Andrew Ashong - Special

Chandler

Chandler (feat. Yazz Ahmed)

A smoothed out, catchy little downtempo bobber from a cool late-winter night in The Vault.  Makaya bounces on a flammed rimshot, Abrams jumps in quickly with some nice bass chords, Justefan colors the progression with his singing vibraphone harmonies, and Marquis tops it all off with a gorgeous trumpet melody and solo verse.

Recorded on March 5th, 2014 by Dave Vettraino.  Personnel: Makaya McCraven - drums, Joshua Abrams - bass, Justin Thomas - vibraphone, Marquis Hill - trumpet.

Steppe Smoothe

Another New Day (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)

Listen everywhere: https://idol-io.ffm.to/honeywine
Pre-order on Bandcamp: https://sholto2.bandcamp.com/album/sholto-live-at-total-refreshment-centre
Listen to the DeepMatter Catalogue: https://tinyurl.com/dm-catalogue


Pre-order the EP

SHOLTO -  Honey & Wine  (In Session at TRC)

Presenting the third single ‘Ron Song’ taken from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist Don Glori’s forthcoming third album, Paper Can’t Wrap Fire. An ode to Brazil’s musical heritage, it’s Don’s nod to icons and influences including João Donato and Seu George. Samba-flecked, yet with a distinctive Don Glori groove, it’s doused in buttery Rhodes, hazy vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar riffs. Combine that with a serving of long majestic horn lines and the instantly recognisable cuíca and it’s a one-way ticket to Rio’s sunshine-soaked shores. 
 
Speaking about the track, Don mentions, “The thing I love about ‘Ron Song’ is all the ear candy. The Rhodes was routed through the preamp of an original suitcase Rhodes to give it the proper stereo trem it needed. The guitar just breaking through the ribbon mic contrasts against the very digital chorus on the bass. The bass is pushed out to the sides, using every dial tone sample at once. Texturally it feels like an ear massage. 
 
Alcides Neto laid down cuíca throughout the track and fans of Azymuth/Brazilian music in general will appreciate the partido alto underneath the trumpet solo. It’s as if the cuíca and Rhodes are having a conversation in the outro.”


Don Glori - Ron Song

Putting a fresh spin on two tracks from New Regency Orchestra’s standout debut album, Momoko Gill and Samtheman, step up to the plate on remix duties. Two exciting and innovative names rising out of London’s next generation of artists they’ve reimagined NRO’s Afro-Cuban jazz vibrancy in their own personal and distinctive way. Blurring the lines between remix and new production, Momoko turns ‘Para Los Papines’ into a meditative, transportive, percussive cut laced with her ethereal vocals, as Sam flips ‘Sambaroco’ into an Afro house styled groover with Caique and P Wavey on the mic.

London-based drummer/producer/songwriter and vocalist, Momoko Gill, provides the first of the remixes. With an explorative ear and a rejection for imitation, her unique style has seen her collaborating with artists including Matthew Herbert, Coby Sey, Tirzah and Alabaster DePlume. Nourished by elements of NRO’s take on David Amram’s ‘Para Los Papines’, Momoko’s clever sampling of the bass, percussion and horns melds this track into a new dimension. Drawing from a Buddhist myth, her lyrics and intimate voice provide a celestial, mythological touch to the remix.

Talking on the remix Momoko says: “I wanted to make something that feels more like a recontextualization of the original and a continuation of the conversation. Unlike the original which sounds looser and starts with the more jazzy orchestration, NRO’s version kicks straight into the vamp and has a more linear structure, where the orchestrated bits serve as a release of tension as well as a destination. I enhanced that by making a new line through sampling the double bass which, in retrospect, sounds almost like a line you’d hear in grime and used vocal sampling to drive the groove.”

Next up, Samtheman, co-founder of the label/collective Brighter Days Family, takes on ‘Sambaroco’. Sam’s genre-bending productions are both inspired by, and experimenting with, sounds from around the globe. Reworking the groove into an Afro house rhythm, Sam invites two emerging young artists with ties to Brighter Days Family, Caique and P Wavey, to take to the mic and add a new, vocal-led flavour to the remix. 

Sam mentions, “Together in the studio, we listened to the original version by Tito Puente, Caique came up with a phrase inspired by the name of the tune. “Ela me faz samba roco, Ela me faz samba loco…” Then the rest of the vocal parts started flowing. Continuing to use the name of the original for inspiration, P Wavey begins his verse with, “Sambaroco-ni, now everybody just follow me…” In my mind, the original is a salsa song that is about carnival, or a salsa interpretation of carnival, in particular Brazilian carnival hence the title of the song.”

More than just reworks, these tracks are conversations, between continents, cultures, and genres, through the forward-thinking lens of two of London’s rising stars.


New Regency Orchestra - Para Los Papines (Momoko Gill Remix)

“Moving Circles” is a walk across the desert—a conversation between friends in the heat, where sharp guitar lines meet smooth trumpet tones. Producer-composer-instrumentalists Jack Barone and Andy Baxter (Robohands) dive into eastern-inspired psychedelia, fusing ancient scales with synths and modern techniques to create something both timeless and new.

Moving Circles

This one was an unexpected treat. Two of our favourite contemporary musicians, Finn Rees & Sholto coming together and collaborating on a double dose of celestial, cinematic alchemy.

At Mr Bongo we are massive admirers of drummer, musician, and producer Sholto (Oscar Robertson). His two albums on Funk Night Records and DeepMatter Records, had both been highlights of their respective years. We’d gotten to know Oscar and sent him a few records. Included in the package was Australian pianist-composer Finn Rees’ debut album, Dawn Is A Melody, which was one of our favourite releases on Mr Bongo in 2024.

In Oscar's words 'For me it was a standout modern jazz record - encapsulating a spiritual / hazy dreamy soundscape which hugely resonated with me. Glissando keys and harp with lush melodies, I was instantly intrigued.”  

The pair started following each other online and as luck would have it, Finn was staying in London for the summer season, so they arranged to meet. The pair instantly clicked and said it felt like they'd known each other for years. After 40 minutes of chatting, they started to jam. 

'Love In Memory' and 'Bluebell' were recorded over two days - a track a day in Oscar's SFJ studios. Laid down on mostly analogue equipment, the pair utilised Wurlitzer’s, mellotrons, and ribbon mics through Oscar’s ‘70s Studer desk. Composed and crafted without any real intentions, other than a shared appreciation for the same style of music and approach, the tracks started to take shape. The results were as lush, nostalgic and textured as you’d expect from these two brilliant musicians, with a classical feel inspired by artists such as Piero Piccioni, Piero Umiliani, and Henry Mancini. 

For the beautiful string arrangements, the pair recruited the talents of Sholto's long-time friend and collaborator Clementine Brown (Penguin Cafe Orchestra) and Matthew Hayes of 30/70, Allysha Joy, Xpress Point, Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange fame, was brought in to play bass on 'Bluebell'.

So here we have it, a chance collaborative project built on two musicians' mutual respect for each other's outputs. The result is truly breathtaking.


Finn Rees & Sholto - Love In Memory

'Life's Dancers' (Floating Points Remix)Out Now -
Ninjashop / Stream / Download: https://theinvisible.lnk.to/ldfpSo

Taken from 'Life's Dancers' 12" released 2nd September 2016 via Ninja Tune.

'Patience' Out Now - 
Ninjashop / Stream / Download: https://theinvisible.lnk.to/patienceSo

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Life’s Dancers

Life’s Dancers (Floating Points Remix)

A beautiful jazzed out number floating between hip hop and dub influences. Taken from the debut collaborative effort from South London musicians Joe Armon-Jones and Maxwell Owin. Out 8th September via @yamrecords.

Read more: http://bit.ly/JoeArmonJonesMaxwellOwinIdiom

Listen On YouTube

Joe Armon-Jones & Maxwell Owin feat. Oscar Jerome - Idiom (STW Premiere)

Independent record label based in London.

LPs + Merch 👇
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