A strikingly unique dance music project from Nagasaki producer, DJ and sound director Keisuke Yamazoe, Aflex Combo has always been an impressive project, straddling several EPs stretching back to 2002 - and all centring, in the artist's own words, on heavy funk beats and obscure jazz and Latin grooves. Jazz Room Records are pleased to release this special cover of the underground club classic "Hibaros" originally by B&G Rhythm (Donny Beck & Steve Gutierrez and featuring Bobby Lyle!) and after one listen you will agree that this is a must-check 45! Over on the flip is "Something Special", a Latin-tinged jazz-funk number that's every bit as essential as the floor rocking A-side. More

Big thanks to a certain Mr. Gilles Peterson who first alerted Paul Murphy, Head of Jazz Room Records to this Spiritual Jazz meets Bebop gem when he played the track "I've Known Rivers" on his show on BBC6 MUSIC. Paul immediately took steps to contact Mr. Noviello with a view to release this previously unknown (to him anyway) hidden delight. It's Frank Noviello's debut album and a mixed bag of Jazz Standards and highly original covers and originals. Randy Westons's "High Fly" has a really grooving arrangement, Vocal Bebop in the original "Tribal Dance" and the highlight in the Gary Bartz/Langston Hughes Spiritual Jazz outing "I've Known Rivers". If you're known to glide in and around to that Mark Murphy bag then this is hip to the trip for you! More

THE legendary release by Ronnie April's Positive Energy, pressed by Ronnie on his own Jude imprint and distributed only locally by him without success, leading to the disappearance of all but a few copies. An impossibly rare holy grail which has changed hands in the past for as much as £300! "Snowflake" has been a stable of the jazzdance scene for years and the track was even bootlegged at one point! Most importantly, the music is amazing - composer, arranger, producer, saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist, Ronnie April has performed with many greats such as Tito Puente, Frank Foster, Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton, and Louis Armstrong, to name a few. It's a limited pressing at 500 copies only. More

ALPHA RAY by The Norio Maeda Trio was originally released in the Swinging Sixties and this hot latin number was rediscovered by the Tokyo Hipsters at the height of the Acid Jazz Boom and became part of Shibuya Jazz Dance Folklore.

HAKUCHU NO SHUGEKI - THEME by Terumasa Hino Quintet is from a Japansploitation thriler made in 1970 with plenty of guns, gals, guys, sharpsuited action and gallons of studio blood! Mostly freeform blowing by the Legend that is Terumasa Hino for the soundtrack, one of the exceptions being this Blue Note Styled Soul Jazz number that sounds as if it came off the Van Gelder production line circa '66 to '71. Easily could be mistaken for Blue Mitchell, Donald Byrd or Freddie Hubbard's outputs post soul, pre-electric happenings. Another Jazz Room thing of beauty!

Now on 45 RPM release by Jazz Room Records, a 2 cut slab of wax that will have Jazzfloorista's waiting at the gate! More

Abacothozi were formed in 1973 by bassist Berthwel Maphumulo, formerly of the Elite Swingsters.

Together with Mac Mathunjwa on organ, his brother Innocent Mathunjwa on drums, and Joe Zikhali on guitar, they recorded at least two albums: "Thema Maboneng" released in 1975 and "Night in Pelican" released in 1976 (reissued on Matsuli Music Compilation "Night In Pelican"). These six sizzling tracks were originally recorded by West Nkosi for the Mavuthela label.

Released without fanfare and then forgotten, they remained totally unknown to DJs and clubgoers for over 40 years.

Rediscovered by Diggers Extraordinaire Kon & Amir for their much-lauded "Off Track Volume Two: Queens" (3xLP) on BBE Records and suddenly, a Volcanic Meltdown Frenzy for a Holiest of Grails emerged with sightings reported in hushed tones just in case you were beaten to the draw in some backstreet waxcave that someone foolishly whispered about on a social media site for all the world to see.

Now, Jazz Room Records is proud to release this epic fusion of sun-soaked exuberance, funk-infused rhythms and soul-jazz-driven beats for the first time in 50 years.

Sounding as if it were recorded yesterday, it is poised to light up dance floors again, from the Vibrant Streets of Soweto to the Funky Basement Dives of Barcelona, filling floors from the Outasite Getdown Grooves of Uncle Funks Palace to the Solid Soul Boulevards of Funky Broadway. More

Two fabulous funky tracks originally released on the award winning album Goma-Laca – Afrobrasilidades in 78 rpm which updated Brazilian Music originally recorded on 78's in the 1920s to the 1950s. With musical direction and arrangements by Letieres Leite, the vocal pyrotechnics of Russo Passapusso and Juçara Marçal masterfully accompanied by double bassist Marcos Paiva, Hercules Gomes on piano, Sergio Machado on drums and percussion master Gabi Guedes. Under the direction of Letieres, the group created with the singers arrangements of jazzy tones over Afro-Bahian rhythms, and everything was recorded live at Estúdio Traquitana, in São Paulo.

The version of Cala Menino Boca best known from the version by Joao Donato that's been doing the Dancefloor round since the early Acid Jazz days here gets a funky and rhodes led percussive update and of course the traditional tune "Ogum" gets a soulful jazz run through, folky funk like you've never heard before. This is yet another welcome addition to the Jazz Room canon, watch those dancefloors light up when this wax spins! More

A Jazz Dance Favourite that Jazz Room Records Head Honcho Paul Murphy was hepped to by Brownswood and 6Music Jazz Supremo Gilles Peterson at the 20th Birthday Bash of London's most Underground of Clubs: Shiftless Shuffle. Murphy: "I'd quite forgotten all about it, but when I saw the reaction on the dancefloor it was "Mental Note Time, get on the case for a full investigation and let's see some Vinyl re-issue action!" The head of the original Danish Label, Pick Up Records, later reminded Paul that he was selling the originals in his original Jazz Record Shop "Fusion Records" when the original was released and that he, Peter Littauer, had actually delivered them personally on a trip to London. Synergy in action! The music is a mixture of 100mph Latin Jazz (Girl With Three Faces/747 To Rio/From Dusk Towards Dawn) and Funky Rhodes driven workouts (Travelling/Circles In The Air), plus the vocal pyrotechnics of Hawaiian singer Lei Aloha Moe who guested on two of the tracks. More

The A Side of course is just one of the biggest tunes from the grunge era and is given a Jazzy Funky Groovy version by Blue Mode of Nirvana's Biggest Hit. It turns out that they were influenced by everything from the Gap Band to Louie Louie and a fair smattering of 80's indie and this production by Chip Wickham mixes together a Swinging '60's Blue Note Vibe with the Acid Jazz sound and brings it bang up to date with the Nu-Jazz Experience. First time on 45 and is already a DJ favourite after being included in the Paul Murphy set "Jazz Room" on BBE Records. Side 2 is a Boogaloo Latin Jazz version (produced by Paul Murphy Live in the studio in Budapest when he was living there) of the Lonnie Smith track "Hola Muneca" beloved of the Acid Jazz era DJ's and previously released on a now impossible to find 7 inch single that goes for crazy prices. More

Paul Murphy: Jazz Room Records. "The first time I heard this I said "I gotta sign it!" as not only was it featured in one of the maddest and most memorable scenes on one of my favorite TV Shows "Severance" from Apple TV, but it's also on one of my favourite albums anyway, "Nation Time" by Joe McPhee." Takumi Moriya's version Is as funky as it gets and is truly way up there and meeting the high as a kitemark standards of "Defiant Jazz" (What a Niche Genre to be in!) This is going to cause some serious Defiant Jazz Shake on a dancefloor near you! Break out the Maraccas!" A limited vinyl 45 release and it's release number 30 on Jazz Room Records so ultra special. More

2020. Full On Lockdown: Musician Laurence Mason puts together this off the wall idea meshing together two of his biggest musical heroes, Dave Greenfield of the tough 1970's proto-punk band The Stranglers with the oh so cool 1960's jazz of Dave Brubeck. He puts up his demo on Youtube not really expecting much in the way of feedback. And gets ONE MILLION hits. And hundreds of requests for a release. Jazz Room Records Head Honcho Paul Murphy says "Do you wanna record that and release it?"."Affirmative!" The result is this grooving Soulful and Funky Jazz version of "Golden Brown". On the "B" side is a languid and super cool version of "Walking On The Moon", originally by 80's Supergroup The Police. The first release sold 3000 (!) 7-inch singles and got into the Official Vinyl Singles Top 30. (Yes, there's still such a thing!). The latest version of the best selling Jazz Room Release. Now in Blue Splatter Vinyl. More

Another Holy Grail album from Jazz Room Records with Danny Ward & Reality who were the Go To Funky Jazz Band for College and other Hardcore Funk Party gigs in the Mid to late '70's in the Seattle area of the Pacific North West. They didn't just drop covers of the latest Disco or Top 40 hits though but instead took their audiences on a musical trip through the Funkiest and Jazziest sounds of the day featuring cuts made famous by George Benson, Lydia Pense and Coldblood, The Headhunters , Mandrill and many more. This unique recording capturing them live at a midweek gig showcases their style which of which Danny Ward says: "In the summer of 1977 this album was recorded at a club called The Tyee Restaurant and Lounge in Bremerton, Washington State, USA. The night this album was recorded, there was hardly an audience, perfect conditions for making this recording. We played every kind of venue, a lot of Top 40 dance clubs,but our style was to do a lot of soloing, despite the pressure of club owners and agents not to do so much soloing and be so "jazzy". We didn't care, we knew the audience loved us and we were very popular. This was the best group of musicians that i've ever worked with under the name of Danny Ward and Reality." More

indigo jam unit, a Japanese super heavy jazz dance fusion supergroup, are set to release their specially compiled album in the UK for the first time. They are renowned for their unique blend of hard-hitting piano and percussion-driven jazz. Gilles Peterson asked Colin Curtis to start his radio show on Worldwide FM called Jazz Dance Fusion at the beginning of the pandemic in May 2020 and this meant he could introduce underexposed music that he loved. indigo jam unit was a natural fit. Following a conversation with his long-time Jazz Ally Paul Murphy of Jazz Room Records, they both quickly decided that now was the time to unleash some of the best indigo jam unit tracks to the world on an exclusive vinyl-only release. With pounding bass lines, percussive piano breaks, and the distinct addition of two drummers and percussionists, indigo jam unit's sound is truly unique. They have carved a path for emerging bands in the jazz scene of today. The four musicians from Osaka, Japan - Isao Wasano (Drums Percussion), Katsuhiko Sasai (Bass Double Bass), Takehiro Shimizu (Drums), and Yoshichika Tarue (Piano) - take no prisoners with their uncompromising style! Power, passion, drive, and incredible playing - like a lethal force.
From 2006 to 2016, they had a prolific output of albums with single-minded titles: Demonstration, Realism, Collectivity, Pirates, Roots, Independent Rebel, Milestone, Lights, and more - over 17 projects. indigo jam unit embody the same energy as those jazz dance greats like Art Blakey, Dom Um Romao, Stone Alliance, and the like - just uncompromising raw passion! More

Hideo Shiraki travelled to the US from Japan in 1962 and was bowled over by Horace Silver and the Bossa Nova Craze happening at the same time. When he returned to Japan he went straight into the studio and cut this Blue Note inspired Japanese Jazz Masterpiece. With a selection of tunes ranging from the 1940's stylings of "Tico Tico" through to the samba infused "Orfeo Negro" and arriving in Silversville with "Sayonara Blues" Hideo Shiraki has hit all the sweet spots! With sleeve notes translated into English for the first time and laid out in the Blue Note Style this release is going to be seen as a landmark re-issue. A special Vinyl Only release on Jazz Room Records. More

The second in Jazz Room's occasional Pure Latin releases this Underground Masterpiece first emerged in 1980 and is an outstanding example of the Classic Era Nu Yorican El Barrio Underground Sound! If you dig the Tata Vasquez LP on Jazz Room then this is for you. Featuring the Afro-Cubano Salsaero Jazz Heavyweights of the day including Chocolate Armenteros, Jose Mangual, Mauricio Smith and Orestes Vilato and a huge seven man Percussion Section it really blasts out the Afro-Latin message. A part history of the Afro-Cuban Music Journey from the Hinterlands of Cuba via Havana and eventually arriving in Jazz Age New York it is a welcome addition to the Jazz Room Catalogue (as well as being Jazz Room Head Honcho's favourite albums). Floor filler cuts for Latin Lovers with "Esa Brujeria" always turning up the heat. More

The impossibly cool 1973 album What's Going On from Late, Great Japanese Funk & Jazz Don Takehiro Honda which swings through jazz orchestral renditions of American R&B and Funk Classics like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," Otis Redding's "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay," and James Brown's "Ain't It Funky Now" turning them into the most Down Home, Grits 'N' Gravy Grooviest Versions and sounding like they were recorded at the studio of the band that taught the Memphis Rhythm Sections all they ever were gonna need to to know. sAs well as the aforementioned tracks the album also iconic funk/soul gems from the Impressions (Check-Out Your Mind) & Soul Jazz covers from Eddie Harris (Sham Time), The Crusaders (Greasy Spoon) and a Pacific Soul Jazz Classic in "Ain't Tell You A Good Way But" which was composed by Takehiro Honda. Original copies regularly change hands for eyewatering sums and the album is seen as a much loved classic of it's era. More

Japanese trio Nautilus, whose name and style was inspired by the great Bob James turn their attention to Gil Scott-Heron's Jazz tribute and turn it into a broken beat masterclass. Coming soon on London Jazz DJ Paul Murphy's must-check Jazz Room records on vinyl seven-inch. On the B side you will find UK underground Jazz Keyboard Surf Queen Jessica Lauren's much admired funkster "Serengeti". Already receiving plays on Gilles Peterson's BBC6 Music and Colin Curtis Latin Jazz Fusion show. More

Eric Ghost is well named as he is indeed a mystery man. A contemporary (and best friend) of 1960's Funky Jazzman Jeremy Steig his self published Private Press albums are much coveted and difficult to obtain and command high prices. This Psychedelic Jazz masterpiece was recorded in 1975 and features Dave Valentin bassist Lincoln Goines in his studio debut as well as Jim McGilveray who went on to record with Paul Horn and The Cult. If you're a fan of The Blues Project "Flute Thing", Paul Horn's more esoteric offerings or indeed the aforementioned Jeremy Steig then this album is for you. The music is intense and demands your attention, it's both Funky and Spiritual from the first note of "Orangeland" to the last notes of the Eastern influenced "Bizarre Bazaar". Eric was involved with the Counter Culture from his time in Morocco in the early 1960's (while serving in the US Army, kind of like a Hip Elvis) until shortly after this album was recorded when under his real name, Richard Barth Sanders he was convicted of LSD Manufacture (he invented the blotting paper method of LSD distribution so could be entitled to say he was the world's first Acid Jazzer) and sentenced to 7 years in a Federal Prison. The album is re-issued with the original cover artwork with the correct track order for the first time. More

NDATL continues with DJ Aakmael's vibrant EP, "The Xposd EP" Kicking things off is "Track 109" a lively and rhythmic blend of Latin jazz infused groove with a bouncy shuffle guaranteed to set hips in motion. Next "Imagination" a mesmerizing groove and Aakmael's signature solo work, transports the dancers into a hypnotic zone. On the B-side, we encounter the dynamic collaboration "This Is Not A Game," a potent creation by Aakmael and label head Kai Alcé, featuring sparse piano notes and a penetrating synth solo. Aakmael then draws upon his Windy City influences for the final track, "102.5" characterized by a smooth deep bassline and velvety keys. With its diverse soundscape, "The Xposd EP" with its captivating rhythms and melodies invites listeners to immerse themselves. More

Dialog return with the second instalment of their DOT series, exploring dub techno and soundsystem atmospherics through an experimental but deeply rooted lens, voiced by the father-son partnership of Benji and Josei.

The studio and stage collaboration finds Samuel van Dijk (aka celebrated Dutch electro innovator VC-118A) and Finnish producer Rasmus Hedlund pooling their considerable production expertise into expansive cut which channel the experimental tendencies and sonic traditions of dub into their own distinctive riddims, matching vintage processing with modernist sound design and holding down a physical pulse suited for the dance as much as private meditation.

Following an initial ambient double LP for noted label Astral Industries, they met Benji, originally from Jamaica but a resident of Finland for more than 30 years, and his son Josei through a studio neighbour in Helsinki. A productive run of sessions has resulted in a strong body of material which will appear on this inspired series, carrying dub techno forwards with an approach to the culture which is all their own. More

With her new single release "Uh-Ah Song" the Ghanaian Frafra Soul singer Florence Adooni announces her debut album "Fo Yelle" on Philophon.

A lot has happened since the release of her first single "Mam Pe'ela Su'ure" in 2021. While this release was a pure studio project, Florence Adooni is now an eight-member live formation, made up of young talents from the highlife scene of Kumasi. The group has already considerable credentials: In 2023, they toured Europe twice and thrilled their audiences at festivals such as Roskilde, Down The Rabbit Hole and Überjazz. And this year, with the debut "Fo Yelle" under the belt, Florence and her group embarking on a 50+ concert summer tour through Europe, from Sweden to Portugal to UK and at festivals like FMM Sines, Xajazz, Africa Oye, Fusion, End of The Road.

The title track "Uh-Ah Song" is based on a rhythm typical of Kumasi and shines with its playful and cheerful character. Florence remembers the process of creating the piece: "When my producer Max Weissenfeldt came to me to play me on the piano an idea for a new piece, my daughter, who had just been born, began to sing in rhythm ah-ah-ah, with all joy in her face ever imaginable, while Max was playing. Max turned around and answered her with uh-uh-uh, to which she replied again with ah-ah-ah. We laughed so much and decided to make it a piece that would capture that very moment of joy we just had experienced. That's why it's somehow a children's song".

"Otoma Da Naba" (The Creator Has Done Well) has a sequencer bass line from a Roland TB-303 as its foundation. While Florence holds her verse in a kind of Ethiopian pentatonic scale, in the pre-chorus she switches to a sweetly swinging heptatonic motif, with a typical highlife guitar in the background creating the atmosphere. In the chorus, the singing then changes in that unique choir style, which is the trademark of Frafra music.

The international debut album "Fo Yelle" will be released on Philophon this summer. More

** UNRELEASED DYKE & THE BLAZERS-COVER FUNK BOMB **

Taken from the forthcoming "Movements Vol.12" compilation album, "Funky Broadway" by The Villagers has never been released - until now. The B-side features the Garage-Rock cut "You're My Baby (Don't You Forget It)" from 1966, the same year as Dyke & The Blazers recorded the original version of "Funky Broadway". More

classic "black" vinyl (150 copies worldwide).

The "ongakudo / droga muzyki" project is ("The way of music" in English). Initiated by Groh - head of the JuNouMi label (est. 2002 Polish hip-hop label), the project is the result of cooperation between Polish and Japanese artists.

First, Twardowski created music based on samples from Japanese albums. Then MCs KANETSUGU (JP) and Prykson Fisk (PL) were invited. The next element were DJs - 1an from Tokyo and DJ Eprom from Warsaw (former IDA world champion).

An important element of the project is the graphic design, for which Malgorzata "Mauko" Korczak is responsible - exploring the art of Japanese Shodo calligraphy. As many as three versions of covers were created. One limited edition (hand-numbered 100 pieces), a version with a black wax and a version exclusively for the Japanese market.

This 7" is the first part of the Polish-Japanese series. It is the beginning of our journey. More

Grammy nominated producer Gaudi (Steel Pulse, The Orb, Tricky, Lee Scratch Perry) joins forces with Italian Afro-funk band Savana Funk to revive the sound of "Cosmic-Disco" of the late 70s with this limited edition 7" vinyl.


The terms "Cosmic-Disco / Afro" are used to describe various forms of African-influenced and Synth-based dance music with a particular method of DJing originally developed and promoted by a small number of DJs in Italy from the late 70s through the mid-80s, a freeform music-journey created with vinyl records, mixing and beat-matching a very diverse range of musical styles, from electro-funk to Brazilian-jazz, incorporating live percussion and effects. Pioneers such as DJ Mozart, Daniele Baldelli, Loda, Pery, Spranga, L'ebreo, Tosi Brandi, Lelli and venues such as Cosmic, Baia Degli Angeli, Typhoon, La Mecca, Chicago, Arlecchino to name but a few, had truly expanded and helped the development of the club-culture in Italy and subsequently in Europe. In his youth, producer and musician Gaudi was one of the punters who regularly attended these venues and followed the whole "Afro" scene, experiencing from the dancefloor that 90-110BPM hypnotic sound and subconsciously absorbing the essence of it. In fact, it is no coincidence that many of the productions he has released in his 35-year career have a strong Afro-influenced imprinting, the last of which is "Raha", the new collaborative EP released as a combo with Savana Funk, a vibrant tribute to what is considered one of the most exciting and original movement in the club scene.

This "afro-cosmic" 7" will be available next April 26 via Record Kicks on limited 500 copies edition crystal clear vinyl worldwide. On the A side the first single "Raha" that is driven by a solid "afro-cosmic" groove infused with an eclectic krautrock sound, very distinct and very psychedelic at the same time. A texture generated by analogue synthesizers and "space-funk" riffs from guitar and bass. RAHA means "Peace of mind" in Arabic, the native language of the Italian-Moroccan drummer Youssef, who also appears as a vocalist on this track. On the B side the groovy and sexy "OREWA" a funk track to dance to on the beach surrounded by a psychedelic-coloured sunset, with hypnotic guitar riffs that take us into a journey without time and without space.

Active since 2015, Savana Funk are one of the most sought-after "afro-funk" band in Italy, with hundreds of successful live shows nationwide including performances with Kokoroko, Seun Kuti and Nu Guinea, they have released 5 albums so far: 'Musica Analoga', 'Savana Funk', 'Bring in the New' 'Tindouf' and the latest 'Ghibli'.

London based music producer Gaudi has contributed to a number of albums nominated for awards and prizes such as: Grammy Awards 2019, with the album 'Mass Manipulation' by Steel Pulse), BBC's World Music Award, with the album 'Dub Qawwali' by Gaudi & Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His work and music contributions have topped international charts such as: Billboard Reggae Chart no.1 with the albums 'Heavy Rain' by Lee "Scratch" Perry, no.1 with 'Mass Manipulation' by Steel Pulse and again no.1 with 'Vessel of Love' by Hollie Cook. Studio works include name acts such as: Groove Armada, Simple Minds, African Head Charge, Lamb, Horace Andy, Brian Ferry, Don Letts, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Mad Professor, The Beat and more. More

Catching Flies - aka multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ George King – produces a bass heavy yet melodic mesh of broody electronics and intricate rhythms, containing shades of everything from hip-hop to house, from soul to jazz. Catching Flies has released on labels such as Cercle, AnjunaDeep and Ninja Tune.

LIMITED EDITION TRANSPARENT VINYL.

'Tides' artist support from: Nils Frahm, Jungle, Sofia Kourtesis, Bonobo, Lane 8, Gui Boratto & more.

Radio support from: Sian Eleri (BBCR1), Lauren Laverne (BBC6Music), Cheryl Waters (KEXP), singles playlisted across SiriusXM (& exclusive mix aired for them). Press support from the likes of Billboard, The Guardian, Arte TV, Mixmag, and Crack Magazine.

Includes the 'absolutely brilliant' hit single 'GLY' (25 million streams already!). It has also been remixed by Hot Chip and DJ BORING.

Headline tour in the US in June 2024 (NYC, LA, Denver, San Fran, Portland, Vancouver, Phoenix, Montreal, Miami, Seattle, Calgary). Headline tour in the UK/EU in September 2024, and AUS/NZ in October 2024.

Previous press support includes The Guardian, Complex, Nowness, Mixmag, iD Magazine, Dazed & Confused, The Line of Best Fit and more. He has received radio support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbes & Huw Stephens. Artist support for has come from the likes of Bonobo, Caribou, Loyle Carner, The Blessed Madonna, Keinemusik, Rufus Du Sol, George Fitzgerald and Lane 8.

“Mesmerising”
The Guardian —

“One of our favourites”
iD Magazine —

“Absolutely brilliant”
Lauren Laverne — BBC6 Music

“‘Catching Flies is emblematic of a new spirit in London’s club culture…. A fresh kind of eclecticism…leaping between hip-hop, techno, jazz and everything in between’”
Clash Magazine —

“‘Fuelled by late night, dark introspective beats and soulful vocal cuts...ruthlessly emotive’”
The Line of Best Fit —

“Keep an eye on this guy!”
Gilles Peterson — BBC6 Music

“I'm a big fan!”
Sian Eleri — BBCR1

“‘With fans in just about every pocket of UK music, Catching Flies is no doubt a name we'll all be very familiar with in the coming months.’”
Mixmag — More

UK jazz ensemble The Jazz Defenders release their third album "Memory In Motion" in April on Haggis Records (home of The Haggis Horns and Malcolm Strachan). The Bristol jazz boppers deliver another quality release of original material that takes in their usual diverse mix of influences and genres, from timeless acoustic jazz referencing the classic sounds of Blue Note Records, to a more contemporary fusion where jazz meets soul, funk and hip-hop.

Although they love to mix things up, their roots are in the classic acoustic jazz quintet sound of the late 1950s/early 1960s, back when hard bop and modal jazz ruled. They have already explored this musical path well on their previous albums but they still deliver a couple of classic inspired jazz cuts here. "Chasing Fantasies" and "Fuffle Kerfuffle" both give the band some space to cut loose on solos over swing jazz beats that will keep their original jazz audience happy. The latter bubbles away with a jazz shuffle beat that would make drum legend Art Blakey smile.

"Meanderthal" and "Snakebite Playfight" bring soul to this jazz party. Exactly like jazz legends Lee Morgan/Herbie Hancock/Freddie Hubbard etc did back in the early-mid 1960s. The first is a feel-good, toe-tapping gem that's heavy on the backbeat and short and snappy on the solos, the exact reasons that made it the perfect opening single from the album. "Snakebite Playfight" comes with a jaunty New Orleans shuffle before transforming into a heavy psychedelic soul jazz burner, flipping back with ease to the NOLA shuffle for the Mardi Gras meets bebop piano solo by band leader George Cooper.

"Rolling On A High" is a hip-hop/jazz banger that sees the band continue their collaborations with UK rapper Doc Brown, a perfect combination that began on their second album "King Phoenix''. This time, the Doc spits some old-school block party-style bars over a bouncy uptempo funky beat with the band cooking up some soul stew behind him. Definitely dancefloor material.

Another uptempo jam is the heavy jazz fusion jam "Net Zero". It kicks off with some live broken beat kit playing and piano/bass staccato vamping before taking off into Headhunters territory on the solos, sounding both contemporary and classic at the same time. This is The Jazz Defenders at their fiercest and toughest and delivering a track that will have jazz dancers worldwide in an utter frenzy.

It's not all uptempo numbers or dancefloor-oriented compositions on this album. Two tracks take the musical dynamics right down to give a temporary break from the high-energy numbers. "Take A Minute" has a rolling double bass line locked into the groove while the horns play a lazy and laid-back theme with vibes embellishment, sounding like some trippy independent film soundtrack. Another recurring musical reference point for this band over the years.

The album finishes on a poignant and introspective note with a beautiful piano and double bass feature for George Cooper and bassist Will Harris. It's called "Enigma", it was recorded live in Paris and it closes the album on a peaceful note evoking the music and playing of Bill Evans. The perfect way to close this brilliant third album from The Jazz Defenders.

With Memory In Motion, pianist George Cooper and his band undoubtedly pay great homage to a golden era of jazz music that they love, but also elaborate on this influence with a wealth of modern musical experience, to create their own raw and vibrant compositions. The result is an enthrallingly unique sound that is as danceable as it is listenable. More

To describe an album as "electronic music" has long been an understatement. "Romanticismo siempre" is a good example. Recorded mainly using synthesizers, the album travels a territory that borders on the experimental and the dancefloor, entering at times in both fields.

Andrés Téllez, Delone, states in its title a clear commitment: "an ode to life, to never lose that passion that is the engine that pushes everything, no matter how many obstacles there are along the way, such as love, madness or death". The need to express this is at the origin of the record.

His musical language is rich and varied. Among synthesizers, analog experimentation, drones and psychedelia, many of the subcultures that have shaped what was once called "electronic music" appear. Flashes of trip hop, new age and proto-electronics are amalgamated throughout the album, together with hints of mutant house, breakbeats, IDM and trance. Other genres peripheral to club sounds, such as post-rock or kraut, also appear.

The idea of creating something that could almost be considered a soundtrack is present, but Delone's singularity has taken the album down a different path, using his own musical vocabulary to articulate a narrative that leads him towards his desired destination, keeping experimentation and dance culture, constants in his career, very much in mind.

In 2014 and together with his partner and friend Carlos Trujillo, Andrés created Riverette, a record label that became a record store in the center of Madrid, with his studio in the basement. From there he unleashed his productions as Dos Attack and his first works as Delone. Riverette quickly became a key creative pole in the Spanish electronic underground, and the label has released records by Legowelt, Kornel Kovacs or HAAi.

Throughout the eleven tracks of "Romanticismo siempre", a story materializes in which the protagonism falls on the adrenaline of passion. Through a very personal sound, with a certain introspective vocation, Andrés tells us a wonderful tale with the help of exquisite arrangements and a rich expressiveness.

"Romanticismo siempre" is a polyhedral album that can change with every listen, with every track, and reinterpret itself almost with every playback. It is a complex record, delicate and full of nuances, at the same time charged with a powerful and primitive energy. More

X-Ray Ted's 'Talkin' EP' finally gets the vinyl outing it deserves, a format that this classic was always destined to fit so well on. On the A-side, 'Talkin' layers strings, horn hooks, and guitar licks over a bed of rolling beats and bass, all topped with that soul-infused earworm of a vocal. On the flip, 'So Much' is no less infectious with vocal refrains interplaying with guitar parts and horns to deliver a perfect blend of vintage-sounding soulful beats. Ahead of X-Ray Ted's debut album, these two tracks showcase why he has picked up an army of loyal fans for the way he can perfectly deliver these original old-school sounds with a modern twist. The sunshine vibes and feel-good warmth practically ooze out of the vinyl grooves. This limited run of 7s on Bombstrikes will not hang about for long. More

Jazzy & city pop unit "paris match"'s 4th album to be released on vinyl record!

This is their 4th album released in 2003. It is a masterpiece that is immensely popular among fans, with a summer-oriented light jazz, Brazilian, and R&B groove feel at the forefront. More

Zurich bass guitarist and composer Martina Berther is known for her delicious basslines in experimental rock outfits Ester Poly and AUL. On this solo debut, she conjures something utterly unique from her instrument.

'Bass Works' showcases Berther's talent and ingenuity across 12 startlingly varied one-take compositions. Taking root in improvisation, the collection unfolds like a playbook of strange and beautiful techniques.

Voided melodies, harmonics and surfaces that prickle and collapse in solitude and wonder; Berther's bass is a Geiger counter, etching the contours of abandoned landscapes and forgotten languages.

Recommended if you like the alien transmissions of Éliane Radigue, Mica Levi, Olivier Messiaen. More