Review: Cassiano's Cuban Soul - 18 Kilates was first released in 1976 and is a landmark of Brazilian soul for the way it blends the groove of American r&b with native rhythms in a way few artists have matched. Long coveted by collectors, the album has achieved cult status and now returns remastered from the original tapes on 180g vinyl so it is sure to fly off the shelves. Cassiano's velvety vocals glide over lush, cinematic arrangements throughout and in doing so, evoke the grandeur of contemporaries like Tim Maia. From start to finish, this album is packed with depth, warmth and effortless cool, which makes it an essential listen for anyone who likes soul, samba and vintage Brazilian brilliance.
Review: Boston-born baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff was an early bebop innovator who delivered his defining work with Blue Serge in 1956. He was admired for his lyrical agility on an often unwieldy instrument and apparently overcame some personal struggles to record this standout session for Capitol Records, which finds him backed by jazz greats Sonny Clark on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Philly Joe Jones on sticks. The album features a simmering, relaxed set of standards, including 'A Handful of Stars' and 'All the Things You Are' plus his own 'Susie's Blues.' Blue Serge is a timeless testament to Chaloff's unique sounds and a gem of West Coast cool.
Review: Argentine electro-cumbia innovator Chancha Via Circuito (Pedro Canale) has a truly strong sense of give and take. His debut movements saw to Bienaventuranza (2018), a critically acclaimed album deep-setting his role in a gauzy downtempo reshape of the global music idiom. A full remix EP of the record followed, spewing forth fresh interpretations by echelonic music masters, including Euro-techno titan Nicola Cruz on 'Alegria', and Spanish producer Baiuca. Now, finally, comes the third in a three-step movement of remixes, this time hearing Chancha Via Circuito himself offer his own remixing hand to several of said very same artists, the works of El Buho, Nickodemus, and Lagartijeando also in tow. Deep, earthy tunes, full of natural oud harmonics blended with chanting, understated downbeats.
Review: Tanika Charles has long paired throwback soul with incisive songwriting, but this latest release feels especially raw. Now four albums deep, the Toronto-based artist pivots inwarditrading the usual tales of romance and heartbreak for something more fragile: the fallout of early family trauma. 'Don't Like You Anymore' and 'No More' snap with funk-driven defiance, but it's the quieter moments that linger. 'The Lament' and 'Talk To Me Nice' lean into vulnerability, while 'Win', a duet with Quebec's Clerel, glows with understated uplift. Charles leads a tight teamiScott McCannell, Kyla Charter, and Chino de Villa shape the grooves; Monophonics' Kelly Finnigan adds the rougher edgeibut the clarity here is hers. Her voice, resolute yet tender, is unafraid to ask difficult questions and even braver in leaving them unanswered. There's growth in every chord, as the arrangements span lilting r&b, classic soul, and easy-stepping slow jams. From Polaris nods to JUNO nominations, Charles has long commanded her placeibut this is something more personal, more courageous. Soul music as a form of release, not just rhythm.
Review: NRG 4 is the latest instalment in drummer and producer Chiminyo's boundary-pushing series and it captures the raw improvisational spirit of London's jazz-adjacent underground.The album is a communal outpouring of pure energy that was recorded live at the iconic Ronnie Scott's with no rules, no scripts, just spontaneous creativity and featuring a powerhouse ensemble including James Akers, Marysia Osu, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton and Tile Gichigi-Lipere. The set moves between frenzied burners like 'Levitate' and serene pieces like 'Sonder.' With surprise guests like BAELY and Regis Molina, NRG 4 is a genre-defying celebration of live collaboration and musical intuition that's electric, ephemeral and deeply alive.
Review: Funk and soul album don't come much better than this. Chocolate Milk's Action Speaks Louder Than Words is a 1975 classic and an essential piece of New Orleans music history. Discovered and produced by the legendary Allen Toussaint, the band's debut blends tight grooves, sharp horn lines and socially conscious lyrics with the rich musical heritage of their hometown. The standout title track is a rare groove classic still sampled and revered decades later. With polished arrangements and undeniable rhythm, this album firmly established Chocolate Milk as a force in 70s funk and remains a superb boogie-infused release that is as vital and infectious today as ever.
Review: Emanuele Cisi's Rushin' celebrates jazz in its purest form. It was recorded in just one inspired April weekend with Cisi leading a stellar quartet of Dado Moroni on piano, Nicolas Thys on bass and Jorge Rossy on drums. The full emotional range of the genre is on show here with swing, blues and spiritual depth rising up through the tracks which range from reimagined standards to soulful originals like 'Pharoah's Message'. Throughout, the album honours jazz greats such as Coltrane and Lee Morgan with Cesare Mecca guesting on trumpet and it all adds up to heartfelt performances rich in discovery and style.
Review: Amsterdam-based duo Maarten Smeets and Lars Dales - Dam Swindle - offer us their album, Open, prying ajar our otic tract with 14 quixotic tracks. After years of introspection, Open marks a rupture, as the pair break from their preeminent deep house for an even-deeper-down embrace of the lower tempi, with them now incorporating synthwave, hip-house, and ambient elements. A first taster comes with the smoothly lavished 'Girl' with Faye Meana, while 'Bloom' with Joep Beving develops the theme of self-analysis through well-shovelled deep house chords. Still reining in some four-to-the-floor precepts, Dam Swindle have nonetheless presented their most heartfelt and least harried detour to date.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Will You Still Be Mine? (6:22)
I See Your Face Before Me (4:44)
I Didn't (6:05)
A Gal In Calico (5:17)
A Night In Tunisia (7:22)
Green Haze (5:51)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
This early gem - in fact, it was the maestro's first ever 12" record - shows a masterful command of space and melody, spotlighting a warm, muted trumpet tone alongside a pared-down ensemble. Without a saxophone, the spotlight remains squarely on the lead, providing ample room for expansive solos and lyrical interpretations. Anchored by a stellar rhythm section featuring a buoyant bassist, impeccable pianist and dynamic drummer, the performances exude a relaxed yet precise energy. Highlights include a fresh, distinctive take on the Dizzy Gillespie classic 'A Night in Tunisia', where the group reimagines the piece with effortless ingenuity. Original compositions add further depth, with a witty riposte to a well-known standard and a contemplative piece that lingers in the listener's mind. A transitional moment for one of the all time greats, hinting at the greatness to come all the way back in 1955.
Review: Best known for his involvement in the Braen's Machine project alongside fellow film scorers Piero Umiliani and Alessandro Alessandroni - not to mention his work under the name Awake and Gisteri - maverick producer Rino De Filippi took a darker, introspective turn on the 1972 Flower Recs bloomer Condizione Umani. Jazz-pincered vignettes are heard piercing the fragile complexities of the mind, across a record whose shapeshifting veneer crosses streams of tension and revelation with an arachnid sleight of foot. With 'Crivellamento' standing out as a key marrying point of ritualistic percussion and avant-garde looseness, we're left spasmodic. Reissued again on standard and purple vinyl as part of the Sounds From The Screen series, we've an historic contribution on our ears from the Italian studio maestro.
Review: Dexter Gordon's Lullaby For A Monster returns on 180g audiophile vinyl, spotlighting the legendary saxophonist in a rare, stripped-down trio setting. Recorded in June 1976 with Danish rhythm greats Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass) and Alex Riel (drums), the album represents Gordon at his most uninhibited, free from the piano's harmonic framework. His solo on 'On Green Dolphin Street' is often described as one of his most liberated, and with fresh liner notes by C. Andrew Hovan to rack up an already clamorous crock of acclaim by international critics, this reissue offers renewed appreciation for a lesser-known but electrifying entry in Gordon's discography.
Review: Dom Salvador's 1969 album is pure Brazilian jazz magic. This piano maestro effortlessly fuses samba, bossa nova and hard bop into one smooth and moving groove. Tracks like 'Samba do Malandrinho' and 'Tio Macro' show off his slick chops and inventive style as he mixes tight rhythms with wild improvisation. It's a vivid trip to somewhere Brazilian heat meets American jazz cool. Fresh, funky and full of soul, Dom Salvador isn't just playing music here, he's rewriting the rules of jazz fusion, which is why this record is a classic of its genre and a vital reissue.
Review: Paper Can't Wrap Fire is the third album from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist Don Glori, and it is a rich mix of jazz, soul, funk and R&B, but also marks a bold evolution in the artist's own songwriting. The title is based on a Chinese proverb about truth and underpins reflective tracks like the soulful 'Brown Eyes,' satirical 'Disaster,' and introspective 'Flicker' Recorded in Naarm with friends and past bandmates, these sparkling sounds are brimful of the sort of life-affirming harmonies and dynamic musical interplay that makes you smile broadly, while the heartfelt lyrics make this town mark. Influences from the likes Azymuth, SAULT, and Jordan Rakei are all clear, but Don Glori crafts his own take on those sounds that speaks to both emotion and intellect.
Review: The third album from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist Don Glori merges jazz, soul, funk and r&b and marks a confident leap forward in his songwriting journey. Anchored by a Chinese proverb about truth, Paper Can't Wrap Fire explores themes of honesty and introspection across standout tracks like the silky 'Brown Eyes,' the sharp-witted 'Disaster' and the meditative 'Flicker.' It was recorded with close friends and longtime collaborators and radiates warmth, spontaneity and rich musical chemistry. While nodding to influences like Azymuth, SAULT, and Jordan Rakei, Don Glori delivers a sound entirely his own and it is wonderfully intimate.
Review: Quem E Quem is widely regarded as Joao Donato's finest work and a standout in the canon of Brazilian popular music, aka MPB. Blending American soul and jazz-funk influences with the gentle sway of samba and bossa nova, the album radiates warmth and subtle sophistication and Donato's tender vocals are framed by breezy flute passages, laid-back piano lines and guitar solos reminiscent of Pat Metheny. The result is a beautifully balanced collection of upbeat tracks and introspective moments with each evoking the tranquil pleasure of a sunset in a tropical paradise. Timeless and effortlessly charming, it remains a high point in Donato's enduring career.
Review: Davon Bryant-Mason aka Dreamcastmoe finally makes his vinyl debut on Rhythm Section, years after the label first encountered him and his genre-smudging sound. Though it's the first official release between the artist and the Peckham imprint, their connection runs deep, stretching all the way back to a string of early underground pool hall sets at the now nonexistent Canavan's in South London. Introduced to RS founder Bradley Zero by DMV tastemakers Beautiful Swimmers, Dreamcastmoe's characteristic blend of hip house, lo-fi electronica and an echo of the DC go-go scene stood out to the gregariously locked tastemaker profusely. Now, in a full-circle moment, 'The Lost Tape Vol 3; surfaces as yet another end yield of years' worth of mutual admiration between label and artist, flaunting such affectively zoned bumps as 'At Molly's Request' and 'Flowers' with Nappynappa.
(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go (6:02)
People Get Ready (4:20)
Getting Over (2:14)
I'll Bet You/California Dreamin' (3:43)
Popcorn/Oye Como Va (5:50)
I Love You For All Seasons (3:04)
East Of Java (2:06)
Walk On By (2:40)
Review: How much soul and funk does East of Underground deliver? A lot, that's how much. This raw and righteous gem from 1971 was originally issued by the US Army and handed out to troops during the Vietnam War, which means that original copies are insanely rare and pricey. Thankfully, this reissue brings it back to the people, minus the less memorable Soap LP. What remains is pure fire: gritty covers of Curtis Mayfield, Funkadelic, James Brown and more, all of which are played with heart and urgency by a group of enlisted musicians. Bonus fact: their take on The Fuzz's 'I Love You for All Seasons' became the backbone of US trap star 21 Savage's 'A Lot.'
Review: Drissi El-Abbass's Rai Sidi Bel Abbes - Volume 2 is a superb eight-track compilation that tells the evolutionary story of Rai music from the late 1970s to the 1990s. Released by Nashazphone on four sides of wax, it highlights El-Abbassi's soft vocals and innovative fusion of traditional Algerian music with electronic elements which came after he started his career with Les Aigles Noirs and later collaborated with guitarist Ahmed Zergui. El-Abbassi embraced synthesisers and drum machines to shape a modern Rai sound that has stood the test of time and tracks like 'Maak Probleme' and 'Datli Laakal' blend nostalgic melodies with bold production to offer a vivid portrait of Rai's creative transformation.
Review: Drawing on influences from the global Cumbia scene that took root in Buenos Aires over a decade ago, El Buho presents a collection of tracks that blend entrancing traditional rhythms with modern electronic textures. The opener, 'La Cumbia Del Cafe Martinez,' sets a hypnotic tone, while 'Anglo-Colombian Expedition' merges lively tropical elements with intricate production. The darker 'La Cumbia De La Ansiedad' and earthy 'Porro Del Tucan' follow, offering variety while remaining grounded in Cumbia's roots. The remixes elevate the experience further. ARN4L2's atmospheric interpretation of 'La Cumbia Del Cafe Martinez' opens up the track into a spacious, reflective journey, while Auntie Flo's remix of 'Anglo-Colombian Expedition' adds a rhythmic intensity. La Jungla's energetic remix of 'La Cumbia De La Ansiedad' and Lagartijeando's hypnotic take on 'Porro Del Tucan' offer new perspectives on the original compositions too, making this a digital Cumbia milestone.
Review: Southwind from Hachijo is a rare gem from 1990s Japan dug out delightfully by Forest Jams and written by E.S. Island. This reissue of it dives deeper into ambient terrain while embracing tribal and spiritual tones unlike previous works. It was recorded on the remote Hachijo Island and is awash with organic textures and traditional Japanese instruments that effortlessly make for a meditative soundscape. The music is largely performed by the late Eisuke Takahashi and Nene Sanae, whose chemistry channels the island's raw, natural energy into its ever-shifting tones and timbres. It's a deeply personal and atmospheric listen and an ode to place and spirit that takes you there in an instant
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Que Bandeira (2:28)
Feira Moderna (2:24)
Cartao Postal (1:58)
Olha O Futuro (2:59)
De Tanto Amor (2:59)
Esperar Pra Ver (2:08)
Tema De Adao (3:17)
So Quero (2:09)
Rico Sem Dinheiro (2:12)
Encontro (2:35)
Por Mera Coincidencia (2:21)
Onze E Quinze (2:04)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
On Cartao Postal, Evinha offers a deep, evocative collection of tracks that manage to both mesmerize and transport. The Sao Paulo-born singer weaves in elements of MPB, samba, and bossa nova with a natural ease, the rhythms flowing like a gentle tide. Her voice feels at home in every corner of the record, whether exploring soulful melodies or swaying in more jazzy moments. The understated orchestration brings warmth without overwhelming, keeping Evinha's storytelling centre stage. This is a release where every note feels purposeful, quietly drawing you into its layered beauty.
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