Wait for Us

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

'VANDAL', out now on Ninja Tune: https://cortoalto.lnk.to/vandalSo

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VANDAL

The first single to be taken from СОЮЗ (SOYUZ)'s enthralling fourth album KROK, sees the release of the emotive and personal title track. “Krok” means “step” in Belarusian - and for Alex Chumak and his band this word comes with a lot of meaning. It’s a theme running throughout the album, reflecting the journeys the band has navigated in recent years. 
 
In early 2022, Chumak and original members, Mikita Arlou and Anton Nemahai, joined tens of thousands of Belarusians seeking safety from the political unrest in their homeland and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Resettling in Warsaw, the band released Force of the Wind in October 2022, garnering widespread acclaim, a string of major European gigs, and led to Polish musicians Albert Karch and Igor Wiśniewski joining the band.
 
Embracing the uncertainty became both the inspiration and main lyrical theme for Alex Chumak, SOYUZ’ composer and arranger. ‘Krok’ was one of the initial songs written for the new album and was the first to feature lyrics. It paved the way for Chumak to find the new poetic language on the record - for the first time in his native Belarusian language. Chumak demoed the song whilst he was still in Minsk in early 2022, and then, as he and his band moved to Poland, he continued developing it. In September 2024, together with other songs, Alex took it on a trip to São Paulo, where he recorded it with the help of his longtime friend and collaborator Sessa and extraordinary musicians Biel Basile and Marcelo Cabral.
 
It is a song about transition and migration, in which this act is poetically reduced to “a step” – into the unknown and unexplored. While singing about it, Chumak also makes a step forward musically. He delivers his very atypical view on samba, which doesn’t pretend to sound Brazilian. A strict yet loose rhythm section is covered with layers of tense acoustic guitars, aleatoric piano lines, and a lush yet restrained arrangement for strings and flutes.
 
This ethereal opening track is taster of the magic to come from СОЮЗ (SOYUZ) new career-defining album.


Крок / Krok

Benito - 8 2025

Hollie Cook wears her heart on her sleeve with the bittersweet love song ‘Frontline'. Steeped in deep roots flavours, it’s a timeless production written alongside friends and fellow collaborators Ben McKone and Luke Allwood of General Roots fame.

One of the more melancholic productions taken from Hollie Cook's forthcoming fifth album Shy Girl, ‘Frontline’ embraces Hollie's dedication to staying true to herself and authentic to her craft. A vintage British lovers’ rock vocal delivery sees Hollie open up through her lyrics with an emotional depth and striking honesty. It stirs up feelings of underground classics such as Sonia's 'Easier To Love’, yet is backed with a slightly tougher and rougher roots tone, giving it a distinctive edge and attitude. Raking electric guitar lines and a dubby bassline from the General Roots band lay the foundations, as an uplifting horn section brings a sense of hope to proceedings. 

In ‘Frontline’ Hollie delivers a powerful cut that’s both ethereal and empowering, providing another signature example of her classic yet contemporary sound.

Frontline

'RECALLING', out now on Ninja Tune: https://elliottskinner.lnk.to/recallingSo

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RECALLING

'Euro', out now on Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour: https://dublon.lnk.to/euroSo

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Euro

Pascal Garnier aka Krewcial is back on Local Talk, this time with a raw 4-track 12' EP dripping with that deep basement 90s New Jersey House sound we all love. 

Get Up is the opening track from the EP. 

GetUp

The next single taken from Hollie Cook’s forthcoming fifth album, Shy Girl, is a heavenly and distinctive reggae cover of Skip Mahoney & The Casuals, ‘We Share Love’. Further embodying Hollie's dedication to staying true to herself and remaining authentic to her craft, it has the air of a timeless production yet with a contemporary edge. 

Providing the perfect send-off and closing track to Shy Girl, ‘We Share Love’ is a celestial cover of Skip Mahoney & The Casuals 1974 classic. It sees Hollie and the General Roots band flip the soul-infused original into a hazy, sun-soaked roots beauty. Hollie’s dreamy tones are supplemented by a bouncing bassline, tender organs, and lush vocal harmonies from the brilliant Jalen Ngonda. Bathed in emotion and grounded in love and longing, this reggae reinterpretation is an exquisite ethereal ending to the album.


We Share Love

When it comes to Latin soul, Bobby Matos And The Combo Conquistadores 'Tema De Alma Latina', has to be up there as one of the heaviest tracks ever recorded. This much-loved Latin workout has been rocking dancefloors for years with its infectious, driving energy and pulsating rhythms. Released in 1968, the 'My Latin Soul' album on Philips Records now receives a welcome reissue on Mr Bongo. It’s a sheer delight throughout and a premier example of the Nu Yorican sound that was thriving in New York in the ‘60s. 

From a young age, the Bronx, New York-born Latin jazz percussionist Bobby Matos found inspiration through the conga drum masters Mongo Santamaría and Patato Valdez (who he had informal backstage lessons with) and timbales legends Willie Bobo and Tito Puente. Bobby was drawn into New York's club scene and began playing in the vibrant ‘60s beat / bohemian Greenwich Village cafes, followed by stints in a wide range of different venues. These included Bronx dance halls and after-hours clubs in El Barrio, through to the elegance of Carnegie Hall, Central Park concerts, and off-Broadway theatres.

Later relocating to Los Angeles, Bobby played an important role in spreading Latin music far and wide. He became an inspiration to many on the jazz dance and acid jazz scenes in the ‘80s / '90s where his recordings were picked and played, becoming prized collector items amongst DJs. The track 'Tema De Alma Latina' was immortalised as a classic for many, after being featured on the Gilles Peterson’s Street Sounds Jazz Juice 5 compilation in 1987. A captivating listen from start to finish, the album features other treats such as the dynamic album opener ‘Nadie Baila Como Yo’, the blazing flute led 'Mambo Maxims', and the blistering piano shuffler 'Raices'. 

A truly iconic Latin classic whether you’re being reunited with it like an old friend or discovering it as a fresh new find.


Bobby Matos And The Combo Conquistadores - One Mint Julep

Record label. Record shop. Film label. Since 1989.