Given their combined talents, you'd expect any collaborative album crafted by Andrew Ashong and Kaidi Tatham to be nigh-on essential. Happily, we can confirm that Sankofa Season, their first joint album, is ruddy, bloody brilliant (as Alan Partridge might say). Richly soulful, quietly jazzy and wholeheartedly positive from start the finish, the set sees them jump between deep jazz-funk, hazy contemporary soul, jazzy broken beat, breezy Latin soul, organic deep house and immersive, slow-motion soundscapes. Throughout, Tatham's organ, keyboard and piano work is highly impressive and Ashong's vocals are every bit as sumptuous as usual. Recommended. More

(pressed on black vinyl, original released in 1975) Colorful, powerful and elegant. A watershed masterpiece that embraces before then and after that by Kiyoshi Sugimoto, the master of the era.

TRACKLIST

A1. Our Time
A2. Jones Street
B1. Take My Blues !!
B2. Quiet Pulse
B3. Marmalade Sky


INFO

Since turning professional in 1960, Kiyoshi Sugimoto has been active in many sessions and recordings. From the latter half of the 1960s, he joined groups such as Hideo Shiraki, Akira Ishikawa, and Terumasa Hino, gaining attention and solidifying his position with leader works such as “Country Dream” and “Babylonia Wind.” This work was recorded with Akira Ishikawa, Hiromasa Suzuki, Takao Uematsu and others right after studying in America for about a year. Starting with the groovy and luscious “Our Time” and “Marmalade Sky”, the dubious keyboards of “Jones Street”, and the melancholic and beautiful “Quiet Pulse”, it can be said to be a gap between jazz rock and fusion. There are attractive songs. This work represents Sugimoto’s work in the mid-1970s. More

4th Press - 600 copies only

It didn't take long for Bloto to become a thing, shrouded by underground secrecy. First, there was the gig during Spring Break 2019 in Poznan where the Blue Note club was packed to the brim. That event gave momentum to 4 more performances in Warsaw and Wroclaw, with no music released at that time. Then, the first pressing of the vinyl was sold out within 24 hours without any single nor cover revealed.

The word about Bloto has spread, increasingly gaining ground, reaching Japan, where the album will also be available on CD. No one expected such a turn of events. In fact, neither did the band itself; after all, Bloto came to being accidentally, yet naturally, like a puddle after a rainy day.

It all started in the summer of 2018 when EABS was touring and the band had a day off. As they were approaching Tricity, people were getting off and eventually there were only four musicians. An evening off, a well-tuned rhythm section on the road, harmonious as can be, and a great deal of creative potential within the members of Bloto band forming at that very moment stirred up common enthusiasm. The album was created without much deliberation, stemming from the need of the heart and the joy of making music together. As a result, 90 minutes of music was recorded of which about 40 made it to “Erozje”.

The music is deeply rooted in brutal hip-hop grooves, referring to the sound of 90’s New York. Dirty and uncompromising, this music’s strength lies in the drums and bass as its sound refers to classics such as Wu-Tang Clan and Company Flow. Radical in a sense, it also captures the atmosphere of the times in which it is created. The times of the planet on the verge of disaster, distinct social divisions, hate speech, growing nationalism, police brutality, nepotism, and various political deals. All this is happening before our eyes. The soil of the world as we know it is eroding right now.

Tracklist:

A1 - Kaluze
A2 - Mady
A3 - Czarnoziemy
A4 - Bagna
A5 - Czarne ziemie
A6 - Redziny
B1 - Bielice
B2 - Ziemie zdegradowane przez czlowieka
B3 - Glina
B4 - Gleby brunatne More

LP with obi. Akiro Ashikawa's 1975 Japanese jazz, rare groove masterpiece re-released on clear lime yellow color vinyl! The pleasure of feeling numb all over your body with a single drum beat. Akira Ishikawa, the super funky drummer born in Japan, runs through a wonderland of grooves!



TRACKLIST

A1.I've Got To Use My Imagination
A2.Bongo Rock
A3.Do It Til You're Satisfied
A4.Hey Jude
A5.El Condor Pasa
B1.Pick Up The Pieces
B2.Love Is The Answer
B3.I Shot The Sheriff
B4.Let's Start
B5.Boogie On Reggae Woman


INFO

Japanese jazz, rare groove masterpiece re-released on clear lime yellow color vinyl!

The pleasure of feeling numb all over your body with a single drum beat. Akira Ishikawa, the super funky drummer born in Japan, runs through a wonderland of grooves!

Akira Ishikawa is a super funky drummer born in Japan. His ability to freely explore and fuse jazz, rock, and African music to create a unique musicality has been highly praised in many fields. His career includes masterpieces from jazz rock to rare groove, but this work is especially beloved for its outstanding song selection and exciting musicality. "Let's Start" is a tight cover of Fela Kuti's Afro-funk, "Bongo Rock" is a dynamic song with drum breaks, and "Pick Up The Pieces" is a jazz-funk version of the Average White Band's classic song. It is full of amazing monster tunes that are hard to believe were recorded in 1975. Support from masters such as Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Hiromasa Suzuki, and Takeru Muraoka also shines.
text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality) More

(2022 Japanese pressing, with obi, Clear vinyl) Part of the Deep Jazz Reality series! The popular work 'Leeward' is affectionately known as 'Mabumi's Fan' among fans. This is the second album recorded in 1978 by Mabumi Yamaguchi, a saxophonist who was active in the George Otsuka Group and the Colgen Band (later The Players).



TRACKLIST


A1. Dawn
A2. Dewdrop
B1. Distant Thunder

B2. Leeward


INFO

A bouncy groove. beautiful melody. Hard bop, jazz rock, fusion. No label can capture the essence of this work. The pure crystal is now shining once again.

The popular work 'Leeward' is affectionately known as 'Mabumi's Fan' among fans. This is the second album recorded in 1978 by Mabumi Yamaguchi, a saxophonist who was active in the George Otsuka Group and the Colgen Band (later The Players). The titles/themes of all four songs, ‘Dawn (Yoake),’ ‘Dewdrop (Tsuyu),’ “Distant Thunder (Enrai),’ and ‘Leeward (Kazashimo),’ unfold before your eyes as vivid images in harmony with the musicality.

A groove that combines dynamism and elasticity. A dignified yet beautiful melody that touches your heart. Hard bop, jazz rock, fusion. All of these apply, but none of them can tell you the essence of this work. It doesn't need any labels, it's just a pure masterpiece. – text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality) More

A snapshot of the rising Dutch jazz scene, the ‘Super-Sonic Family’ compilation captures a refreshed spirit of talented artists that are shaping the new musical directions within the Lowlands. For this second edition we have a 31 digital and 22 vinyl track collection that connects these unique artists that express themselves beyond the borders of genres. This compilation adds to the rise of this ascending scene and the physical album will be released in the light of the six day ‘Super-Sonic Jazz Festival’ in Amsterdam, organised by KC The Funkaholic & Jade Caballeros. More

Being somewhat of a conceptual experiment. All the artists on this album were asked to imagine fusing Acid and House with the Virtualsex LP which was released on Buzz in 1993. A 303 sound would be welcomed but not essential with an emphasis on soulful emotion and melody.

Each record comes with a individual digital download code More

LP with obi. Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd's 1972 Jazz, big band masterpieces re-released on clear green color vinyl! Nio dances and pigeons dance. A mysterious melody that flows in a strong groove. Pursuing the possibilities of big band sound, this is the true essence of new hard and its climax.

TRACKLIST

A1.Kakurenbo
A2.Kitsune no Yomeiri Koushinkyoku
A3.Enka ni Taisuru Kanashimi
A4.Niou to Hato
A5.Hakuchou no Nemurutoki
B1.Sumidagawa no Nagare
B2.Kiganbi
B3.Seijinshiki

INFO

Japanese jazz and big band masterpieces re-released on clear green color vinyl!

Nio dances and pigeons dance. A mysterious melody that flows in a strong groove. Pursuing the possibilities of big band sound, this is the true essence of new hard and its climax.

New Hard, led by Toshiyuki Miyama, is one of Japan's leading big bands. Since the release of ``Perspective'' in 1969, they have opened up new horizons in big band jazz with their cutting-edge sound. This work "Niou to Hato" is one of the representative works of new hard released in 1972. Kozaburo Yamaki was in charge of the entire composition and arrangement, and deeply pursued one of his long-standing themes: "Japan." Japanese features, traditions, and scenes expressed through elaborate, multi-layered arrangements and performances. A profound and dynamic melody with a Japanese atmosphere that can be described as mysterious. Starting with "Seijinshiki," which is led by a strong groove, the album is lined up with songs full of deep flavor and great excitement. This is the true essence of new hard work and its climax.
text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality) More

Introducing the vinyl reissue of the debut album from The Sorcerers. Reissued on limited white vinyl with new liner notes, The debut release was championed by Ethio-Jazz legend Mulatu Astatke on his Addis Abbaba radio show. The Sorcerers take influences from Ethiopiques Ethio-jazz as well as the soundtracks to the european horror films of the 60's and 70's and the british library music of the same era & blend them into one cohesive package. Made up of various stalwarts of the vibrant Leeds Jazz/World scene they were originally formed to contribute some tracks to the compilation "Funk, Soul & Afro Rarities: An Introduction To ATA Records" released in 2014 on Here & Now Records. After receiving a favourable response to their contributed tracks and garnering support from the likes of Strut records founder Quinton Scott and Radio 3's Nick Luscombe (Late Junction) they decided to develop their sound further before recording their debut album. Recorded at ATA Records' own analog recording studio using vintage analog equipment from the 60s and 70s, the album contains 8 original compositions that reference influences as diverse as Mulatu Astatke, Moondog, Kpm and Giallo soundtracks. Huey Morgan made the opening track "Pinch Of The Death Nerve" his "Beat Of The Week" on his BBC6 Music radio show with. Mulatu Astake played the album on his Addis Abbaba radio show with additional uk radio support from Wah Wah 45's Dom Servini, Shawn Lee on his Soho Radio show, Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone BBC6 and Gilles Peterson. The Reissue will be a limited run on white vinyl with new artwork and liner notes on the rear of the cover More