts spoken word, chant and soulful croon. The hypnotic, slow-burning soundscapes that result are both intimate and confrontational, ready to make you dance but also often just to feel. Unapologetically raw and deeply human, this one lingers long after the final track ends.
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