Review: Both of these funk gems are taken from a cult compilation Trans Groove Express, which explored the sounds of Express Records and was assembled by MURO. Fourth Wave now serve them up on a superb 7", starting with Maki Asakawa. 'Hohi Hitotsu' is a delightfully gentle and subtle dub with funky guitars adding movement while the sultry vocal soars. Yasuhiro Abe's 'Night Fish' is a brighter and more retro 80s soul and boogie sound with glowing chords and snappy hits. The Japanese language vocal is emotive enough to mean plenty without understanding the meaning of the words.
Review: Yoi keep it fresh with a new 12" that comes on a rather nice picture disc. More importantly the music is of a quality that merits the extra attention on the packaging with four artists all coming through with compelling takes on minimal. Mariche's 'Haunted House' is awash with nice bubbly synth phrases that are full of colour and charm, then Sbruf's 'That Think' gets funked up and kinetic on lively drum programming with lots of hooky synth details and sci-fi flourishes. Watsche's 'Bsmtgrvs' is another glossy hyper-real sound with polished melodies and a restless sense of groove and Yogi P keeps it deep with the soulful pads of 'Vickies Groove.'
Review: Brian Dougans and Garry Cobain, the masterminds behind Future Sound of London, return with The Pulse EP Vol 3, a reissue of their classic work under various aliases on the Jumpin' & Pumpin' label. This highly anticipated 12" features tracks that showcase their 90s techno brilliance. Side-1 opens with Smart Systems' 'Tingler' (Four By Four mix), a dark, sinister track that channels Beltram's 'hover' sound into a hardcore rave anthem. Indo Tribe's 'Owl' (I Can See You mix) follows, hailed by fans as one of the greatest breakbeat hardcore tracks ever made, a retro-classic loaded with chunky, energetic beats and an unforgettable sample. Side-2 kicks off with Indo Tribe's 'Bite The Bullet Baby' (Jacques Reynoix mix), another gem that blends early 90s rave energy with a unique edge. The real highlight, however, is Yage's 'Calcium' (Elementary mix), which first appeared on Future Sound of London's Accelerator album. Even today, it sounds transcendental and timeless, its melodic piano lines and otherworldly ambiance continuing to win over listeners. This EP is a vital piece of underground rave history and an essential listen for fans of early techno and breakbeat hardcore.
Review: Insense has put together a tidy 7" featuring a rendition of Pharoah Sanders' 'Moon Child' which was first specially crafted for the compilation album Incense Music for Bed Room. It is a lush and spiritual sound led by gorgeous wind instruments and fluttery melodies over gentle and persuasive rhythms. On the flip, Yoshiharu Takeda's 'Bliss Of Landing' is another escapist sound with more of the same. A lovely 45 rpm for those quiet moments.
The Great Marmalade Mama In The Sky (Yage remix) (5:15)
Wooden Ship (Yage remix) (5:37)
Review: This package of remixes of tunes from Translations is a real gem for lovers of Future Sound of London. plenty of familiar samples and textures are worked into the five Yage remixes as are cosmic overtones, sitars, drones, backward guitars and more. 'The Big Blue' is a woozy intergalactic sound on slow-mo beats, 'Requiem' is a worldly dub, 'The Lovers' has psyched-out lead riffs that bring prog energy and 'The Great Marmalade Mama In The Sky' has drunken tabla drums and mesmeric strings for a perfect retro-future comedown. 'Wooden Ship' is a spine-tingling sound with choral vocals bringing the celestial charm.
Review: When Tatsuro Yamashita first released 'Christmas Eve' in 1983, it didn't receive a huge amount of attention. It was only when the track was picked up for an advert in the late 80s that it caught on became a seasonal favourite in Japan, going on to become one of Yamashita's biggest hits. Now it's being repressed in this 40th anniversary commemorative edition right in time for the impending festive season, featuring a bonus version of the B-side version of 'White Christmas' recorded for the Happy Xmas Show. If you want a quintessential ingredient for the Japanese Christmas experience, look no further.
Review: Brownswood Recordings return to focus on Yussef Dayes and co. for their latest release. Live At Joshua Tree is Dayes' latest live album, capturing the jazz musician and drummer's stellar live performance while posted up slap-bang in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park in California, USA. With the music canopied by this natural desert amphitheater, the sound of the album is fittingly warm and dry, catching the tones of every instrumentalist to a muted, temperate T: there's bass from Rocco Palladino, sax by Malik Venna, keys by Elijah Fox and percs by Alexander Bourt. Make sure to catch the live video version of the album on YouTube.
Review: Made up of Jun Miyake and Ichiko Aoba's live sessions held in Tokyo in November 2016 and the following February 2017, Pneuma consists of valuable recordings that had only been released in high-resolution format for distribution; the record is now finally released in vinyl format here on P-Vine. The first performance in January featured Tatsuhisa Yamamotoon on drums and the second in February made up a quartet formation with the addition of bassist Hitoshi Watanabe. The two ultra-talented musicians provide us a glimpse into how the music of Jun Miyake and Ichiko Aoba is made and this record breathes into their practice a new life.
The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing
Yonders
Supreme Alchemy
Freequency (with Black Thought)
No Fear Of Time (with Yummy Bingham)
Review: No Fear of Time, the long-awaited sophomore album from the legendary hip-hop duo Black Star, is finally available in physical formats, including a stunning gatefold LP. After a digital-only debut in 2022, this release celebrates the dynamic collaboration between yasiin bey and Talib Kweli, who first captured hearts with their iconic 1998 album. Produced by Madlib, No Fear of Time showcases the duo's evolved artistry, recorded in diverse locations worldwide, including hotel rooms and backstage at Dave Chappelle's shows. The album's unique style flows seamlessly, with tracks like 'So be it' and 'Sweetheart. Sweethard. Sweetodd', igniting old-school vibes while addressing contemporary issues with sharp wit. With their powerful reunion, Black Star reaffirms their influential status in hip-hop, reminding listeners of the genre's rich cultural depth.
Review: The celebration of this series continues with a reissue of the second installment of the legendary Christmas salsa album. Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe returned here to bring the unique sounds that made Volume I a Latin music classic. For this one, Colon and Lavoe were joined by renowned cuatro player Yomo Toro and legendary percussionists Milton Cardona and Jose Mangual Jr. Together, they crafted salsa versions of beloved Puerto Rican Christmas songs while mixing traditional musica jibara with Cuban guaguanco, son montuno and African-American jazz. It delivers on all fronts with vibrant, festive blends that bring real Puerto Rican authenticity to salsa fans worldwide.
Review: Pierre-Alexandre Busson, a producer known for his multifaceted talents in both music and photography, steps further into his Destiino alias with a darkly ambient collection that stretches across downbeat house, industrial electronica and melancholic disco. Having made his name in the world of French electro, Busson's transition to Destiino was marked by an exploration of improvised compositions following his participation in a sound installation at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017. This shift from his previous styles allowed him to dive deeper into moody, atmospheric landscapes. The current project, released under CHLOE's Lumiere Noire imprint, comes as a continuation of this artistic exploration, breaking from the dancefloor-driven energy of his past work to embrace a more introspective and expansive approach. Opening with 'Yokohama,' Busson sets a pensive tone, layering soft synths over a minimalist beat. 'My Crush' follows with a reflective yet upbeat mood, while 'Somlake' (feat. Inigo Vontier) weaves light, meditative textures. 'Transe Has No Speed' dives into dense atmospherics and 'Imagery' introduces a rhythmic, bodily groove. The second side offers 'Musique Electronique Repetitive,' using looping motifs to create a trance effect, while 'La Houle' brings fluidity and 'Morning Routine' soothes with its gentle vibe. 'Pulsar' (feat. Inigo Vontier) pulses with cosmic rhythms, and 'No Pain' closes with a melancholy, reflective note.
Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - "That's How I Feel" (3:38)
Soul Media - "Memory Lane" (4:23)
Jiro Inagaki & The All-Stars - "Barock" (3:06)
Jiro Inagaki & Aki & Big Soul Media - "Guru" (6:23)
Soul Media - "Painted Paradise" (6:44)
Jiro Inagaki & His Friends - "Express" (No SE version) (3:34)
Review: Japanese jazzmasuta Jiro Inagaki is graced by a stunning new tribute album via 180g, Legends, which celebrates his 90th birthday in 16-track compilation form. Made up entirely of works made between 1968 and 1980, and selected by DJ and producer Yusuke Ogawa, this is an album made almost entirely of Jiro's best-known instrumentals, not least a formerly unreleased version of the standout 'Express'. The recordings are impeccable, and this is a standard which does not waver over the entire 12-year period this LP spans.
Storm Before The Calm (feat Kaidi Akinnibi) (3:01)
Review: As fast-rising underground stars in their own right, you'd expect any collaborative album from soul-fired South London singer/songwriter/beat-maker Tom Misch and prolific jazz drummer Yussef Dayes (best known for his now long-running collaboration with Kamaal Williams) to be rather good. "What Kinda Music" is, with the pair mixing and mangling elements of soul, jazz-funk, electronica and jazz, a set that defies easy categorisation. Both musicians exceed themselves throughout, with tipsy electronics, sweeping strings, bass, effects-laden guitars, woozy synth lines and Misch's heartfelt, soul-flecked vocals offering a perfect foil for Dayes' loose-limbed, headline-grabbing drumming.
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