funk . soul . jazz . free jazz . broken beat

WEEK STARTING 25 Apr

Genre pick of the week Cover of Weirdo by Emma-Jean Thackray.

Emma-Jean Thackray

Weirdo

    Emma-Jean Thackray, the visionary producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, releases her highly anticipated second album, 'Weirdo' on April 25th via Gilles Peterson’s celebrated label, Brownswood Recordings / Parlophone Records. Known for defying musical boundaries, Thackray's latest work is a deeply personal and utterly original exploration of selfhood, grief, and gratitude.

    Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, p-funk, and jazz -  'Weirdo' is a triumphant celebration of survival and individuality. Written, performed, recorded, mixed, produced and arranged entirely by Thackray in her South London flat, the album stands as a testament to her extraordinary musicianship and fearless self-expression.


    STAFF COMMENTS

    Barry says: A wildly varied, driving monolith of jazzy breaks and grooves, with throbbing distorted bass and Thackray's powerful, wandering vocal. Part jazz, part funk, part soul but *all* great. Another sign that Thackray is one of the most exciting UK musical talents around.

    TRACK LISTING

    1. Something Wrong With Your Mind
    2. Weirdo
    3. Stay
    4. Let Me Sleep
    5. Please Leave Me Alone
    6. Save Me
    7. Maybe Nowhere
    8. What Is The Point
    9. Black Hole (feat. Reggie Watts)
    10. In Your Mind
    11. Tofu
    12. Fried Rice
    13. Where’d You Go
    14. Wanna Die
    15. Starting At The Wall
    16. I Don’t Recognise My Hands
    17. It’s Okay (feat. Kassa Overall)
    18. Remedy
    19. Thank You For The Day

    Aura Safari / Jimi Tenor

    Sensory Blending

      Great music is often about chance meetings and impromptu creative sessions and so it is that Hell Yeah proudly serves up Sensory Blending, a new collaborative album from Italian collective Aura Safari and Finnish musician Jimi Tenor. The nine-track record is a lush and luxurious fusion of jazz-funk styles.

      This glorious record came about after Tenor was playing a Hell Yeah party at Tangram in Perugia. Aura Safari were local and, in some free time the day before the gig, everyone jumped in the studio together. They had never met before but soon found plenty of free-flowing common ground and the result of that one-off session is now served up on this vibrant new album that brims with musicality, indelible melodies and subtly uplifting vibrations.

      Tenor has toured the world and previously collaborated with the likes of Japanese master Calm. He is a psychedelic space-jazz-funk king, skilled musician, composer and producer who, since the mid-nineties, has released more than 25 albums and 45 EPs. Aura Safari is made up of bass, synth, guitar and keys players Lorenzo Francioli, Ruggero Bonucci, Nicola Pitassio Andrea Moretti, Lorenzo Lavoratori, Daniele Melloni and Nicholas Iammatteo, and they are label regulars who served up their sublime Island Dreams album here last year.

      Says Jimi, who enjoyed his time in Perugia and adds that 'the studio session was 100% efficient. I showed up and we started to play. Almost all that was made was material that we could use for the album. I love to work fast. Quick brushstrokes. Finish! I was amazed at how intuitively the Aura Safari guys could come up with new parts for songs. I mentioned some feeling or approach and they seemed to find it just like that.'

      'Bodily Synesthesia' is the seductive opener with steamy sax notes and gentle grooves that are topped by aloof vocal whispers. 'Lunar Wind' is another slow and steamy mix of jazzy keys and soulful vocal hooks, 'Bewitched By The Sea' is a more tropical and percussive number with majestic melodies and 'My Bluebell' picks up the pace with jazz-funk grooves and hustling chords. 'Last Waltz In Perugia' has freeform sax lines soaring over meticulous drums that ebb and flow and 'Gimlet' brings a playful, samba-tinged rhythm and sunny flute leads straight from South America. There's a laidback, carefree mood to 'It's Too Easy To Love You' while 'Your Magic Touch' is a dancey number that exudes melodic joy, and 'Indigo' closes in dramatic fashion with a conversational sax that sticks long in the memory.

      Sensory Blending is a seamless fusion of collaborative minds from Aura Safari and Jimi Tenor and it could well be performed live at some special select shows later in the year.

      TRACK LISTING

      A1. Bodily Synesthesia
      A2. Lunar Wind
      A3. Bewitched By The Sea
      A4. My BlueBell
      B1. Last Waltz In Perugia
      B2. Gimlet
      B3. It's Too Easy To Love You
      B4. Your Magic Touch
      B5. Indigo

      The Ballistic Brothers & The Eccentric Afros

      The Ballistic Brothers Vs. The Eccentric Afros - Volume 2

        One of the cult acts of the heyday of London clubland in the early 1990s, The Ballistic Brothers consisted of future X-Press 2 members Ashley, Rocky and Diesel, alongside David Hill and Uschi Clansen.

        Both of their ‘Vs. Eccentric Afros’ releases have legendary status, with ‘Volume 1’ featuring their classic ‘Blacker’. After the reissue of the first instalment last year, Acid Jazz are set to release the second set.

        ‘Blacker’ reprises here in the form of ‘Divine Fact (Blacker 2)’ and the ‘Marden Hill Sween Green Jam Mix’, showing the cross-pollination of the 1990s London club scene, where hedonists could find many routes and possibilities.

        A vital snapshot of a very unique place in time, specially remastered for this Acid Jazz release and set in a spined sleeve for the first time, with a beautiful expansion of the original artwork.

        TRACK LISTING

        Delancey Street... The Theme
        Unhooked And Lost
        Save The Children]
        Blacker (Marden Hill Sweet Green Jam Mix)
        Jam Jah
        Divine Fact (Blacker 2)
        Goodvibes… Good Night
        Anti Gun Movement

        Kerri Chandler returns to his Kaoz Theory imprint with Lost & Found Vol. 4, the latest installment in his archive-focused series. A true pioneer of house music, Chandler continues to push boundaries, maintaining his legacy at the forefront of the genre.

        With Lost & Found, Chandler delves deep into his vault, unearthing hidden gems and giving them new life. This volume features 'Since I Met You' featuring the late Michael Watford, the atmospheric 'Grandiose Garden' by Alopeke, 'Circles' featuring Natalia, and closes with the deep, driving energy of 'The Dark One.'

        TRACK LISTING

        A1. Kerri Chandler - Since I Met You Ft Michael Watford
        A2. Alopeke - Grandiose Garden
        B1. Kerri Chandler - Circles Ft. Natalia
        B2. Kerri Chandler - The Dark One

        Manu Dibango

        Sax & Spiritual Lamastabastani

          This project by Manu Dibango, the legendary saxophonist and pioneer of Afro-fusion jazz, delves into a musical universe where the saxophone becomes the voice of a spiritual and introspective quest. 'Sax & Spirituals Lamastabastani' merges jazz, gospel, and African influences to weave a dialogue between sacred traditions and modern expressions.

          With this work, Dibango pays tribute to the spiritual roots of music while reaffirming his commitment to sonic innovation. The project's minimalist and meditative approach speaks to both the soul and the senses, offering a musical experience imbued with depth and humanity.

          TRACK LISTING

          1. Di Ma Dangwa
          2. Di Ma Sesa
          3. Elie
          4. Moussina
          5. Nsi Sim Nti
          6. Elongi
          7. Mouna Maria
          8. Edubé Na Loba
          9. L’Hymne à L’amour
          10. Nobody Knows

          Father's Children

          Hollywood Dreaming / Shine On

          South Street Soul are on a roll with another fantastic re-issue, this time championing two singles by US Funk band Father's Children. Originating from Washington DC, the band rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 70's, releasing a debut album on Mercury Records, which Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders produced. Notice to collectors and diggers; this takes the two killer tracks from the album nicely replicating the 1979 original 45, which would set you back over £100.On the A-side, 'Hollywood Dreaming’, is a laidback revivalist soulful groover that will undoubtedly give your hips and shoulders a shuffle. On the flip, feel the funk with ‘Shine On’. A commanding slap bassline runs throughout the track with harmonised vocals and stabbing horns. Lace them up people, it's time to cut some rug!

          TRACK LISTING

          A1. Hollywood Dreaming
          B1. Shine On

          Footshooter is the moniker of Barney Whittaker, a south London-based producer and DJ. His production style takes in influences from broken beat, jazz, house and more, working with rappers, poets and vocalists to create a soulful sound referencing the past while being firmly future-facing in its approach. His records as Footshooter and SAUL have earned airplay and support on BBC Radio 1 & 1xtra, BBC 6 Music, NTS Radio, Jazz FM and Rinse FM, from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Bradley Zero, Errol (Touching Bass), Alex Nut (Eglo Records) Shy One, Virgil Abloh, Zakia, Jyoti, Nabihah Iqbal, Bonobo, Jamz Supernova, Maryanne Hobbs, Mr Scruff and more.

          His musically diverse live band sets and DJ sets over the past seven years have taken him to Boiler Room London, Tate Modern, Alexandra Palace, The Jazz Cafe and the Barbican Centre, as well as performances at Brainchild, We Out Here and Love Supreme Festivals. A Balamii Radio resident for the past 5 years with his monthly show 'Sonic Fruits', Footshooter's DJ sets are as versatile and wide ranging as his production credits, spanning the finest soulful house, broken beat, UK Rap, soul, jazz and beyond.

          TRACK LISTING

          1. Cycles (feat. James Mollison)
          2. Obelisk (feat. Natty Wylah & Brother Portrait)
          3. Reverie
          4. Boomerang (feat. Native & Wilf Petherbridge)
          5. Surrey Canal Road (feat. James Mollison)
          6. Folding (feat. Allysha Joy)
          7. Here To Learn (feat. Andre Espeut)
          8. Sermon (feat. Sara El Harrak)
          9. Parc De Belleville (feat. Wilf Petherbridge)
          10. What You Saw (feat. MA.MOYO & Mahon)

          Gerardo Frisina

          In Sight, Vol. 1

          Always unique in blending traditional elements (latin jazz, funk, soul) with modern sounds, since "Moving Ahead" in 2020 Gerardo Frisina, a leading name in the international jazz and electronic music scene, has introduced new 'cosmic' and 'futuristic' elements into his style. His evolution culminates today with "In Sight", a double work conceived and produced in two separate volumes. "In Sight Vol. 1", finally revealed in all its glory, is still oriented towards the clubbing context, with the exception of "O Soñho", a slower-paced bossa nova with a cinematic atmosphere. The album also contains a previously unreleased instrumental version of "Samba Skindim" (title track from the 2009 10" EP), a 'great classic' and one of Frisina's most appreciated compositions both by listeners and Gerardo himself.

          TRACK LISTING

          1. Mindoro
          2. Desejar
          3. Tarab
          4. Coherente
          5. Some Soul
          6. O Soñho
          7. Samba Skindim (Instrumental)

          Eliana Glass

          E

            There’s no mistaking the sultry lilt of Eliana Glass—alternating between an offbeat, searching quality and her poignant, awe-inspiring range. Her piano playing also possesses this stirring push and pull between the otherworldly and painfully human—each melody its own unique, aching realm. Glass’ sparse, meditative music often captures, in her words, the “condensation of everyday life,” an image that suits the bittersweet, ephemeral, and abstract nature of her work. Glass’ debut album, 'E', arrives via Shelter Press, and not only is it a tender portrait of her lifelong relationship with the piano, it’s also a distillation of entire lifetimes into song.

            The Australia-born, Seattle-bred, and New York-based singer-songwriter and pianist learned to sing and play piano by ear as a child. Glass took an immediate liking to her parents’ piano, frequently hiding underneath it and letting her imagination run wild. “I felt protected under the wooden beams, and I remember looking up at the legs, wires, and foot pedals and seeing the instrument in a new way—everything suddenly everted,” Glass recalls. “I like to think about 'E' as recalling this memory in sound.”

            Glass spent years learning jazz standards, and she also learned to sing in Portuguese after falling in love with Brazilian music. Glass studied jazz voice at The New School under teachers Andrew Cyrille, Ben Street, Jay Clayton, and Kris Davis, and she began singing in piano/bass/drums quartets around New York City. In the latter half of her studies, she started writing her own songs inspired by boundary-pushing artists like Ornette Coleman, Asha Puthli, and Jeanne Lee. During the height of the pandemic, she lived with her brother Costa (who now records as ifiwereme) and felt drawn to the piano again, and they wrote songs together for the first time. Then, over a four-year span, Glass teamed up with Public Records co-founder and producer Francis Harris (Frank & Tony, Adultnapper) and engineer Bill Skibbe (Shellac, Jack White) to record what became 'E' in various studios in Nashville, Brooklyn, Memphis, and Benton Harbor, Michigan.

            Glass’ experimental, improvisational works evoke the sensual minimalism of Annette Peacock, the joyful mysteriousness of Carla Bley, and the wistful intimacy of Sibylle Baier. Her reverence for leftfield jazz and free improv greats is evident, but it’s always filtered through her signature nascent, naturalistic sound. 'Dreams' is a majestic take on Peacock’s spine-tingling 1971 track of the same name, 'Sing Me Softly the Blues' is a minimal, arresting reimagination of Bley’s jazz standard with lyrics adapted by Norwegian vocalist Karin Krog, and 'Emahoy' is a languorous tribute to Ethiopian pianist, composer, and nun Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and her 2006 compilation 'Éthiopiques'. Glass’ music rests on a tactile, mercurial sound and her vocal brawn and versatility. 'E’s slippery stabs of double bass and drums tickle the ear canal and accentuate the percussiveness of her distinctive low voice, which blends sonorous, androgynous poise with fluttering delicacy.

            'E' also has an enigmatic electronic bent that heightens the blurry emotions of Glass’ songwriting. From background hiss and windy vocals to kaleidoscopic synths, these subtle, tasteful adornments often came from specialized analog equipment: a 1960s underground echo chamber, a Cooper Time Cube (essentially, the hardware equivalent of processing audio through a garden hose), and a 1940s AEA ribbon microphone. But that doesn’t mean 'E' sounds dated—Glass’ songs bloom with a forward-thinking spirit and ultimately function as vehicles for her heady emotions and fragmented memories and dreams. For 'E', Glass challenged herself to channel full lifetimes within each track. Astonishingly, the seductive opening song 'All My Life' manages this feat with just its three-word title. Songs like this one, the breathy ballad 'Shrine', and the spare, folky 'On the Way Down' brood over past lives and reflect on memories as if disembodied and viewed from above. From missed connections to retired nicknames ('Good Friends Call Me E'), there’s a pervasive sense of disintegration and a fear of lost time. Other tracks like solo piano-and-voice numbers 'Flood' and 'Solid Stone' engage in more elusive storytelling, marked by brutal imagery and timeless characters. Then there’s 'Human Dust', a tranquil, rhythm-driven rendition of conceptual artist Agnes Denes’ 1969 text—a quite literal summary of a life.

            Eliana Glass has come a long way since daydreaming beneath a towering keyboard. Glass’ peculiar vocal alchemy and vivid piano saunters are masterful and wholly her own, and her forthcoming debut full-length is a gift of resonant beauty and rewarding ambiguity. She now performs around New York City with bandmates Walter Stinson (bass) and Mike Gebhart (drums), in addition to solo shows perched in front of a 1979 Moog Opus organ. Also an accomplished visual artist in her own right, Glass is firmly in control of her inspired visions, even if 'E' is spiritually adrift—though that’s kind of the point. As a musician and an improviser, Glass is enamored by and an adept wielder of the search—for meaning, for sounds, for newness, for connection. And just like Krog crooned on 'Sing Me Softly the Blues' in 1975: “Life’s so thrilling / if you search.”

            TRACK LISTING

            1. All My Life
            2. Shrine
            3. Good Friends Call Me E
            4. Flood
            5. Human Dust
            6. Solid Stone
            7. Dreams
            8. Sing Me Softly The Blues
            9. On The Way Down
            10. Song For Emahoy
            11. Da
            12. Good Friends Call Me E (Reprise)

            Isaac Hayes

            Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2 - 1972-1976

              • The wonderfully favourable response to our first CD and double vinyl volume of the original A and B sides of the singles of the late great Isaac Hayes – as originally released on Stax’ Enterprise subsidiary between 1969 and 1972 – has forced us to bring forward, this month, the release of “Hot Buttered Singles 2” to cater for what Ace is sure will be just as great a level of popular demand.

              • This volume picks up where “Hot Buttered Singles Vol 1” left off with Hayes’ final 45 of 1972, and carries his seven inch story through to 1976 – by which time Stax was defunct, and Hayes’ was on his own Hot Buttered Soul label via ABC Records. It features eight US R&B chart hits including the much sampled ‘Hung Up On My Baby’ and ‘Chocolate Chip’, Hayes’ biggest hit of this period ‘Joy’ and the ever-popular 1976 instrumental ‘Disco Connection’, which finally gave Hayes’ his second UK Top 20 hit after ‘Shaft’.

              • All tracks match the original single edits, and wherever possible are taken from digital transfers of the original Enterprise singles masters. Where the original 45s came in two parts, they also do so here. And where original singles masters no longer exist, as was the case for two tracks, Ace’s engineers have re-created them beat for beat from the longer album versions. (Have fun guessing which two they were…)

              • As with “Hot Buttered Singles Vol 1”, the LP inners and CD booklet are packed with label shots, copious other images and an extensive sleeve note that gives deep detail about the featured songs. It also makes the package look as good as it sounds.


              TRACK LISTING

              SIDE ONE
              1. THEME FROM THE MEN (Instrumental)
              2. TYPE THANG
              3. ROLLING DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE
              4. (IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG)
              I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT
              5. JOY PT 1

              SIDE TWO
              1. JOY PT 2
              2. WONDERFUL
              3. SOMEONE MADE YOU FOR ME
              4. TITLE THEME
              5. HUNG UP ON MY BABY (Instrumental)

              SIDE THREE
              1. CHOCOLATE CHIP
              2. CHOCOLATE CHIP (Instrumental)
              3. COME LIVE WITH ME
              4. BODY LANGUAGE
              5. DISCO CONNECTION

              SIDE FOUR
              1. ST. THOMAS SQUARE
              2. ROCK ME EASY BABY PT 1
              3. ROCK ME EASY BABY PT 2
              4. JUICY FRUIT (DISCO FREAK) PT 1
              5. JUICY FRUIT (DISCO FREAK) PT 2 

              The band's new electronic chapter – powerful sounds and lyrical expanses.

              Immortal Onion, a group that has been garnering acclaim both in Poland and abroad for years, returns with their latest album, "Technaturalism".
              The band has established itself as one of the most exciting acts in the new wave of Polish jazz. Their unique style and international reach are reflected in performances across 25 countries in Europe and Asia.

              After three highly acclaimed albums – their debut "Ocelot of Salvation", "XD [Experience Design]", and recorded with saxophonist Michał Jan Ciesielski "Screens" – Immortal Onion continues to refine their one-of-a-kind sound. Their music combines electronic vibes, energetic rhythms, and a love for bold ideas.

              "Technaturalism" takes their sound in a fresh direction, pushing beyond jazz to create something new. The album offers a captivating fusion of hardstyle energy with tender, lyrical moments, showcasing how the band integrates modern technology with an organic sensitivity.
              Immortal Onion isn't afraid to take risks, breaking down musical and artistic boundaries. "Technaturalism" is proof of their creative courage and passion for exploring new ideas. For this album, the band took full control – composing, *recording, producing, and mixing it all themselves. This gave them the freedom to create a truly original sound.

              The vinyl version was mastered by Stefan Betke at Scape Mastering, while Jacek Mazur handled the CD and streaming versions at M&S GmbH Mobile / Platinum Hamburg.

              The album is being released by U Know Me Records, a globally respected label celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

              The artwork continues the band's collaboration with Marta "Martiszu" Ludwiszewska, who perfectly captures the playful and creative spirit of Immortal Onion. credits

              TRACK LISTING

              1. POST-INSTRUMENTAL
              2. 8-BIT STUDIES
              3. SOLARPUNK
              4. ZEITGEIST
              5. TERRORSTORM
              6. DATA BLOOM
              7. OK DOOMER
              8. SPECIAL SPECIES

              Seu Jorge & M

              Parioca

                'Parioca' is a duo formed by Matthieu Chedid and Seu Jorge.

                The collaboration began 12 years ago in Brazil following the Festival Encantado, where they performed together, and Seu Jorge's New Year’s Eve show on Copacabana Beach, where he invited his French friend to join him on stage.

                This was a natural continuation of their bond after Matthieu had invited Seu Jorge to perform at Bercy in 2004.

                The duo's work was finalized in recent weeks and produced by Jérôme Pigeon, who produced Seu Jorge’s iconic album Cru and introduced the two musicians in the late 1990s.

                'Parioca' is a hymn to the intercontinental friendship between the two artists, celebrating their enduring joyful, warm, and fruitful relationship. Their collaboration continues to evolve, with Seu Jorge set to contribute to Matthieu Chedid’s upcoming album, 'Lamomali 2'.


                TRACK LISTING

                1.Parioca
                2. Parioca (Remix Dub)

                The debut album from Mark Millington introduces the UK saxophonist through effervescent jazz arrangements.

                Percussive, energetic but anchored in a strong melodic sense that secures these songs in the memory long after you hear them.

                The album features five original compositions that journey from the uplifting celebratory sounds of Matilda’s Dance to the sentimentality of ballads like Truth Be Told. These beautiful new songs are joined by a brilliant re-imagining of the Becky Hill classic Overdrive.

                Accompanied by Addison Frei on piano, Jackson Potter on guitar, Yoshi Waki on bass and Brian Karl on drums, the album also features guests Ruta Sipola on Flute, Ernesto Marichales (Jordan Rakei) on percussion and Nick Walters on trumpet.

                TRACK LISTING

                A1. We Fall
                A2. Matilda’s Dance
                A3. Overdrive
                B1. Nothing New
                B2. Picture This
                B3. Truth Be Told

                Hot Biscuits collaborator Linkwood, fresh from his collaboration with the Mighty Zaf on the Phlash Forever EP, delivers 3 absolute bombs for the legendary Moton Records Inc.

                Limited stock, so get your orders in early.

                TRACK LISTING

                A1. Make It Better (Linkwood Edits)
                B1. No Easy (Linkwood Edits)
                B2. Brekkers (Linkwood Edits)

                Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas

                Totality

                  'Totality'! It can only be good news. The second convergence of Natural Information Society and Bitchin Bajas, years removed from the first, misses no steps and posits low-key revolutions in gravity for everyone instead. LPs divide inevitably into two halves; here, the first side could be typed ‘space’ and the second side ‘time’. With loads of totally principled playing in the communal feel, both sides blur the edges warmly.

                  TRACK LISTING

                  1. Totality
                  2. Nothing Does Not Show
                  3. Always 9 Seconds Away
                  4. Clock No Clock

                  Robohands

                  Thermae / The Atrium

                  A prolific producer, Robohands has released five albums since 2018 including his debut LP 'Green' released on Village Live records, incorporating elements of jazz, krautrock and ambient music.


                  TRACK LISTING

                  1. Thermae
                  2. The Atrium

                  Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

                  Expansions - AAA Remastered Edition

                    Lonnie Liston Smith's "Expansions" is one of the most influential records ever to have been released with its sound ricocheting through many different music scenes. It is one of dance music's fundamental building blocks, and an anthem to UK clubland.

                    Now for its 50th Anniversary we are celebrating that influence by an ultra-high quality deluxe vinyl edition of the album. Using the original album master tape we decamped to Frank Merritt's East London studio, the Carvery, for an all Analogue cut of the album - it has never sounded better!

                    We have housed this in a tip-on a laminated gatefold sleeve, which has allows Jack Martin's original painting of Lonnie to shine as never before. We have also a fully illustrated sleeve note by Frank Tope, telling the story of how the record took its journey through the universe from its spiritual jazz route to become a clubland anthem. This story is told with help from Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay and more.

                    The album as a whole is essential, going beyond the dance-ability of the title track, through its seven tracks to be one of the great jazz albums of the 70s. Produced by Lonnie and Bob Thiele (producer of Gil Scott-Heron's “Pieces Of A Man” and John Coltrane's “A Love Supreme”) it should be in every record collection.

                    “Look at it! There’s a guy in a Muslim skull cap and glasses, singing about space and love – wicked! Blows your mind!” Norman Jay



                    TRACK LISTING

                    SIDE ONE
                    1. EXPANSIONS
                    2. DESERT NIGHTS
                    3. SUMMER DAYS

                    SIDE TWO
                    1. VOODOO WOMAN
                    2. PEACE
                    3. SHADOWS
                    4. MY LOVE

                    Reuben Vaun Smith

                    Land Of Music

                      Rising musical visionary Reuben Vaun Smith's latest album, Land of Music, is a vibrant and atmospheric collection of tracks that transport listeners to a tropical soundscape of chilled beats, lush synths, and laid-back vocal musings. Remarkably, Smith recorded the entire album aboard a fishing trawler docked in a marina in Gibraltar, transforming the tight space into a creative sanctuary.

                      Blending dreamy synthesizer pads, groovy beats, and smooth vocals, Land of Music evokes a relaxing, high-vibe journey from start to finish. Collaborations on the album enhance its eclectic sound, with standout performances from vocalist Lucy Saddler, who lends her ethereal voice to “Lost in Space” and the title track “Land of Music.” Additionally, labelmate and guitar virtuoso Chico Mann brings his signature funky guitar licks, infusing the album with fresh energy and dynamic flair.

                      Smith’s Land of Music offers listeners an imaginative escape from the everyday, a vibrant sonic retreat that balances experimentalism with a deep sense of relaxation. Visually, it's paired perfectly with the striking album art courtesy of Brazil-based artists Uinverso, comprised of sisters Nadiuska and Priscila Furtado. Whether you’re tuning in on a quiet evening or drifting through a sun-soaked day, this album promises to be the perfect soundtrack for living the good life.

                      TRACK LISTING

                      1. Land Of Music
                      2. Talking To People
                      3. Colours In Sky
                      4. Lost In Space
                      5. Houseboat Mayday
                      6. Summer Haven
                      7. Signature Whistle
                      8. Let’s Disappear For A While
                      9. Marina Scene
                      10. Firefly
                      11. We Dance The Skies
                      12. Agua Vida

                      Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond & Mink

                      July Blue Skies

                        Embark on a funky synth-drenched journey as the cosmic count Jimi Tenor reunites with Timmion Records’ soul architects Cold Diamond & Mink for yet another album. When placed side by side with the fellows’ recent effort 'Is There Love In Outer Space?', 'July Blue Skies' glides on a slightly more raw and mystical plane.

                        Crafted over fiery sessions between Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink, this vinyl release offers six soul-grasping tracks ranging from mellow groove to soundtrack funk. The album’s opening title song kicks off with an extended analog synth intro which eventually develops into a sweet romantic invocation, painting a sonic canvas reminiscent of a boundless summer sky. The most vocal tune of this quite instrumental set of songs 'Sky Train Baby' propels the listener on a locomotive ride through the star systems while 'Venus of Barsoon' with its drum breaks and fuzz sounds blast you straight into sci fi movie funk territory.

                        The album’s B-side opens with 'Ikuchi', where Tenor’s always trusted flute and tenor sax take the spotlight over the slinky library beats. Closing the album we discover two single releases, the sublime 'Summer Of Synesthesia' and the demonic 'Tsicroxe' both completely worthy to hear sequenced inside this album as well. This album might be just the Spring jam that you needed in your life.

                        TRACK LISTING

                        1. July Blue Skies
                        2. Sky Train Baby
                        3. Venus Of Barsoon
                        4. Ikuchi
                        5. Summer Of Synesthesia
                        6. Tsicroxe

                        ‘Keep it in the Family Vol. 2’ sees Handy Records return with our first release of 2025- the second instalment of our compilation series- featuring 5 carefully curated house cuts from a range of label mainstays and fresh sounds from artists between Wales, the Netherlands, Brazil and beyond- a stellar array of emergent and established artists.

                        Following our club-ready releases on our recently launched sublabel Natural Frequencies throughout 2024, we felt it was the right time to return to our roots - providing the finest in timeless and broad-reaching house music.

                        TRACK LISTING

                        A1. Earl Jeffers - Feel
                        A2. Zopelar - Move This Way (feat. Antonio Dal Bo)
                        B1. Retromigration - Fret
                        B2. Cem Mo - Rushmore
                        B3. Monty DJ - Sat15


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