Review: It would be fair to say that Anthony Joseph is an artist of many talents. Over the years he's collaborated with a multitude of top-notch musicians and producers, performed some breathtakingly good poetry and written some damn fine books. "People of the Sun", his latest album, is another triumph. Inspired by Port of Spain's legendary annual carnival, the set sees Joseph wrap his own politically charged spoken word vocals around some joyously positive music bristling with Caribbean musical references. There are naturally nods towards calypso and soca, not to mention plenty of typically tropical instrumental flourishes (steel drums, pedal steel, chiming metallic percussion), though the influence of soul, jazz-funk and, most notably, contemporary jazz is arguably much stronger. Either way, it's a terrific
Mahayana (feat L'ensemble Soufie De Bagneux) - (4:42) 88 BPM
Work (feat Jahdan Blakkamoore) - (4:05) 63 BPM
World Of (feat Pupajim) - (3:22) 69 BPM
Beggars - (4:29) 76 BPM
Only One Stand (feat John Milk) - (3:58) 66 BPM
Every Little Things (feat Biga Ranx) - (3:38) 136 BPM
Seed Balls - (3:22) 133 BPM
Review: Parisian producer Blundetto (the man behind French radio station Radio Nova no less) is back with his third album, World Of. Further pursuing his love of soulful reggae, cinematic scores, and Latin and Afro beats, he's invited some French reggae heroes (Biga Ranx or PupaJim), a New York MC (Jahdan Blakamoore) and new comers John Milk and Marina P to contribute to these rich and intoxicating 12 sizzling tracks. A producer who never lets us down.
Mi Condena (Grooveman Spot version) - (7:55) 51 BPM
Voices (Blundedub) - (3:06) 69 BPM
Sunset Stroll (Roti version) - (3:32) 110 BPM
White Birds (alternative version) - (7:37) 60 BPM
Mustang (Dav***k version) - (4:11) 89 BPM
Cuban Shirt (Blackjoy alternative version) - (4:54) 57 BPM
Mustang (J Rocc version) - (3:11) 156 BPM
Review: Blundetto is a Paris-dwelling producer with a fondness for both Afrobeat, soul & reggae and being a little mischievous (ever since being a child apparently). Here his playfulness extends to handing over his work to various producers in order that they might return them in newly altered states. It's a project that largely works, with particularly good bad versions being Roti's retro electro-isms on "Sunset Stroll", Dav***k's surreal and warped synth jam mix of "Mustang" and the deep retro house of Grooveman's 'spot version' of "Mi Condena".
Review: Cotonete have a reputation for fooling even the most discerning ears, with their deceptively authentic 70s funk sound. They were actually formed in Paris in 2005, but don't let that fact (we're post fact now, right?) get in the way of the fantasy. This nine-piece outfit will have you believing that you're living in the time of purple flares and lime green polyester shirts before you know it. Here we have their latest jam, "Inside Outside", which is a seven-minute brassy, sassy psychedelic mellow meander. Phil Asher meanwhile pops up to lead the Acid Jazz revival on his supremely sick "Soul Fun Band" mix (also comes in instrumental form).
Review: Heavenly Sweetness is a Parisian label spreading colourful music for the soul. They're able to do this by singing such tremendous acts as local 10 pieces jazz outfit Cotonete - fresh from a killer collaboration with the French don of disco himself: Dimitri From Paris. Their new single for the label is the epic "Cabo" which receives an on-point remix by none other than Phil Asher - the UK house music extraordinaire behind such seminal projects like Restless Soul and Focus who merges exotic syncopated rhythms and a cosmic aesthetic that works wonderfully on this euphoric rendition.
Review: Where to start with this one? On their first album proper (not counting a collaborative effort with Simone Mazzer in 2017), French duo Cotonete push jazz-fusion in directions that would have progenitors like Stanley Clarke, Weather Report or Morrissey-Mullen shaking their heads in wonder. With tracks ranging from the languid melancholy of 'Layla' and 'Super-Vilain' to the scorching jazz-funk of 'Last Drink', and from the more traditional jazz stylings of 'Escola Frances Dos Tubaroes' to the Afro-inspired 'Guarani Kaiowa', Super-Vilains is just dripping in invention and musicianship, and likely to find fans right across the jazz community.
Review: Here's something to set the pulse racing: a hot and sticky, two-track collaboration between 10-piece Parisian disco-funk outfit Cotonete and disco-house survivor Dimitri From Paris. "Parribean Disco", a Latin-tinged take on Caribbean disco rich in expansive jazz piano solos (think "Strings of Life", and you're close), pressure-building grooves and rousing horn lines, is undoubtedly the star of the show, though the high octane and fiendishly heavy disco-funk slammer that follows, "The Hustle Parisian" - all "Spank" electric piano stabs, mazy synth solos and layered trumpet riffs - arguably boasts more dancefloor weight. Both are superb, though, and sound like peak-time anthems in waiting.
Review: Things have been fairly quiet in the Dopegems camp since the release of their Necksnappin album one year ago. However they're back with a bang with some new material - a two track single called "Two Ballads" (get it?). As expected the five-piece-band led by Slikk Tim continue to pursue 'that gritty, raw instrumental sound of the '70s', with "Travelling Man" a slow and heavy xylophone-joint, while "Trust Me" opts for a cool, bluesy, guitar jazz-funk vibe. Far out.
Review: Spain's Fabrice Henri, AKA Guts, returns to French label Heavenly Sweetness with a seven-track EP showcasing his trademark blend of world music, jazz, electronic and hip-hop influences. The title track is a sprightly Afro-funk jam that gets a light-touch house makeover on the Poirier Remix, while a rawer funk sound characterises 'L'Origine Du Monde'. Latin/Afro house vibes are the order of the day on the two rubs of 'Mucagiami', 'Corner' is a straight-up Afro workout, while last but by no means least there's 'Nou Menm', a jazzy funk/soul cut with Afro percussion and a spoken, French-language male vocal.
Review: Since making his debut in the mid noughties - some 15 years after he began making beats -Ibiza-based Guts has developed his sound somewhat. Where his early releases doffed a cap to classic trip-hop and downtempo grooves, recent outings have effortlessly joined the dots between live funk, golden era hip-hop and modern soul, with some notable jazz and Latin American influences thrown in. Eternal, his latest full-length, continues this approach, throwing in additional nods to P-funk (the superb "Give You Up"), nu-jazz ("Incomplete"), and Afrobeat ("Dance, Love & Die"). With a string of guest musicians, singers and rappers lending a hand, Eternal is a vibrant, thrill-a-minute album that shows off the full range of Guts' finely honed skills.
Review: Parisian producer GUTS has covered a lot of musical ground over the past decade, from hip-hop to Afro-disco and space jazz, but most recently he's been working with a coterie of top-flight world music players and producers including Cyril Atef and Ben Abarbanel-Wolff. Together they've been touring extensively as a quintet, but they've also found time to record this album, which they describe as "flitting between Brazil, Africa and the Caribbean". The likes of Gilles Peterson or Mr Scruff will no doubt be in raptures, but even if you're not normally a great lover of world music there are still some gems to discover - see fast 'n' furious slap bass workout 'Matadou' for starters.
Take Me Back (feat Leron Thomas & Tanya Morgan) - (2:56) 99 BPM
All Or Nothing (feat Tanya Morgan & Lorine Chia) - (3:46) 95 BPM
Dirty Otter - (3:05) 86 BPM
Give You Up (feat Leron Thomas) - (7:03) 60 BPM
Rest Of My Life (feat Lorine Chia & Tanya Morgan) - (4:15) 80 BPM
Peaceful Life (feat Lorine Chia) - (4:06) 54 BPM
Incomplete (feat Leron Thomas) - (4:49) 115 BPM
Nowhere - (5:09) 74 BPM
Kiss My Converse (feat Tanya Morgan & Leron Thomas) - (3:27) 103 BPM
Epic Poses (feat Leron Thomas) - (4:41) 98 BPM
Every Generation - (4:40) 83 BPM
Desintoxication - (3:38) 89 BPM
Dance, Love & Die - (6:09) 121 BPM
Back To The Streets (Bonus Track) - (5:22) 94 BPM
Score 20 (Bonus Track) - (3:07) 96 BPM
Friends (Bonus Track) - (6:27) 77 BPM
Rest Of My Life (Bonus Track/Acoustic version) - (4:45) 80 BPM
Kiss My Converse (Bonus Track/Fulgeance remix) - (4:29) 51 BPM
Review: Since making his debut in the mid noughties - some 15 years after he began making beats -Ibiza-based Guts has developed his sound somewhat. Where his early releases doffed a cap to classic trip-hop and downtempo grooves, recent outings have effortlessly joined the dots between live funk, golden era hip-hop and modern soul, with some notable jazz and Latin American influences thrown in. Eternal, his latest full-length, continues this approach, throwing in additional nods to P-funk (the superb "Give You Up"), nu-jazz ("Incomplete"), and Afrobeat ("Dance, Love & Die"). With a string of guest musicians, singers and rappers lending a hand, Eternal is a vibrant, thrill-a-minute album that shows off the full range of Guts' finely honed skills.
Porsche 944 (The Vibe Drops remix) - (3:29) 95 BPM
Review: Laurent Bardainne is a French saxophonist who's played in the bands Poni Hoax, Limousine and Lost. Last year his new combo Tigre D'Eau Douce made their debut at a European jazz festival, and how here are the first recorded fruits of their labours. Deep funk meets smooth jazz would be the overall idea, with Bardainne's sax naturally taking centre stage. Jazzbos should head for 'Aot' and 'Marvin' itself, 'Porsche 944' is the pick for the funkateers, while the Vibe Drops Remix of the latter caters for the b-boys and b-girls with an added rap vocal.
