Nu-Jazz | Broken Beat 239 Items

Sohan Wilson is a young composer and arranger keyboard player from Switzerland. Half of duo Keys of Lynx, Sohan sent us his album almost 2 years ago and we were totally impressed with the quality and the soulful vibe. He asked us if we were interested in releasing it and we said yes.

For this first album the inspiration came from the 70’s and the 80’s with a touch of contemporary soul and jazz. The A side holds 4 tracks entirely recorded with musicians for a total acoustic and organic experience like « in the old days « while the B side is made with Beats and a more electronic soulful approach. This album tells a story, almost like a movie and thats why its a complete album to listen from beginning to end and enjoy the full experience of Sohan Wilson first solo Long player. Featuring the amazing voices from Dwight Trible and Brian Owens this album sounds already like a future classic that you want a listen over and over again.

Flumo and Anma Records join forces once again - this time for a collaborative project between UK based Contours and Yadava. Cosmic Echoes was built over numerous jam sessions fusing live percussion, bass, drum machine, synthesizers and field recordings to create a raw EP full of soul and warmth.

5 exclusive remixes by Central, Jarren, Dirk 81, Nelson of the East and Space Ghost himself (yes he’s remixing his own track ;)

Jeff Mills, Gerald Mitchell , Kenji Hino , Yumiko Ohno. This is a double record set, 180g Axis Audiophile Series, in a color gatefold jacket. Most tracks on this release were recorded in one-take recordings to "capture the moment", which is a vital element to what makes Spiral Deluxe so unique. "Let It Go" was composed by Spiral Deluxe and features even more masterful artistry of the likes of veteran Vocalist Tanya Michelle, with the mix production of the one and only Detroit native producer and DJ Terrence Parker.

Electronic duo Spring Heel Jack return with a collaboration with the legendary American trumpeter and Pulitzer Prize nominee Wadada Leo Smith. Wadada was born in the Mississippi Delta and became immersed in the music of the great blues masters as a young musician. He then moved to Chicago and became an early member of the AACM alongside the likes of Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Malachi Favors and Roscoe Mitchell. Recorded last year in London, this LP sees Smith’s authoritative trumpet joined by Steve Noble’s drums and Pat Thomas’ piano, to make a stunning piece of aural theatre in six acts.

First release from Ten Lovers Music in 2023 is from Stefano De Santis with a superb 7″ featuring two tracks Barra Nova and Partido#2, Barra Nova is an up-tempo Brazilian Broken Beat Fusion piece carrying on from where his last tack on Ten Lovers Music “Song For George D.” Tlm030 left off. The AA side drops a few gears for some slow Broken Beat action with the track Partido#2 but still retaining his unmistakable sound, keeping it jazzy. Stefano is a multi instrumentalist, playing the Rhodes Piano, Moog, Prophet 5, Solina Strings Ensemble, Juno 6, Upright Piano and Percussion on both tracks. This 7″ is release 40 number on Ten Lovers Music, so this a very proud time for us to be able to put out such amazing music.

Step Time Orchestra was the collaborative work of producers Jori Hulkkonen and Toumas Salmela, who began producing music together in the nineties whilst studying in Oulu, Finland. Whilst all their friends would be getting up early to go to university, they would only just be going to bed, having spent the night listening to house records from New York, drinking Whiskey and programming their MPC 2000!
Step Time produced a slew of tracks during this time, some of which were licensed and pressed on 12" singles during the late nineties/early noughties on labels operating in North America and Europe, but not everything they made saw the light of day. Heavily influenced by labels like Ibadan and Spiritual Life Music at the height of the New York House Scene, 'Jazz Error NYC' and '2am in Africa' were never signed, not fitting the profile of their other releases at the time, they were left in the drawer and sadly forgotten!
Skip forward to Winter 2016, and FBNM's Lorenzo, whilst over on a DJ excursion, visits Jori in Finland. Keen to keep working together, he presses him for something uniquely special. Magically, the Ajos E.P jumps out of the drawer into Hulkkonen's hand, and as it turns out, it has aged with a rather remarkable grace. Written using a combination of MPC sequencing and an Atari ST powering vanilla Cubase for some midi programming duties, it features the sounds of the Italian made Siel Opera 6, an Alesis S4 Rompler and other vintage Roland, Yamaha and Kawai Synths. They went full out on this one, even finally learning to play keys for that jazzy piano action. It was recorded live through a soundcraft analog board with outboard Fx, creating a sound that transcended it's time to feel remarkably fresh today!
The Ajos EP is named after an area in their native city of Kemi, Northern Finland, which is where they wrote and produced it in 1999.

The prolific & visionary artist known for his work with TV ON THE Radio, and Spacek emerges from the shadows with this extremely limited 7" on his newly formed label SPA. This will not be repressed so get it while you can!

Steve Spacek returns to Eglo Records after making his label debut with the summer smash 'Follow Me'. The Lewisham born singer/producer continues to innovate, utilizing the latest technologly (he made these two tracks on an ipad) to push his unique London style from his new home in Sydney NSW. 'If U Wan 2 Find Me' is a celestial slice of vocal footwork/soul, with Spacek offering his own zero gravity take on the chicago sound. Bside 'Time Is Running Out' completely switches up the tempo, this stripped back techno bubbler feels like the soundtrack to a late night cruise around the red planet. Signature Spacek swing and acid bounce througout. Steve Spacek remains one of the most unique and versatile artists from the UK, born out of Londons soundsystem culture his fearless and forwarding thinking approach to music and technology has made him impossible to pigeon hole. Consistently on the cutting edge of new evolutions in sound and style.

On June 16th, 2023, Steven Julien and Kyle Hall return with their first EP together in ten years, Crown. The record follows earlier EPs the duo created under their former alias Funkinevil, 2013's Ignorant and 2012's Night/Dusk. The record once again brings together two artists from opposite sides of the pond—Julien hailing from London and Hall representing Detroit—with a shared love for soul in its purest essence. Opening "Page 1", a pitched-down vocal by James Massiah pronounces, "My plan—won't let you take it from hand." That alone could be considered the nut graph of a record about taking ownership, created by two vanguards in the electronic music scene that, a decade ago, insisted on infusing their music with soul in a commercial club circuit lacking in it. Assembled from a few years-worth of studio jams in Julien's studio, Crown dials up the staticky warmth present on earlier Funkinevil tracks like "Dusk" and "In The Grid." Across seven songs, Funkinevil shaves off some of their tougher elements, instead shooting for pastoral melodies and funky basslines, like on "Page 2", where Vicky Flint's flute flutters sleepily over breaks and a groovy Korg synthesizer. But the atmosphere on the EP is also grander than ever—on "Page 5," Cloud's wistful melisma soars over Flint's bleating saxophone and wandering sci-fi synths. With all this attention to funky musicality, it's only fitting that two legends specializing in the craft would land on the B-side—Däm Funk revs up "Page 3" with a slamming kick and his unmistakable coolness, and Reggie B turns "Page 5" into a sludgy, jazzy dance party. In the words of Julien, "I think a lot of people have forgotten about what this whole thing is about. Musically, artistry and everything. So I'm happy this is what we represent on this project."

Fresh underground talent straight out of Liverpool from certified herbalist Sticky Dub.
The MC/Producer cooks up his own special blend of Broken Beat, UKG, Dub and Hip Hop, as styles collide to unique effect. His Northern roots man, rudebwoy energy is processed through an electronic, inner city engine, resulting in some of the most exciting club ready cuts we've heard this side of the Mersey. Melodic dub baselines rub with skipping dancefloor beats, all laced with Sticky's bouncing Scouse drawl, and lyrical insight, on his quest to understand nature and rhythm. And like Sticky says, if you want to keep the spiritual equilibrium of the world in check, then 'never give weapons to a man who can't dance".

Susso, aka bassist / producer Huw Bennett, creates music inspired by, and directly sampling, the magnificent sounds of the Mandinka people, recorded during a recent trip to Gambia. Initially travelling with the aim of gaining perspective as a musician and to discover a new world of music first hand, Huw found himself humbled by such a welcoming community of artists, mostly belonging to the celebrated Suso and Kuyateh griot families. The tracks are composed entirely from original source material, field recordings and Huw’s talents as a multi-instrumentalist; performing tuned percussion from the region including the Mandinka Balafon, Kutiringding drum, aswell drawing on his skill as a professional upright / electric bassist. The music produced has a contemporary electronic sound, whilst still paying homage to a traditional Gambian aesthetic. Keira (meaning peace) guides the listener through Huw’s journey up the River Gambia, being welcomed into remote dusty villages, where your people are the most important thing in life.

When has Tatham, Mensah,Lord & Ranks let you down?
When?
If you love boogie, funk and that good groove then the answer is never.
Yet another twelve inch proving their consistency.An obvious buy on sight release.
Includes the cover version on Grace Jones's 'Private Lives' where the quartet expand on the original for a soulful dubbed out trip plus 'Simmering' for funk bass line enthusiasts.

Produced by Kaidi Tatham,Matt Lord,Mr Mensah & dego.

Tawoyame Orquesta celebrates their 15th Anniversary with new 7inch release from their new project! The guest remixer features Takeshi Nakatsuka. The band's signature song "Suteki na Ongaku", which was included on their first album, is newly sung by the leader Tomoko Okamura on the original track from 10 years ago!! The flip side features a remix track for the first time. "odo Latin" from the latest full-length album, "Shukuen Fifteen" (urdc82) is remixed by Takeshi Nakatsuka, a wizard of live sound. The remix is a swingin' and breakin' floor-ready tune!!

LA’s Taylor E. Burch ov DVA Damas and Tropic of Cancer drops a cache of nuggets for Downwards, posing a killer mix of droll post-punk vocals and stripped dub/R&B/art-pop somewhere between Lolina, Gwen Stefani and The Slits. Mad original, bass-heavy ohrwurm fire!

Over a decade since her debut 10” with DVA Damas, and following a superb stint on Pessimist’s Stigma project in ’21, ‘The Best of Taylor E. Burch’ (though none of this matereial has even been released before) reveals her prowling swag from unexpected angles across nine distinctively succinct bullets bolstered by Elon Katz’s vocal production. Laid-back but tightly coiled, they slant from the clear echoes of Inga Copeland/Lolina on its intro, to cattier art-pop minimalism on ‘I’ve Never Felt Better In My Life’, her vocals layered and sparingly pronged with compelling effects around her wiry guitars and flashes of the gnash and bump that made her work with main vehicle DVA Damas (beside Joe Cocherell) so vital.

The lilting, purring punky dubs of ‘I Wanna Be Your Girl’ and ‘Time Differences’ illuminate a softer side delivered with a wry swagger, from the eyrie, clipped dembow Tears For Fears cover ‘Head over Heels’ to potent highlight ‘F*ck You Up’, while ‘We’re All The X’ and ‘’Time Is On My Side’ make us think of a slanted Juliana Hatfield, and we can’t help but recall that ace Fay record (‘Din’, Time No Place, 2012) in the brittle but heavy af ‘Na Na Na Na Na (Reprise).’

One of the most enjoyable, rinsable tapes of the year, full marks, plus.

A collection of unreleased tracks from the early 90's Jumpin' & Pumpin' era, when Fsol hid behind various guises

Here comes the 2nd release on our imprint from the classy duo, this time on vinyl. The Robinson continue their personal voyage into the shades of house never forgetting their roots deeply linked to the second wave of Chicago House and the distinctive sound of Italo House. This new effort consists in two tracks per side: two original cuts and in as many powerful remixes by the U.S. legends of the game Fred P and Trinidadian Deep.

Taste Rec. keeps the pressure high with an EP that unleash pulsating beats and groovy bass lines merged perfectly with soulful melodies, tribal percussions and a special Kora solo recorded live. Dreamy atmospheres alongside a four to the floor rhythms is the philosophy we chase and we prove it still delivering a record suitable both for clubs or private underground events.

Release no. 1 on Rapscallion brings 3 ridiculous broken reworks that are sure to raise an eyebrow or two. We’re not being told who in particular is responsible for such goodness here but rest assured an accomplished veteran must be at the helm for sure...

All music by M. Rose, T. Parrish Art & Graphics by Nep Sidhu 2023 Whobody Publishing BMI

“Dancing Around Fire” is the new album by LA-based drummer and composer Tommaso Cappellato in partnership with Pavimento Fertile, the Italian break dance collective founded by Paolo “Frigo” Montesi. Inspired by the energy of dance and improvisation, this album serves up a dynamic fusion of experimental soul and timeless grooves that command the body to move.This unique collaboration between dancer and musician was born out of Cappellato’s live performance at the Pavimento Fertile dance jam in 2021. Seeing how Cappellato’s rhythms brought out new layers in the dancers’ movements inspired Montesi to commission an album of original music that celebrates the culture of drum breaks and sampling which fuel freestyle dance.The album’s seven tracks, composed by Cappellato in as many days, take the listener straight to the dance floor. Cappellato weaves the soulful vocals of Lalin St. Juste (on “Made of Golden Light”) and Cameron Kinghorn (on “Heart to Mend”) alongside percussive electronic tracks (like “Battle Moves”) that emphasize the importance of the drum in unleashing the power of human expression.

For Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber, the idea of rebirth is a creative driving force - an artistic device which not only informs their work, but anchors it. As the avant-garde electronic group Tosca, the two artists have lived many musical lives, from their early electronic experiments with tape decks to the blissed-out dub compositions with which they have made their name. Their latest project, Osam, takes this idea of renewal even further. A meditative journey through rhythm and texture, the album represents a new chapter for the Austrian duo. It's as much an instrument for change as it is a source of inspiration. 'Osam' is a direct translation of the number eight in Serbian, but it also acts as the mediaeval symbol for a fresh start - a renaissance. This is their ninth studio album but in true Tosca style when they started working on the concept for the record, they thought it was their eighth.

INFRACom!, one of the longest operating Independent labels in Germany, celebrate its 30yrs anniversary with a vinyl compilation consisting of tracks that have never been released on vinyl before. Label co-founder Jan Hagenkötter handpicked these from various artist in the catalog, true to the spirit of the label and its operator – We couldn´t save the entire planet but we still like to save your soul. Most of the tracks included on the compilation were released only on CD and then digitally in the so-called 2000s or noughties, as it was very difficult to release any album on vinyl during that time due to the situation in the music market. The artwork was once again designed by Rafael Jimenez Heckmann, a well-known graphic designer from Offenbach. The inlay was designed by the long time friend & well known artist Jim Avignon. INFRACom!, once started locally in Frankfurt with artist like Shantel who released his first recordings on the label. He is featured by a collaboration with the Brazilian duo Rosanna & Zélia. Soon INFRACom! expanded to an international platform for artist from all over the world like Jhelisa (usa), Mop Mop & Gabriele Poso…both from Italy, Metropolitan Jazz Affair the brainchild of French producer and musician Patchworks, Taxi from the UK, Rime from Finland or Aromabar from Austria…all with different styles of music. The vision of the two founders Jan Hagenkötter & Namé Vaughn was and still is artistically oriented and has never favored just only one style of music. The roots of INFRACom as a label are based in the various form of black music culture - conditiopned to the influences and personal history of the two founders - but also deeply rooted in the club and DJ culture and various forms of electronic music. The compilation can only show a small glimpse into the universe with tunes that stand the test of time. One of the best examples is Matthias Vogt with whom the label has a long standing collaboration and who just this year released the album Pianissimo on INFRACom!. He can be heard with his Matthias Vogt (Jazz) Trio in a cinematic remix from Joash and two pieces by the highly successful [re:jazz] band which he leads. With Valique we are happy to feature a Belarus/Russian artist on the release these days….one who already showed ten years ago on his album artworks what he thinks about the politics of his government. As an open minded label and ethnical diverse ppl. we think “Fuck Putin and his disciples and like-minded people, but let's not condemn all Russian-born people. Some prefer to worship Herbie Hancock...like Valique and we want to support that.” With Nekta, Dublex Inc. feat Stee Downes and Kosma this release features three more artists from various regions in Germany, each with their great moments.….and last but not least the mysterious Woodland Conclave (UK)…a waltz and a story yet to be told and hopefully will be…on INFRACom!…in the near future!

New selection of Acid Jazz songs this time from the funkier side of this music. Groove, rhythm and a lot of happy feeling. Inside some classic artists of the genre such as Black & Brown, Jestofunk, LTJ Xperience, Funky Destination, Lo Greco Bros & Fusion Funk Foundation, Man Sueto, Vito Lalinga (Vi Mode Inc. Project), The Smoke Orchestra, The Last Minister , Gazzara with many versions not available on vinyl for some time or never released on this support. Limited edition double vinyl. Groove, rhythm and a lot of happy feeling.

The fourth instalment of Best Of Various sees Marcello Cassanelli join the TLM family with Fantasia. Marcello is joined by Blake Franchetto on Bass, Giulia Barozzi on Vocals and Antonio Rapa on Drums. Next up is good friend of the label Zarenzeit with Deep Work featuring Roger Versey on vocals, a very deep track for the dancefloor. Onto the AA side and another new member to the TLM family, Stefano De Santis has some broken beat action for us with his tribute to his hero George Duke. Future Jazz Ensemble are back on TLM after their Rough Time EP earlier this year with a track called Freeway, it's a sample of what to expect from their forthcoming TLM album early next year. FJE are now a three piece with Guido Tabone on Saxophone and Michele Macchi on Percussion, the sound of FJE is ever evolving with more members joining the Ensemble for the album. Final track is from the unreleased vaults at TLM, Caruso with Vestimenta, originally recorded in 2015 and restored by Jose Rico.

Reel People Music breaks new ground, in more ways than one, with the launch of fresh compilation series Broken, Deep & Dope. A spin-off from acclaimed compilation brand Soulful, Deep & Dope – introduced back in 2015 – this new series sees the much-loved independent imprint pushing further at the boundaries of soulful music. All with that customary Reel People feeling.

Broken, Deep & Dope 2024, the series’ first instalment, unleashes 20 superlative examples of the soulful ‘bruk’ (broken beat), nu beat and nu jazz sound that has so innovatively informed contemporary dancefloors around the world since its inception back in late Nineties West London.

Bringing together classic cuts from the Reel People Music stable (including those by Daz-I-Kue, Monkey Brothers and Reel People) and key productions from some of its closest affiliates and biggest inspirations (such as Vikter Duplaix, Jazzanova, Bugz In The Attic, Kaidi Tatham, and Sean McCabe), this white-hot selection nips and tucks beautifully between stuttered Latin and Afro rhythms, deep house-edged jams and soaring flights of soul-jazz fancy.

Reel People Music is a label borne out of the soulful success of acclaimed collective Reel People but representing so much more. Launched in late 2009, the imprint has built a fiercely loyal international fanbase through its passion for artist development, musicianship, song-craft and authentic soulful groove.

Broken, Deep & Dope 2024, with its scattered yet compulsive beats, frisky basslines and acrobatic melodies, promises to further expand Reel People Music’s reputation for soulful depth and drama. Gathering old and new favourites from some of the world’s finest taste-making DJs and producers, this is another scorching, oh-soul essential hustle. End of.

We are celebrating our 4 years anniversary with Houseum Records, so what better way than to gather together 12 artists we particularly like around a compilation rich in diversity? This double vinyl invites you to explore different horizons thanks to the multiple facets proposed. We let you discover this unexpected project full of surprises.

Limited edition coke bottle green vinyl coloured 180g vinyl gatefold double album from Stella Polaris.

The world’s largest free chill out event, Stella Polaris have been wrapping their electronic blanket of dubby and jazzy slo-mo sounds around tens of thousands welcoming bodies since ’97. An oasis of positivity and top-drawer music beaming out of Denmark, with a record label arm born in 2003.

Fast forward 20 years and their 17th album release, a delectable double album features new material from upcoming artists and exclusive Stella Polaris custom made remixes of well-known artists including: Foster The People (us), Groove Armada (uk), José Padilla (es), Underher (ca/de), Days of May (fr), The 2 Bears (uk), Elvstrøm (dk), Teitur & Mads Björn (dk).

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Summer Dance Forever - Amsterdam’s insanely popular international hip hop festival - Super-Sonic Jazz has teamed up with James Rudie & Evm128’s UK sound-culture imprint Dance Regular to release a ten-track explosion of organic soulful house, broken beat, and bass-heavy uplifting cuts, ripe for the dancefloor. A sterling compilation featuring the who’s-who of fresh and upcoming UK talent, the EP is a coming together of like-minded worlds, full of highly charged dynamic rhythms, driving melodies, garage-like beats and an impassioned and authentic joie de vivre that perfectly matches the festival’s energetic spirit, and sets the tone for its equally impressive programme.

The brainchild of DJs James Rudie and Evm128, Dance Regular was born out of an East London event series that focussed on soulful, bass and body music. Alumni of the CoOp Presents Selectors Assemble, IG Culture and Alex Phountzi’s championing of the Bruk movement, James Rudie & Evm128 have a set a like-minded course to channel the spirt of UK body music culture, with this 10-track EP a fiery illustration of some of the talents at their fingertips. Throughout the 10-energetic tracks you’ll discover the likes of Trev, Entek, Cengiz, and many more fresh, global acts with a penchant for stirring broken beat productions, and deep, soulful melodies. Living at the intersection of garage and house music, with a deep underlying appreciation of jazz, it seems only fitting that the UK crew deliver this choice collection of cuts through the Super-Sonic Jazz imprint.

This year, understandably, the crews behind the tenth edition of Summer Dance Forever will be taking the festival actives online. Normally held at Paradiso, the inner-city urban dance festival would normally bring in participants from across the globe for nine-days of battles, parties, and workshops. Over the course of the past ten years, Summer Dance Forever has welcomed the likes of Dam Funk, Theo Parrish, and DJ Spinna into its home at Paradiso. One face that has always been a constant behind the decks has been Dutch stalwart, and one-part Super-Sonic Jazz founder KC the Funkaholic. The label, festival, and events series has become the home for new and exciting jazz and soul sounds from The Netherlands, in addition to showcasing fresher, soulful global sounds, including IG Culture who debuted his Likwid Continual Space Motion on the label this year. With such a combined focus in harbouring new talent and love for deeper jazz influenced driving-dance music, the collaboration is befit for the honouring of such an important, cultural and respected institution.

After reissuing Hedzoleh by Hedzoleh in 2022, a collaborative effort by Meakusma and Soundway, this new 12inch features remixes by Jimi Tenor, Mark Ernestus, Gavsborg and Waltraud Blischke, transporting and transfusing Hedzoleh's tracks into new spheres and circumstances. Hedzoleh Soundz were one of the first and most original ‘Afro’ bands from 1970s Ghana, playing an unusual mix of traditional music and western rock as part of the West African Highlife scene. The music for the Hedzoleh album was used by legendary South-African trumpeter Hugh Masekela as the backbone to his afrojazz classic, “Masekela – Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz”. The Hedzoleh Soundz Remixes 12inch features an eloquent, deep, deeply poppy even, dub by Mark Ernestus, Jimi Tenor taking the original Rekpete track into even more joyous territory, adding some subtly hypnagogic touches at the end, Gavsborg transforming Y Yes Baa Gee Wo into a beat-based drone of sorts, a toolin the right hands, and a majestic experimental twist by Waltraud Blischke, sampling one Hedzoleh track and one unreleased solo track by Sascha Todd, son of Hedzoleh bass player and vocalist Stanley Todd.

This record came about with the support of Ostbelgien.

A?er the success of the first volume, the second Soul Fingers’s tribute compila&on is released on double vinyl too. Soul Fingers is a wandering black music dancefloor that in 2023 reaches to celebrate 10 years lifelong. Soul Fingers mixes soul, disco and funk, with rap and La&n rhythms. In this brand new compila&on there are some pieces that have really marked great par&es since 2013. This &me featuring soAme carefully selected dancefloor music bombs directly from the hands of Claudio Cavallaro, the leader of the Soul Fingers console.

WOLF Music offer up something a little different to their usual tip, enlisting the warm dusty reverberations of four-piece, jazz-not-jazz collective Velour for a 7 inch of hazy, genre traversing rhythms. Alongside being producer for the Velour project, long-standing member of the WOLF pack Mr. Fries gives his own distinctive house touch to the flip side remix.
Perfectly capturing the new school of jazz, Essen-based Velour crisscross genres drawing on elements from each yet anchoring their roots in the richness of jazz’s deft melodies and percussive touches. Head-nodding down the open road, ‘Pose’ is that undeniably soulful, first swig of summer many tracks strive to be. Morphing into a woozy affair as the sun sets midway through, Velour’s songwriting talent well outstrips their years. Throw WOLF pack member Mr. Fries into the mix, kneading in his signature production style and the freshly baked result straddles the intersection between jazz, broken beat, house and soul.
Fries then takes on remix duties for the flip, maintaining that dusty demeanour yet going for a full frontal Moodymann-esque house interpretation. The smokey jazz bar sax, background hustle and weighty beat make for a summertime heater served straight from the grill, garnished just right with Mr. Fries own vocals over the top.

Eiji Takehana is an originator of the club jazz scene in Japan and a DJ/producer who continues to lead the scene. After 6 years of silence, the long-awaited release of the latest 7inch single is now available. The sound is ferocious yet precise, the finest jazzy drum'n'bass.

Heralding the release of Memoirs of Hi-Tech Jazz, the forthcoming album by Detroit-born-and-based artist, Waajeed, the 12” features further examinations of the track’s motifs by the vaunted Detroit collective, Underground Resistance, Zambian producer SHE Spells Doom, and a special reimagining by Waajeed himself featuring live drums.

Alongside the LP version the three remixes further explore the links between Techno and Jazz, styles both founded on African traditions that make commentary on the present but are always oriented to potential hereafter.

On the People Mover Remix, Waajeed enlists the talents of Zo!, Tall Black Guy, Michele Manzo, and more to explore one extreme of the track’s musical heritage. Syncopated drums, driven by a full and bright snare drum, firmly place this version in the sphere of contemporary Jazz emanating from Detroit and cities across the US.

Coming from an album inspired by revolutionary efforts against oppression in Detroit and in Black locales around the world it is entirely fitting that Underground Resistance should provide their take on Motor City Madness. UR’s Mike Banks follows the lead of the original’s melange of genres. By thickening the bassline, peppering the mix with extra brass from the Mad Brass Horn Section, and adding strings courtesy of Six Mile Strings, UR further explore the dynamic intersection of music, history, and geography.

SHE Spells Doom closes the remix package with his second release on Tresor after his contribution to 2021’s Tresor30 compilation. The Zambian artist trims Motor City Madness down to the bones of the brass section and infuses them with a gqom beat, simultaneously referring to Jazz and Techno’s deepest roots in Africa, as well as suggesting where they might be headed in the future.

Manchester’s Walton returns to Tectonic following last year’s explorations in grime flavoured house/techno offshoots on the killer “Bulldoze EP”. This time Walton leads with a dance floor crushing anthem that cruises a cool line between grime and tribal dubstep. Featuring a looping Riko Dan sample, “Gunman” sets a stone cold tone from the offset, hi-hats setting up the groove before a grime flavoured melody cuts in preparing you for the drop. When the bass and drums come crashing in they bounce off each other to produce a disorientating tribal rhythm that will set the dance floor alight!

Pique-nique Recordings is proud to present People’s Dream, the latest solo release from NYC-based vibraphonist and electronic producer Will Shore. Inspired by Francis Bebey and Don Cherry’s electronic music from the 70s and 80s, People’s Dream draws heavily from modal jazz, minimalism, and dance music. It blends tightly composed percussive phrases with freely moving melodic improvisations that feel as much at home in a DIY loft space as they do on a custom-built sound system at Nowadays. Shore says: “The vibraphone is the thing that I know best, but I’ve always found the instrument quite limited. Its pure bell-like tone can seem too pretty to evoke a wide range of feelings. I normally find ways to obscure that pure sound: I distort it, pitch it down, or layer rougher textures over it. But for People’s Dream and Lucid, instead of obscuring the sound quality, I decided to embrace it. I used the vibraphone for not only melodic parts but also as a driving rhythmic element. I let the entrances and exits of melodies appear and disappear in a dream-like way, and added electronics and percussion as texture, to create a more cinematic atmosphere.” On the B-side, UK producer and label-head Tom Blip (Blip Discs) flips Lucid into a driving, bass-oriented club track, fit for vibrant dancefloors this summer. On the back of successful collaborations with East African artists Swordman Kitala and Mubashira Mataali Group, Blip unleashes a trademark peak-time drum track designed to elude any dream-like state.

Peer through the windows of the sun-dappled homes in Sicily and you will be faced with a small, strange ceramic object adorning each hallway. It is a glistening pine cone standing upright – a pigna – the longstanding symbol of Sicilian openness and welcome hospitality.

The pigna is a delightfully unusual and yet apt symbol for the title of the third record from Benjamin Harris, AKA Yarni. Ever since his debut LP release in 2017, Yarni has established a following committed to his musical openness, an intuitive curiosity that has spanned everything from house and techno to cinematic ambience and Japanese percussion, as well as jazz horns and afrobeat fanfares. For Yarni, anything goes and everyone is welcome. Now, Pigna sees Yarni reach his fullest and most musically diverse expression, taking its name and ethos from Sicily, but finding a sonic home in the luscious orchestration of a new ensemble of musicians.

Here, at the helm of a nine-person ensemble, Yarni artfully pieces together live improvisations to create the warmth of a seasoned group performing deep within the groove. Opener “Midnight Getaway” places the listener squarely within the disco-funk of Daft Punk as Yarni’s top-line synth intersects with a rolling bassline and a lyrical flute solo from Rachel Shirley. This optimistic tone of sunlit spaciousness is then heightened on “Utopia”, as Yarni’s horn section comes to the fore to pay homage to the ineffable syncopations of Fela Kuti’s pioneering afrobeat.

Rather than scratch at the surface of these musical genres, Yarni’s attuned ear embodies the emotive essence of his various sounds by paying intimate attention to their creation. There is the punch of that afrobeat sax on “Utopia”; the rhythmic skitter of breakbeats on “The Astral”; the sludging thump of funk in the bassline on “Nova”. Collaborators are given free reign, too, to incorporate their own unique stylings into this remarkable whole, from vocalist Emily Marks’ languid tone on “In A Dream”, to saxophonist Jonoa’s innate swing on “Cherub”, and the metronomic movement of bassist Ally McMahon’s playing throughout.

Listening to Pigna is ultimately to find yourself squarely within the comforting embrace of Yarni’s musical mind. It is a truly LP experience – a record to be placed on the turntable’s platter and then left to play, allowing yourself an immersion in these journeying soundscapes. It is no wonder fellow sonic travellers such as the late Andrew Weatherall and DJ Harvey have been supporters of Yarni’s work, since here is a kindred spirit – an artist shaped in the form of radical openness, speaking the hospitable, universal language of beautiful music.

Peer through the windows of the sun-dappled homes in Sicily and you will be faced with a small, strange ceramic object adorning each hallway. It is a glistening pine cone standing upright – a pigna – the longstanding symbol of Sicilian openness and welcome hospitality.

The pigna is a delightfully unusual and yet apt symbol for the title of the third record from Benjamin Harris, AKA Yarni. Ever since his debut LP release in 2017, Yarni has established a following committed to his musical openness, an intuitive curiosity that has spanned everything from house and techno to cinematic ambience and Japanese percussion, as well as jazz horns and afrobeat fanfares. For Yarni, anything goes and everyone is welcome. Now, Pigna sees Yarni reach his fullest and most musically diverse expression, taking its name and ethos from Sicily, but finding a sonic home in the luscious orchestration of a new ensemble of musicians.

Here, at the helm of a nine-person ensemble, Yarni artfully pieces together live improvisations to create the warmth of a seasoned group performing deep within the groove. Opener “Midnight Getaway” places the listener squarely within the disco-funk of Daft Punk as Yarni’s top-line synth intersects with a rolling bassline and a lyrical flute solo from Rachel Shirley. This optimistic tone of sunlit spaciousness is then heightened on “Utopia”, as Yarni’s horn section comes to the fore to pay homage to the ineffable syncopations of Fela Kuti’s pioneering afrobeat.

Rather than scratch at the surface of these musical genres, Yarni’s attuned ear embodies the emotive essence of his various sounds by paying intimate attention to their creation. There is the punch of that afrobeat sax on “Utopia”; the rhythmic skitter of breakbeats on “The Astral”; the sludging thump of funk in the bassline on “Nova”. Collaborators are given free reign, too, to incorporate their own unique stylings into this remarkable whole, from vocalist Emily Marks’ languid tone on “In A Dream”, to saxophonist Jonoa’s innate swing on “Cherub”, and the metronomic movement of bassist Ally McMahon’s playing throughout.

Listening to Pigna is ultimately to find yourself squarely within the comforting embrace of Yarni’s musical mind. It is a truly LP experience – a record to be placed on the turntable’s platter and then left to play, allowing yourself an immersion in these journeying soundscapes. It is no wonder fellow sonic travellers such as the late Andrew Weatherall and DJ Harvey have been supporters of Yarni’s work, since here is a kindred spirit – an artist shaped in the form of radical openness, speaking the hospitable, universal language of beautiful music.

Soulful, jazz-infused broken beats from Berlin! Incredibly talented jazz pianist and producer Yoofee debuts on Casa Voyager! A must-have for both: sensitive souls and sophisticated groove lovers. Tested and approved.