Radio Martiko Belgium Schallplatten & CDs

Review: We all love a good fusion record but this one is truly special from Morton & The Uptights. Jazz, ska, funk, rock and soul all feature on the only two songs ever written by this outstanding band. It was lead by the American organist and pianist Scott Bradford alongside musicians from the Jess and James band, with the extra addition of Belgian jazz legend Philippe Catherine playing the guitar. 'Taurus' is a bubbling rhythm led by subtle horn stabs, with just a hint of samba, jazz keys and plenty of percussion all sprinkled into the mix. 'Montego' is another distillation of myriad different sounds and influences from around the world into a real dance floor heater.

Review: It would be fair to say that very few people - in Europe and the U.S at least - know much about the Egyptian music scene of the 1960s. This compilation, then, should be something of an eye-opener to all of those with an interest in musical movements from around the world. What's perhaps most interesting is the surprisingly "global" nature of the influences on show. Check, for example, the jaunty bossanova rhythms underpinning Salim El Baroudi's "Fatouma", the humid Arabic jazz flex of Abd Al Fattah Mensi's "Leyla", the tango style accordions of Al Thourathy Al Mareh's "Asmar Ya Sukkar" and the wonderfully over-the-top easy listening orchestration that leaps out from Magda Ali's "Nafourak Ya Ghazal (A Nubian Love Song Part 1)".