Back catalogue: Balearic/Downtempo

Review: A new song by the acclaimed DJ Mitsu The Beats (a member of Sendai's hip-hop crew Gagle) and rapper Sorane, 'Daily Meets' is a chillaxed, fluid lo-hi-fi hip-hop tonic for those whose ears require polishing, refreshing and/or full-blown aneling in the morning. Getting at a quotidian "everyday life" themes - bleary eyes, coffee shop hissings, cutlery tinkles, long gazes out the window - this jazzy track blends sharp lyricism with repetitious slice-of-life themes, finding joy in those life periods that the less patient among us dare to call groundhog days. Backed up by the instrumental too, you're more than well equipped for both DJ and home system play here.

Review: More quality grooves from Washington DC label specializing in reissuing obscure and unknown 70s and 80s dance music. This time around is Dreamcast who are Davon Bryant in conjunction with Swedish guy Sasac aka King Al. "Liquid Deep" is sexy late night deep funk the way it was always intended and Bryant's smooth as silk vocals are just like... Wow! So with Dreamcast on the vocals and Sasac on the beat, we are hoping there's more things on the way from this trans coastal duo in 2017.

Review: Who can deny anything Roy Ayers, really? Japanese pianist and electronic music producer Kan Sano reworks the American soul, funk and jazz legend's infamous hit "Everybody Loves The Sunshine". He breaks down the sugar-dusted original into something freeform, downtempo and acid jazz leaning, while on the flip, "Music Overflow", sounds exactly like a production you would make after being inspired by sunshine, soul, Roy Ayers and a room full of drum machines and synthesisers.

Review: Japan's Fourth Wave Record Factory sure does know how to serve up brilliantly beguiling sounds that ate you well out of your here and now. Next up is this, 'Dondon Bushi' 7" by Shoukichi Kina, Champloo and Tomoko Kina that explores a mix of Okinawan traditional sounds and modern grooves. The Mbira dance mix of the A-side jam is a bubbly rhythm with worldly percussion and soulful melodies that echo folk majesty and are topped with a wonderful weird vocal from Shoukichi Kina. On the flip, there is a more lazy and downtempo style dub rhythm, 'Tie Island' (No Man's Island mix) which is another worldly trip.

Review: Benny Sings' eighth studio album, Music, is a breezy and charming collection that showcases his knack for crafting catchy pop-soul tunes. Collaborations with artists like Mac Demarco and Emily King add depth to the album, highlighting Benny's songwriting strengths, while the album's sound gravitates towards blue-eyed soul and yacht rock, characterised by sunny melodies and hip-hop-infused beats. While Benny's songs exude a feelgood vibe, their lyrical content is special when particularly he is exploring themes of love. Standout tracks like 'Rolled Up' and 'Miracles' benefit from the infusion of personality brought by guest artists like Mac Demarco and Emily King, who add depth and dimension to Benny's compositions. The album's collaborations and Benny's signature style make for an enjoyable listening experience.

Review: If you don't know William Dorey already then chances are you're about to realise you've been missing out on quite the artist. Working as Skinshape, he's managed to garner a quiet cult following for his relatively quiet music, designed to unwind to, allow worries of the day to unwind, and dissipate into a concoction of psychedelic pop, downtempo electronica and dubby grooves.
Turn Away, a two-track single featuring titular piece and 'Dreams of Panama' is the latest case in point. Sublime melodies and deceptively advanced acoustic guitar work set to lackadaisical rhythms and beat patterns, soothing brass and synthesised strings helping capture a real mood. Which, specifically, is all about slowing down, and taking time to appreciate the moment. Designed to transport you to far away places, real and imagined, it sounds reductive to say these are bonafide travelling tunes but they are. The real joy is they also sound incredible when standing still.

Review: Slowly teams up with Swish Jaguar to deliver a stunning cover of Wee's mellow soul classic 'You Can Fly On My Aeroplane.' This dreamy lovers' soul track beautifully blends vintage vibes with modern flair, featuring the talkbox talents of Swish Jaguar (aka Sam Wish), known for his work with Tuxedo. The collaboration shines with Yusuke Hirado's smooth Fender Rhodes and Tsuyoshi Kosuga's versatile guitar and bass work, creating a lush, nostalgic soundscape.Side-1's vocal track exudes warmth and elegance, perfect for setting the mood at any soul or funk set. On Side-2, the instrumental version offers DJs a versatile tool to weave into their mixes. With its impeccable musicianship and timeless appeal, this 7" bridges the gap between classic soul and contemporary groove.

Review: The Nunorthern Soul label heads into its second decade of operation and does so by welcoming back label regular Benjamin J Smith. He's a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer whose sound tick all of the textbook Balearic boxes but with a little extra magic. He shows that again here with 'Marina Del Rey', a gloriously sunny sound with lavish and lush strings and gently swaying grooves with a mix of 60s and Library vibes. On the flip is the even more horizontal 'Big Sur' with its romantic melodic breeze and intoxicating instrumental leads all backed by rich vocals.

Review: If you can't make it to the Kazakh steppe to watch the launch of the actual Soyuz spacecraft, the next best thing is to immerse yourself in this spacey, dreamy, blissed out psychedelic instrumental music with a 70s AOR touch and send your imagination on a voyage. Minsk collective Soyuz have some seriously strong musical chops and subsequently can bring in guest appearances from the sensational Biel Basile of the rising Brazilian group Sessa and Anthony Ferraro (Toro Y Moi, Astronauts, Etc.). They fit into the mixes beautifully, sounding like they've been part of the group their whole lives. It's a real gem of a release and a likely future collectible 7" from the Brighton-based independent label Mr Bongo.

Review: This 7-inch single, plucked from the 'Seaside Chillout Breeze' compilation, offers a taste of summery bliss. Side A features TAMTAM's delightful cover of Mad Professor's dub masterpiece 'Sweet Cherry'. The Tokyo-based band infuses the track with their signature colourful grooves, adding steel pans for an extra touch of seaside charm. Flip the record over for Seahawks' 'No More Raindrops (Steel Pan Dub)', a slice of Balearic bliss that evokes a carefree summer vibe. Together, these two tracks capture the essence of the compilation, offering a perfect soundtrack for seaside relaxation.