Love Is Still The Answeris a beautifully uplifting song, written and sung by long time Soothsayers member and collaboratorJulia Bielabout the eternal power of love and its ability to overcome hate. It appears in its original incarnation on the band's recent, critically acclaimed album,Fly Higher.

Mike Pelaconi, AKA Prince Fatty has been part of the Wah Wah 45s and Soothsayers extended family for many years, and here he delivers a typically crowd pleasing mix, in both vocal and dub form, from the world of Rockers Reggae, calling legendary reggae drummerHorsemaninto the studio, and crafting a lush rocksteady remix with a new horn arrangement and stripped back instrumentation.

"In a world that feels more divided and chaotic than ever,Love Is Still the Answer is a reminder that real change can still come from within. We may feel powerless in the face of global turmoil, but when we choose love - actively, consistently, even in tough situations - we reclaim strength for ourselves. This song calls us back to our shared humanity, to the energy that connects us all. It's an invitation to tune into what really matters, and to rediscover beauty where we may have forgotten to seek it." Robin Hopcraft (Soothsayers)

TRACK LISTING

1. Love Is Still The Answer (Prince Fatty Rockers Remix) [feat. Julia B.]
2. Love Is Still The Answer (Prince Fatty Rockers Dub)

Soothsayers' twelfth studio album will be released on vinyl only (and via Bandcamp) in September this year - twenty-five years since they unleashed their debut LP,Lost City. The album features the very essence of the band - the vital ingredients that have been part of their sound since the outset, incorporating the diaspora, family and community that they have built along their journey.

Fly Higherblends Afrobeat, soul, jazz and dub grooves and is packed with uplifting, ear-worm melodies delivered via stirring three-part harmonies, horn hooks and mesmerising basslines. The sound is typically organic and warm, and showcases Soothsayers' original songwriting style, which in turn pays respect to a variety of influences, but avoids cliche and predictability.

The opening, and title track rocks a pumping Afrobeat bounce with growling catchy horns, touches of jazz improvisation, and call & response vocals. Soothsayers' chorus lines are answered by soaring British Nigerian songstress Lizzy Donsumu and former Fela Kuti keyboardist Dele Sosimi - long time friends and collaborators with the band .Fly Higheris a simple message that reminds us that we can control our own mindset, strive for goodness, be in the moment and fly way above the low level rhetoric that holds back progress.

Love Is Still The Answerexploresthe fact that although the world feels more divided and chaotic than ever, in the heart of all of us we know that 'love is still the answer'. It's a message that is delivered by beautifully warm vocalisations, written and sung by Julia Biel over a deep, bass-heavy Afro-soul groove. It's a sonically engaging invitation to dance, think and feel.

Meaning infinite in Bengali,Ashimis a deep instrumental track showcasing the band's superb musicianship at its best - combining influences from jazz with African rhythms and touches of dub production in a slow build that reaches an intense and satisfying climactic chorus.

Don't Be Silentis a funky Afrobeat driven slab of protest music that reminds us that we have the right to speak up for what we believe in, and to not fall victim to intimidation or 'cancel culture'. Soothsayers' group vocal leads the way on this one over a dynamic groove augmented by electronics and crowd voices from the band's ongoing educational community music project, Youthsayers.

Love Will Find a Wayfeatures vocalists Maia Avery and Akin Soul, both former members of Youthsayers. Mixed by Sao Paulo based producer Victor Rice, it's a stirring reggae stepper with a strong, universal message. Maia and Akin's distinctive voices blend and weave beautifully over a hypnotic groove . One to satisfy your soul!

Rootsadds flavours of Jamaican icon Tommy McCook with trumpet and sax interplay alongside feelgood vocal inspirations from Kodjovi Kush, former Soothsayers bassist but evidently, still very much part of the family.

BJP (Big John Price)is another that is a testament to the goodness of community. John kindly opens his doors at The Portico Gallery in South London on a weekly basis to provide a physical base for the Youthsayers project.BJPhas a stomping Afro groove with jazz improvisations from Idris Rahman and keyboardist Kishon Khan as well as welcoming a massive horn section and added rhythm section in the shape of personnel from Youthsayers themselves.

A Piece of Goldreminds us that every human has something to offer the world. Finding your passion or calling may not be easy, but there is always a way. The lyrics are based on a Yoruba proverb , "A piece of gold that wants to shine must pass through fire". Akin Soul delivers the lead vocals supported by Soothsayers harmonies and horns. It's another feel-good track with positivity at its heart. Music to lift the soul - sunny and optimistic. You need this!

TRACK LISTING

1. Fly Higher
2. Love Is Still The Answer
3. Don't Be Silent
4. Roots
5. Love Will Find A Way
6. Ashim
7. A Piece Of Gold
8. To Be Free
9. BJP (Big John Price) [feat. Youthsayers]
10. Nothing We Could Do

London, UK – Almost Music, the debut album from Land of Echo, is a deeply personal celebration of return — to the city, to community, and to sound. Released via Wah Wah 45s, this record marks a heartfelt re-entry into a post-pandemic and politically confused world, with music shaped by reflection, hope, and the timeless pulse of the dancefloor.

Blending altered disco, downtempo soul, and experimental electronics, Almost Music invites listeners into an emotive soundscape where every beat and bassline carries weight. It's a sonic journey through shared struggles and future-facing optimism.

At the heart of Land of Echo is Rob Mac, producer and longtime figure in UK underground music. From running the legendary Scratch hip-hop nights in the '90s to releasing under aliases like Speeka (on Wah Wah 45s), Gum Drop, An Explore, and Jumbonics, Rob returns here to the soulful edges of dance music — armed with vintage gear, fresh vision, and a deep connection to his collaborators.

Lucy Wilkins, violinist and synth explorer, brings cinematic sweep and subtle textures to the record. Known for her work with Massive Attack, Radiohead and Roxy Music, Lucy is Rob's most consistent creative partner. Her contribution is both foundational and exploratory.

On vocals, two powerful voices lead the charge: Kathy Diamond, from Sheffield brings soul pedigree and bold, unmistakable songwriting. She's collaborated with Maurice Fulton and been remixed by Morgan Geist, Hercules & The Love Affair, and many more. Ayana Homma, from Tokyo, brings a global perspective — raised in Japan and Singapore, trained in jazz in California, and now embedded in London's scene via the Jazzy Sport collective. She also lends her voice to the Tokyo Riddim Band and Sound Anthropology, delivering fearless and expressive performances in both Japanese and English.

Keeping it in the family, Angus Mac contributes bass parts to the record, and Ollie Macdonald-Oulds delivers the album's striking artwork.

Beats. Basslines. Percussion. Strings. Voices. Electronics.

TRACK LISTING

1. What We Want (feat. Kathy Diamond)
2. Lean Into Your Own Breath (feat. Ayana)
3. Never To Never (feat. Kathy Diamond)
4. (Work It Out) Break It Up
5. Dream With Me (feat. Ayana)
6. Don't Talk (Just Dance) [feat. Kathy Diamond]
7. Freedom In Our Rhythm (Parts 1 & 2)
8. I Want
9. Nothing But Time (feat. Kathy Diamond)

Wah Wah 45s are very proud to present the debut LP from an exciting, brand new signing for 2025. The music of Isaac de Martin, otherwise known as IKE, blends jazz and electronic influences into warm, smooth, and often cinematic soundscapes. A certain eclecticism is not surprising considering that the composer, producer and guitarist was born in Italy into a musical family with British roots, studied classical guitar, graduated in jazz and went on to develop his personal style through creative experimentation, live touring and collaborative work with artists from a variety of disciplines and countries.

Under the shadow of the pandemic, IKE headed to Egypt, a country that has always held a deep fascination for him. Finding sanctuary between teaching at Cairo's Heliopolis University and observing the progress of an ecological development community, the creative foundation of IKE's forthcoming LP, entitled On Higher Dreams began to take form.

Music holds a revered position in Egyptian culture; it has done so for countless generations. With a western eye, some can be guilty of seeing music solely through the lens of entertainment. In Egypt, music holds its more natural position, as an essential and supportive accompaniment to the human experience. In Egyptian universities, faculty meetings often commence with live concerts, setting the correct tone and environment for the discussions to follow. IKE was invited to perform in this setting, and this approach to music, as well as the philosophy that underpins it, was keenly absorbed.

In western culture, all too often we bear the contrast of living with a physical and social connection, freedom and expression against one with isolation, restriction and fear. For IKE, Egypt displayed another stark contrast; one which formed the thematic centre of On Higher Dreams.

It is water that dictates the pulse of life in Egypt, with the Nile Delta standing as a lush, nourishing testament to the transformative power of the element, when set against the backdrop of the arid landscape it carves its ways through. There is a deep connection between the people of Egypt and this life-giving force. This album is an ode to this fundamental relationship.

Upon returning to Europe, IKE spent a year digesting, interpreting, understanding and refining the spirit of the work, before setting about recording in 2022 at Big Snuff Studios, Berlin. The all-analog setup that was available allowed IKE to integrate the warmth of '60s and '70s recordings, creating an atmospheric bed on which contemporary synths could lie. A live studio environment was consciously selected to preserve the raw, honest emotion of the performances.

Tracks like Nilo capture the lifeblood of Egypt—the Nile—while Sidda navigates the journey down the Blue Nile to its source at Lake Tana in Ethiopia, paying tribute to Ethiopian traditional music. Risorgini is a homage to Italian film composer Giuliano Sorgini, blending experimental and Afro elements into a resuscitation of his musical approach.

The album's overall vintage yet dynamic atmosphere, reinforces the themes of nature and existential flow. It is this that perhaps most prominently shines through on the record. It invites listeners to open themselves to the ebb and flow of life, encouraging a spontaneous, heartfelt engagement with the world in the spirit of acceptance and serenity. IKE's journey through Egypt serves as both a narrative and a metaphor for this liberating approach to life—where, like the water of the Nile, we find our own paths naturally, beautifully, inevitably to reach Higher Dreams.

TRACK LISTING

1. SIDDA
2. Nilo
3. Clay
4. Risorgini
5. Eventide
6. Interlude
7. Rapids (feat. Danny Kuttner)
8. Crepusculo
9. L'Accendino

Dele Sosimi, the UK based Afrobeat ambassador, former band member of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 and co-founder with Femi Kuti of the Positive Force finally unleashes his full debut album with The Estuary 21 (masterminded by British musician Sam Duckworth, aka Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly) entitled The Confluence LP.

Having released The Confluence EP together early last year, Dele and Sam’s new record seeks pastures new exploring soul, jazz, r’n’b, funk and of course Afrobeat for an eccentric and life-affirming record brimming with feelings of freedom and possiblity.

Dele and Sam were introduced at Felabration 2012, the annual commemoration of the music of Fela Kuti in Lagos, Nigeria. Nearly ten years passed before the two musicians connected in Sam’s hometown of Southend-On-Sea (UK) in a post-lockdown creative boom, recording
the first EP over a burst of week-long sessions in 2021.

After the Confluence EP was released to much fanfare in early 2023, the two musicians realised that there was still plenty to put to tape, creativity was still oozing and thus the initial idea of a few tracks soon led to the idea of a fully-fledged album project.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Ride Out The Storm (feat Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly)
A2. Mo Se B'ola Tan (feat Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly)
A3. For The Love Of It
A4. Ori Mi
A5. You Don't Have To
B1. E Si M'edo (feat Lizzy Dosunmu)
B2. Open Up (feat Snowboy & Sam Eagle)
B3. Otito Ti Jade
B4. The Rumblings
B5. Alagbara Ma Me Ro (feat Lizzy Dosunmu)
B6. Stories (feat Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly)

Youthsayers are an ongoing and enduring South London community project, founded byRobin HopcraftandIdris Rahmanof our very own, legendary Afro-reggae outfit Soothsayers.

Youthsayers was established in 2016 and ever since has consistently provided free of charge opportunities for young people to come together, learn an instrument and perform music under the tutelage of Robin and Idris. This has been made possible, in part, through donations from local businesses and private benefactors, but also live fundraisers and now through commercially released music!

Don't Blame The Youth, due for release on June 28th, is a snapshot of the current Youthsayers band, and recent alumni, who've gone on to form other bands in the world of jazz, reggae and beyond, including recent signings to Gilles Peterson's Brownswood imprint,Oreglo.

Over the course of eight tracks the band deliver their own unique takes on classic and contemporary pieces of music from the world of dub and Afro-jazz, including covers ofTheon Cross,Fela Kuti,Cedric IM Brooks,The Fontanellesand of course, Soothsayers themselves.

The album also showcases the Youthsayers students' own writing abilities, not only on their original composition,Citizens Not Subjects, written alongsideLevitation Orchestra's director and trumpeterAxel Kaner-Lindstrom, but also via a re-working of theTommy McCookinstrumentalTenor On The Callwith lyrics re-written by Youthsayers' clarinet playerGiacomo Del Reiand re-namedWe Keep Playing, the debut single to be taken from the album.

Every single penny of profit from this LP will go directly to the Youthsayers project. If you would like to take part in the programme, or donate to the cause, please go towww.youthsayers.net.

TRACK LISTING

1. JJD
2. Eagle Song
3. Ethiopia
4. We Keep Playing
5. Candace Of Meroe
6. Citizens Not Subjects
7. Goodnight Rico
8. Afrocat

Bev Lee Harling returns with her first solo recording in almost a decade. She won the hearts and musical minds of DJs across the board with her 2012 debut LP, Barefoot In Your Kitchen, which BBC 6Music's Gilles Peterson made his Album of the Week. Now the gifted singer, violinist and composer returns with twelve beautiful pieces of music that tell a very personal story of the years since.

Having swapped the busy streets of North London for the calmer shores of Hastings in Sussex to bring up her young family, it's fair to say that Bev's priorities might have changed somewhat over the past few years, but the music was never far away. Her new environment, and musical family (including multi-talented partner and album co-producer Frank Moon) added plenty of fresh inspiration to her recordings, and we're very excited to share her new album, entitled Little Anchor, with you this Autumn.

The album is in some senses a travelogue, a 9 year journey of a creative womannavigating the landscape of parenting. Each song is a snapshot taken at a differentlocation in time, in a world where finding balance between creative freedom and motherhood is still a struggle, from the uplifting and euphoric Beautiful Life, to the heavy and harassed Only Got A Minute.

Between the unexpected joys of parenting, grappleswith mental health and feelings of inadequacy, and fighting for every second ofcreative time while slowly accepting a life very different to the one that existedbefore, this unedited family album emerged bursting with quirky childhoodmemories, dark musings and celebrations of musical passion and legacy.

Each song carries breakthrough personal moments in rebuilding strength as an artist, as a person, as a parent. Even down to a very emotional moment with Ray Davies of The Kinks, during a songwriting retreat, where album closer This Violin String, a deeply personal ode to her recently departed mum, was written…

"Everyone turned up writing on guitars and piano and I just had my battered old violin. I felt totally out of touch with my former confident musical self and had zero confidence in what I was doing after an intense period of car crash parenting. I wrote it, performed it on the same day and then sobbed my guts out in front of a bunch of total strangers (sorry Ray!). Something shifted for me in the act of being quite so vulnerable though and I found my mojo again in writing solo with my violin."

The personal nature of this record is self-evident, it bursts through every note and word in each song. We're very excited to be able to share such a special album,afresh foray into the always unpredictable, experimental and playful world of Bev Lee Harling.

TRACK LISTING

1. Dirty Dragonfly
2. Beautiful Life
3. Is It OK?
4. If I Told You
5. Man Under My Bed
6. Lay Down In The Tall Grass
7. Only Got A Minute
8. Nights At The Circus
9. Going Back Home
10. Ghost Swimming
11. Tears On Your Heart
12. This Violin String

This release marks 20 years of Wah Wah 45s as a record label, and to celebrate they have tempted internationally renowned producer, videographer and film-maker Kutiman to the fold for this one-off RSD special. ‘So Long’ sees the man famed for his Thru You videos and Netflix documentary Presenting Princess Shaw, delivering some deep psychedelic, orchestral soul. On vocal duties is none other than Wah Wah 45s family member, Honeyfeet front woman and member of the Afro-Celt Soundsystem, The Breath and so much more -Gaelic powerhouse, Rioghnach Connolly. Remix duties come courtesy of another family member, Gene Dudley, with his first production for a couple of years, taking Kutiman’s composition into string laiden Balearic dance floor territories. “So Long” will be Wah Wah 45s’ third ever 10-inch release, with another specially designed custom sleeve courtesy of our in-house designer Animisiewasz.

As bottom end provider for Cinematic Orchestra and Paper Tiger, Hunrosa (AKA Sam Vicary) already has something of a pedigree for a man of such tender years. His music glides effortlessly between Bonobo at his most sonorous, Jon Hopkins at his most ethereal and Flying Lotus at his most freaky.

Currently based in Manchester, his music captures the wild organic senses of his Cornish childhood, anchoring it with a darker 2am undercurrent. Following the success of "Ransom" (a firm favourite of BBC 6 Music’s Tom Ravenscroft) Hunrosa returns with his newest offering "We Know". An eerie, ethereal track full of haunting atmospheres, Vicary enlists Austrian percussion maestro Manu Delago, who lends his hang drum expertise to the proceedings weaving it amongst the twisting, intricate beats and Anna McLuckie’s delicate vocals.

Here, as a bonus release, here we get a tasty white label 12" with three reworkings from burgeoning producers Lavan, Etherwood and Danvers. Newcomer Lavan is up first, moulding the organic melodies and earthy percussion into a dubbed out, soulful and bouncy 4/4 number. Hospital Records golden boy Etherwood (whose band Hunrosa is also a member of) brings a late-night liquid DnB atmosphere into play, harnessing the raw emotional power of the lyrics, as reverberating piano chords strike out into the darkness. Having turned the heads of Bradley Zero and Gilles Peterson with his recent releases, CoOp and WotNot Music’s Danvers resets the atmosphere with a zen like extended intro, before launching headfirst into a hypnotic and enthralling looped rhythm section. The groove locked in place, it rises and falls with precision, joined by spaced-out synths throughout the nine-minute duration, allowing the majestic instrumentation to gather pace as the spine chilling vocals drift overhead.

TRACK LISTING

We Know (Lavan’s Never Forget Dub)
We Know (Etherwood Remix)
We Know (Danvers Remix)