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
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".
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.
Review: In what could be seen by some as a slightly bizarre turn of events; DJ Deep and Romain Poncet's harder edged EBM project Sergie Rezza surfaces on Heavenly Sweetness - a label outta Paris known for its taste in spiritual jazz, world music and contemporary reissues. For others though, it makes complete sense. Deep and Poncet have just come off remixing the Parisian jazz-funk ensemble Cotonete individually, who in duality give "Layla" a 'hell'l and 'heaven' of a time. Lifted from Cotonete's Super-Vilians album (2019) Sergie Rezza delve into their hardcore style of electronic drums and basslines with a gnarly, acid-biting rework in the 'In Hell' version, with a percussive and equally effective alternative hit in the 'In Hell No Kick' mix. Find an ethereal, ambient cutting room floor bonus version in Rezz'a 'Heaven' mix. Heavenly hotness.
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: French eight-piece Cotonete, a cult 00s phenomenon who reformed three years ago, serve up a second EP featuring remixes of tracks from their 2019 long-player 'Super-Villains'. Up first are two takes on 'Layla' (nothing to do with the Derek & The Dominoes rock classic): Alex Attias's pass is a summery, lounge-y affair, while DJ Deep & Romain Poncet's Dub reinvents the track in actual, proper dub style. The EP's then completed by the Alex Notal Remix of 'Last Drink', an unhurried shuffler that sits somewhere between funk, house and lounge. The perfect soundtrack for a summer BBQ, even if it is on Zoom!
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: If you like your deep house drenched in soul and leaning towards the Afro side of things then brother (or sister), you've come to the right place. Vocalist, guitarist, DJ and producer David Walters is a Marseilles native of Afro-Caribbean extraction who's supported the likes of Jamiroquai, Morcheeba and Les N?gresses Vertes, and the wistful, trumpet- and piano-sprinkled 'Krye Mwen' is surely destined for anthem status on the South African scene. Aroop Roy and Patchworks serve up remixes that lean in slightly tuffer/housier and more lavish nu-disco directions, respectively, while the final mix is a tribal/percussive rub from Walters himself.
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.
