The Melbourne scene just keeps on delivering. The latest act to grab our attention is Close Counters, Finn Rees & Allan McConnell exciting duo. 

Following the success of their collaboration with Allysha Joy on "Speak In Truth", the duo deliver another broken house meets soul heater on 'Something In My Drink', the second single to be taken from their forthcoming 'FLUX' EP. 

Over a broken house groove, Melbourne based singer Jaydean sings of a night turned sour. JAYDEAN has previously collaborated with the likes of Kaiit, Sampa The Great and SZA. 

The duo describe The EP as a continuation of "our deeper exploration of dance and house music, projecting positivity through rhythm and song writing. 

Having started playing live with a full band during the development of this project we have incorporated a lot more live playing in these recordings. 

With a background in jazz we thrive off the spontaneity of jamming and improvising when developing our music and are constantly trying to find the sweet spot between multiple musical worlds of groove.”

Pre-Order

Exclusive Premiere: Close Counters (Feat. JAYDEAN) "Something In My Drink"

Late last year Toby Glider a.k.a Liquid Pegasus released his phenomenal album; Novelty on CityBaby Records . This was listed as one of Aswad's favourites of 2020 and was one of the most notable releases across the board. On the show Aswad and Toby Glider get together and discuss about the makings of the album, influences, Japanese 80's culture and even the notorious artwork created by Chris Hopkins + more! The show also features new music from a talented roster including Frankfurt Funk, Madd3e, Big Jacks, Kutcorners, Angela Apigo and Soul Supreme.

S3 EP5 - Toby Glider

Get it on Traxsource: http://www.traxsource.com/title/584146/manga-electrika

"Manga Electrika is the newest outfit of Bulgarian-born, Bali-based keyboardist, DJ and producer Martin Denev.

After the glam space funk of his previous project Audio Flirt, also released on Imagenes Recordings, here Martin delivers a solid blend of disco, boogie and house full of sparkling, sumptuous synths. Backed up by the powerful soulful vocals of Bertha and the sensual husky flow of Özlem Esen, Martin moves slickly in the realm of original production, throwing in some toasty analogue Moogs and '80 synthesizers, spiced up by jazz-funk chord progressions.

With two remixes by some of the masters in the genre - Pete Herbert's dancefloor friendly take on "Don Believe (Everything You Think)" and the signature future boogie bounce of Opolopo on "Bring That Summer Back", Manga Electrika Vol.1 is a serious contender for some proper feel good times extravaganza!

Track 1 Don't Believe (Everything You Say) Original Version
Track 2 Bring That Summer Back Original Version
Track 3 Bakabon
Track 4 Don't Believe (Everything You Say)Pete Herbert Remix
Track 5 Bring That Summer Back (Opolopo Remix)"

https://soundcloud.com/martindenev
https://soundcloud.com/imagenes-co-uk

www.facebook.com/opoloposweden

OUT NOW! Martin Denev feat. Bertha - Bring That Summer Back (OPOLOPO Remix, snippet)

REEL PEOPLE MUSIC are delighted to welcome the incredible ZO! to the label for a exciting remix collaboration with our very own REEL PEOPLE.

Multi-Instrumentalist/Producer ZO! from the wonderful FOREIGN EXCHANGE family is Detroit-area born and raised, LORENZO FERGUSON. 

Influenced by a wide range of music genres introduced to him at an early age, ZO! utilizes multiple layers of thick instrumentation to shape his compositions, as demonstrated on his solo albums namely, MANMADE, SUNSTORM and his superb latest offering SKYBREAK.

After falling in love with ZO!’s new album SKYBREAK, label boss and REEL PEOPLE main man OLI LAZARUS cherry picked 4 of his favourites and set to remix along with production partner TONI ECONOMIDES and long time collaborator MIKE PATTO. The results are now here folks!!


Zo! Remixed by Reel People

Starlight (Reel People’s Boogie Bounce)

Download/Stream

Zo! feat. Phonte – Starlight (Reel People’s Boogie Bounce)

Dimensions Recordings’ fifth release sees the label step into the world of the longplayer with Istanbul native, KEREM AKDAG’s self titled debut album.

Kerem has already been winning fans of the ilk of Gilles Peterson through his output of dusty house and tripped out beats in the last few years, and of course via his Getdownsoclose offering on Dimensions’ debut release. His debut album however, sees Kerem deliver a mature piece of work, bright and timeless, equally effective in the club as it is at home and brimming with ideas, hooks and must have songs.

Across eight tracks Kerem demonstrates a breadth of skills that most artists would work a lifetime to achieve. From the stepping beats of When I Think Of You to his subtle vocal layers on Isolated and from the woozy beach vibes of Sultan to the rasping synths of Unite it’s clear that there’s very little that’s outside of Kerem’s arsenal. The album rounds out fittingly with Drums Please, which perfectly displays Kerem’s jazz tendencies, a slow grooving track whose crescendo of stabs and drums create a song that’s more powerful than its parts.

Kerem Akdag’s debut album clearly sets out the stall for a man who has a lot to say and has the capability to say it loud!

A1 Kerem Akdag - When I Think Of You

Brand new bruk banger from Kuna Maze, “Something To Say” meshes broken beat with the romantic edge of rhythmic Brazilian-funk. Forthcoming on the “Backward” EP for Tru Thoughts. Released 13th August.

“Backward” is a new direction for Kuna Maze and a new chapter for the artist. “It’s a look backwards to go forwards” explains Edouard Gilbert aka Kuna Maze. “It’s the first time on my solo project, that I’m using my background and training as a jazz musician.” Shedding off the post-dubstep sound that was linked to Kuna Maze’s initial success in his hometown of Brussels, “Backward” see’s the DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist return to his roots, applying his studies of jazz at the Chambery Conservatory in France, to his musicianship and work.

“I want to make music that makes people want to dance. That’s why I love broken beat because it’s at the meeting point between jazz and dance music”. It’s not just broken beat that seeps through on the record, pockets of UKG/garage, house and jazz-fusion amalgamate into the sonic palette of “Backward”; direct influences can be heard from the likes of Domu, Moodymann, Azymuth and Horsepower Productions.

Having just released a collaborative album with French-producer Nikitch titled ‘Débuts' which saw the duo win over tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Nemone, Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6Music), Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra), Tim Garcia (Jazz FM) plus many more, Kuna Maze was motivated to add more live-elements into his productions, using the energy from this project and their extensive time on the road.

The EP artwork, by sculptor, painter and friend - Cedric Esturillo, evokes feelings of both nostalgia and modernity (a sentiment echoed in the music) through the use of collage and aerograph painting. “Aerograph was used a lot for jazz-fusion album covers in the 70s such as Miles Davis – 'Bitches Brew' and Herbie Hancock – 'Thrust', and with this EP I was looking back for the first time – so aesthetically it made complete sense to me.”

Backward EP

Exclusive Premiere: Kuna Maze "Something To Say" (Forthcoming on Tru Thoughts)

Retroflection Remixed

Twilight (Atjazz Love Soul Remix)

Buy / Stream it here: https://orcd.co/happysongremixes

Following the release of ‘Happy Song’, the first single from forthcoming album ‘Break The Wall’, MF Robots reveal the full extended version of the song alongside remixes from Kenny Dope, Kaidi Tatham and Daz-I-Kue.

It’s only right that Kenny Dope should be the first producer to remix Jan Kincaid and Dawn Joseph’s new MF Robots project, considering the trio’s shared musical history. Kenny Dope began reworking Jan’s ‘Brand New Heavies’ material back in the early 90’s as one half of Masters At Work, helping the band reach club-land over and over again with a series of iconic remixes, recorded during the golden era of MAW’s output.

It’s no surprise then that there’s more than a hint of that special, Latin sunshine-infused mid-90’s House sound in Kenny’s rework of Happy Song, which showcases Dawn’s impeccable vocals over an infectious rhythm track and ultra-funky horn stabs. An instrumental version of Kenny’s mix is also included for the House purists, as well as the full, extended original version of Happy Song, packed with tight musicianship and more than its fair share of great grooves.

Pioneers of the UK Broken Beat movement and contributors to its most emblematic group, Bugz In The Attic, it seems almost inconceivable that Kaidi Tatham & Daz-I-Kue have never actually worked on a remix together before. As strange as it may sound, it’s true, and their powerhouse rework of ‘Happy Song’ is most definitely worth the wait.

About MF Robots:

Meeting in 2013 while recording and performing with one of the UK’s most commercially successful Acid Jazz bands, legendary UK drummer Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph discovered immediate musical chemistry and began writing songs together right away. They soon left the band to concentrate on their own work, starting MF Robots (Music For Robots) and releasing an eponymous debut in 2018. The album was so well received that the duo soon morphed into a band as they found themselves in-demand at venues and festivals all over Europe.

Forthcoming long player ‘Break The Wall’ represents a new benchmark for Jan and Dawn, reflecting the MF Robots project coalescing and maturing while fine-tuning their material, both on the road and in the studio.

Happy Song Remixes

MF Robots - Happy Song (Kaidi Tatham & Daz-I-Kue Remix)

Buy / Stream it here: https://orcd.co/underwaterdreaming

Transatlantic duo Sons of the Sun make their BBE debut with warm and soulful hip hop single ‘Underwater Dreaming,’ taken from their forthcoming self-titled album.

A tender, sensual celebration of connection and desire, ‘Underwater Dreaming’ evokes the sounds of contemporary R&B, fused with Southeast London’s signature jazz vibes. Their unique aesthetic stands out- the entire album is recorded with honest, organic musicianship, an homage to the much loved old skool sample sound, reflected back through multi-instrumentation. Sons of the Sun is a collaboration between American singer-songwriter JTronius and British producer Maverick Quest, featuring an inspired selection of luminary guests and musicians. Delivered remotely following a chance meeting on music-tech networking app ‘Brapp’, the ingenious pair sent files back and forth between Texas andSouth East London to create their shared vision for the project. Remarkably, the duo have yet to meet in person.

A respected solo artist knighted by Bootsy Collins as an official ‘funkateer,’ Berklee College graduate JTronius is an extravagant entertainer, songwriter and entrepreneur. Self-dubbed The Guvna of the Galaxy, he brings his swaggy, soulful style to all his endeavours. He has shared stages with LL Cool J, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Pharrell, Busta Rhymes and Damian Marley and is an accomplished actor, appearing in a number of successful Hollywood feature films.

Genre-blending record producer and multi-instrumentalist Maverick Quest is a coveted artist with 20 years of experience in the music industry. He grew up immersed in the aesthetic of hip hop, but in an environment where flipping loops from vinyl was standard, developing his musicianship to create his own sounds was radical, a move that paved the way for his signature sonic. Maverick Quest has previously performed with and produced for Guru, Grandmaster Flash, Ice T, Ibibio Sound Machine, Solo Rosa and Portico Quartet to name but a few and is firmly rooted in the epicentre of the burgeoning South East London jazz movement.

Mixed by Grammy-nominated Clinton “Ubiquity” McCreery and mastered at Grammy-awarded studio The Carvery, ‘Underwater Dreaming’ features celebrated musicians such as Scottish Group ‘The Brass Cats’, Washington DC’s Reginald Payne (aka Bass Negus), with Philly neo-soul stalwart and Lauryn Hill, Bilal collaborator Dai Miyazaki. Accompanied by an official video by Nathalie Gordon, the debut single ‘Underwater Dreaming’ from Sons of the Sun offers an enticing first taste of what’s to come from this exciting new musical partnership.

Underwater Dreaming

Sons of the Sun - Underwater Dreaming

For the last show of the year it would only be right to celebrate all of the great music released within the last 12 months. With a wide selection of Modern Funk, Soul, Jazz Funk though to reissues of forgotten classics/new treasures - it's a good wrap up to a tough year. Featuring a roster of talented artists and musicians including Andre Solomko, Buscrates, The Funky Drive Band, Soul Supreme, Aldorande, Maya Killtron and XL Middleton to name a few!

TRACKLIST:
Andre Solomko - Recalling You (extended disco version)
Buscrates - How Ya Gonna Do It
The Funky Drive Band - Lost Generation
E. Live - Rollin Steady
Ourra & The Gravity Drive - Underneath The Neon Moon
Max Zuckerman - Airplane Girl
Love Touch Family ft Saucy Lady - I Got Your Back (U-Key Re-Touch) 
Temu - Ready or Not
Joanna Rose - Love Affair
Diamond Ortiz - I’m The One You Need
Leonard Charles & Zackery Force Funk - My 45 (7 inches of love)
High Frequency - Summertime
Premonition - Don’t Act Like a Fool
E.S. Funk - Shake your body (at the disco)
Akira Freeze - Tell me baby
Pepin ft Sauce81 - Galaxy Drive
Soul Supreme - Lyrics to Go
Kamaal Williams ft Lauren Faith - Hold On
Yussef Dayes - For My Ladies
Space Ghost - Girl U Hypnotize Me
Special Touch - That Special Touch (625Mix)
Misses Misty - Mellow Mellow Ride On 
Social Lovers - Love Come Down
Tsuruoka Ryu - Omae
Brainstory - Runaway
Henrietta Thomas - I Want You (Right Now)
Aldorande - Summer Body
Dj Frane - Straight to the Head
Maya Killtron - The Middle (Diamond Ortiz Remix)
XL Middleton ft Zackery Force Funk - Shotgun Lover (12” Mix)

S2 EP20 - Last but not least

With the vast amount of new music released in the past weeks, the show features a top draw selection of talented artists including Saucy Lady, K-Maxx, Morgan, XL Middleton, First Touch, Soul Supreme, Dam Funk, The Vapor Caves, The Jack Moves + more! I also sit down and catch up with Walla P about Prime Source and have a sneak preview into some of the new things lined up coming in the next month. Aswad also shares some close to the heart favourites from the collection (of course ☺️)

S3 EP2 - Business As Usual

Join the BBE Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/yfBFX

Founded in 1996 by Peter Adarkwah, Barely Breaking Even (BBE Music) started life as a London club night, taking its name from the eponymous Disco record by the Universal Robot Band.

The label grew from the vibrant early 90's club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series' such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales.

A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work's 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks.

A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am's first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players.

A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Morales among many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles.

The label’s most recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of 'Barely Breaking Even', featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega.

In 2021 BBE Music is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the label is offering up some special projects, from the 20th Anniversary edition of J Dilla’s ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’, through David Bowie tribute album ‘Modern Love’, to a special new ‘Worldwide’ compilation from old friend Gilles Peterson. BBE Music will also be looking to the future with more exciting original artist projects, plus merch collaborations events and more...

MF Robots - Happy Song (Kaidi Tatham & Daz-I-Kue Remix)

BBE Music

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