Curation 0607 The Gear Shop

On The Line feat Lori
Brilliance
Ya Nah Gonna Get It feat K15
Jus'Roll
Nothing Ever Changes

Down and Up Ep

Domu - Down And Up Snippets

Find My Balance is the latest offering from Alexander IV - pseudonym of the eclectic Dutch producer, multi-instrumentalist and illustrious tunesmith, Joris Feiertag, who uses the Macedonian monarch’s title to delve into the more soulful side of his sonic output - taking in hip-hop, boogie, jazz and funk influences along the way.

With his latest, effortless outing Alexander IV transports us to the south of France courtesy of plaintive piano and handclaps making way for breezy beats and lonesome brass, complemented perfectly by the soulful vocals of young singer-songwriter Leonard Luka.

Hailing from The Netherlands, with Indonesian roots, Luka is something of a rising star on the electronic end of the R&B scene. His understated, sophisticated delivery belies his tender years, and here provides the perfect foil to Joris’ carefree instrumentation.

Alexander IV’s music fuses organic and electronic elements with ease, which isn’t surprising given the artist’s experience not only as a consummate dance music maker, but also as drummer of choice for Dutch superstars Kraak & Smaak. His music delivers something brand new yet retro; uncomplicated yet masterful.

Alexander IV - Toulouse

Finn Rees, one of the key members of Melbourne’s bubbling music scene, announces his debut solo album, Dawn Is A Melody on Mr Bongo with the first single, ‘Looking Up’. As part of 30/70 and Close Counters his previous work has found form in its groove, Dawn Is A Melody instead places the piano and arrangements centre stage, embracing a timeless warmth infused with bittersweet melodies and saturated textures.
 
The lead single ‘Looking Up’ is a divine dose of uplifting, soul-rousing optimism that kicks off the album. A blank canvas for Finn and a whole host of Melbourne’s finest talent to fill with colour. Sitting between spiritual and cinematic, the track instantly envelops you in a swell of vintage hues, Lucky Pereira feathering the drums as Blakely McLean Davies riffs on the double bass. Finn’s fingers flow across the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano, delicately dancing around Siwei Wong’s stunning harp playing as the track builds and breaks. A sublime string section made up of Chloe Danger, Eunise Cheng, Nils Hobiger and McLean Davies, alongside shimmering vocal harmonies by 30/70 bandmate Allysha Joy, lift the track to limitless heights.
 
Finn’s layered synthwork on the Moog and Prophet provides a contemporary touch to proceedings, but one of the beauties of ‘Looking Up’ and the rest of the Dawn Is A Melody is its inability to be placed by age or era. A blend of inspirations from Arthur Verocai to Alice Coltrane, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to Kamasi Washington, tied together with recording and mix engineer Henry Jenkin’s vintage recording setup warmth.
 
Just as the swell washed in at the start, the tide draws ‘Looking Up’ to a close, fading back out across the horizon as the sun sets another story.

Finn Rees - Looking Up

‘Expansion’ is the second single from Melbourne-based, Finn Rees’ forthcoming debut album, Dawn Is A Melody. A Brazilian-inspired, spirit-embracing jazz immersion, that nods to greats like Luiz Eça, Dom Salvador and Cesar Camargo Mariano yet showcases the vibrancy of Finn’s contemporary palette. 

Further illuminating the microcosm of colour that is Dawn Is A Melody, ‘Expansion’ explores the connection between the worldly and those cosmic realms that float in between, with the help of some of Melbourne’s finest musicians. Igniting the track, Lucky Pereira’s exquisite drumming marries with Blakely McLean Davies’ strutting double bass playing, as a Latin touch shines through Dom Kirk’s percussion. 

Sitting at the helm, Finn’s signature mastery across the keys from the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano to the warming tones of the Rhodes, elevate your mind to a weightless dimension. Enhancing those earthly measures, he taps into the cosmic-channelling Moog to add an undertone of interstellar electronics.  A foundation that gives ground for the triplet of horns to form a harmonious unison, Audrey Powne on trumpet, Cheryl Durongpisitkul on tenor sax, Josh Moshe on alto sax, all gliding as one. 

Both grounded and galactic, it’s an intricate, soulful and spiritual jazz journey with a depth and richness that is perfectly saturated by recording and mix engineer Henry Jenkin’s vintage recording setup.

Finn Rees - Expansion

Download/Stream - fanlink.to/FusionMovesKTI
Subscribe - @reelpeoplemusic

Reel People Music breathes new life into its gleaming vault of back catalogue classics with brand new series Fusion Moves. The series will offer talented music-makers the opportunity to remix and reinterpret label releases of their choosing, kicking off with soulful progressive Kaidi Tatham in the hot seat.

Tatham’s modus operandi is clear from the get-go. Opening selection Sebb Junior feat. Paula’s All Of My Life flows dreamily upon that trademark Tatham mix of organic beats, polished horns and immersive keys. As Paula rightly sings, “the beautiful can happen.” And keep happening…. Reel People feat. Mica Paris’ reworked I Want To Thank You gains elegant funk and boogie bounce, a bubblin b-line and those upweighted backing vocals adding new urgency and depth, whilst some extended bass-end manoeuvrings on the collective’s 2020 hit Save a Lil Love provide a hugely effective counterpoint to Eric Roberson’s super-smooth vocals.

Tatham switches things up for his re-take of The Realm x Atjazz x Kelli Sae’s deep afro-house burner On The Road, adding wonderfully carefree jazz-funk flow ‘n’ feeling replete with sweet synth solos and guitar licks. The snappy syncopated rhythms propelling Daz-I-Kue feat. Hadiya George’s Pedigree and Monkey Brothers feat. Sean Escoffery’s stunning Losin’ My Head align to the rich broken beat heritage for which most admirers associate him but, true to form, he continues to glide compellingly between mood and moves….

From the loose bass-guitar groove of Eric Ericksson & Reel People feat. Debra Debs’ Don’t Hold Back On Love and sultry strut and swagger of AAries’ Don’t Give It Up to Sebb Junior feat. Muhsinah’s infectiously jammin’ Special – lovingly framed by nimble jazz-piano play – and the liberatingly upbeat dressing applied to Tony Momrelle’s seminal Fly, Tatham’s sonic upholstery right across Fusion Moves is as skilful as it is impactful. One expert body of work built upon another.

“I know Reel People Music’s discography so well that I had a pretty immediate sense of the tracks I wanted to work with once they gave me the keys to their kingdom,” Tatham explains. “For each song I closed my eyes, imagined playing them live on stage and let the chords and musicality fire from there. My sound incorporates so many different styles, from hip-hop and broken beat to soul and disco. It’s a perfect fit for Fusion Moves. The Reel People team share my mission statement to make people dance, smile and think.”

Based in Belfast, Kaidi Tatham is the multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ who helped to define West London’s iconic broken beat sound during the late Nineties but who has continued to operate beyond genres and pigeonholes – be that via albums including In Search Of Hope, Bandana and Don’t Rush The Process, his dance music-focused pseudonym Agent K and a raft of collaborations including those with Bugz In The Attic, 4Hero, Amp Fiddler, Amy Winehouse and Slum Village.

Reel People Music is a label borne out of the soulful success of acclaimed collective Reel People but representing so much more. Launched in late 2009, the imprint has built a fiercely loyal international fanbase through its passion for artist development, musicianship, song-craft and soulful groove. Label alumni include Tony Momrelle, Portia Monique, The Layabouts, Kelli Sae, Sebb Junior, Opolopo, Angela Johnson, Emmaculate and Mothers Favorite Child.

Expect to hear further Fusion Moves in the coming months. Fresh twists on quality songs and sounds. Always with soulful authenticity at the heart.

Fusion Moves (The Instrumentals)

Fly (Kaidi Tatham Instrumental Remix)

Stream/Download

Tony Momrelle – Fly (Kaidi Tatham Instrumental Remix)

The Stimulator Tracks Vol. 1

Precious

Mr Bongo proudly presents the debut album from Tasmania-born, Melbourne-based, Finn Rees. Gliding across a swirling palette of saturated hues, Dawn Is A Melody feels vintage yet vibrant, new but familiar at the same time. A spiritual, deep and textured jazz record, tipping its hat to greats from the past, capturing memories and reformulating them into new ideas with the help of some of Melbourne’s finest talent.

Expert keys player for the likes of 30/70 and Elle Shimada, alongside one-half of Close Counters, this debut LP was Finn’s conscious departure from the realm of groove-based jazz. Instead, Dawn Is A Melody places the piano and arrangements centre stage, giving Finn and his fellow Melbourne crew freedom to explore the spaces in between, new emotions and alternate soundscapes.

In Finn’s own words: “My intention with Dawn Is A Melody was to create a world; a microcosm of colour. Something rich and beautiful that allowed the melodies and compositions to reach their full potential. It was driven by hope, curiosity and the search for beauty and reassurance in this ever-changing world. The emotion behind the music is really about the journey of life, growing up and changing, as well as my relationship with Tasmania’s natural landscapes where I grew up, a part of the world that is incredibly unique and beautiful.”

The album arcs between opening, middle and end. Beginning with the optimism of ‘Looking Up’ and ‘Lagoon’, the former a celestial, string and harp marbled slice of positivity, the latter a spiritual journey of exuberance and hope, Finn’s fingers dancing across the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano. From there the songs blossom outwards with the cinematic soulful journey of ‘It’s Behind Me Now’ and Brazilian-inspired ‘Expansion’, as the divine ‘Crossing’ signals a transition to a new realm. The energy is transformed from the rich cosmic textures to a more intimate and personal feeling with ‘Ablaze’, ‘Between Spaces’ and ‘As It Passes’ which blissfully fades down to simply piano and strings to close out the record.

Recorded at Rolling Stock in Collingwood, Melbourne, Henry Jenkins was drafted in as recording and mix engineer, his minimal vintage mic setups giving a live aesthetic and warmth to the arrangements. Lucky Pereira and Blakely McLean Davies form the rock-solid rhythm section, with a hand-picked line-up of other Melbourne talent on display, including Cheryl Durongpitikul on tenor sax, Siwei Wong on harp, Audrey Powne on trumpet and Allysha Joy on vocals to name only a few.

Plotting a course from Alice Coltrane, through Herbie Hancock, to Arthur Verocai, this is a debut nourished by the past but firmly made in the present. A record unable to be age-stamped, casting ambiguity as to when, what era and by whom it has been crafted. Like a vintage lens capturing a current scene, Dawn Is A Melody is warm and familiar yet focused on the here now.

Finn Rees - End Of The Line

Finn Rees - It's Behind Me Now

Finn Rees - Horizons

Finn Rees - Lagoon

Stepping in for Last Nubian this month, Berengei ran 60 minutes of headsy soulful house and broken beat cuts. Deep selections inside from the likes of Domu and Bah Samba.

Become a Balamii Supporter to get 20% off merch + be the first to hear about our events. Link here - www.balamii.com/supporters

Beringei  - June 2024

Songlines - "a captivating blend of jazz and Latin rhythms”

FarOut Magazine - “A beautiful menagerie of sounds and influences, awash with distinctive Latin funk and the spirit of 1950s NYC big band jazz. These songs are backed up by a roster of London’s most skilled and passionate jazz musicians, to create something utterly timeless and innately funky."

Patrick Forge - "Unashamedly retro, but done so well, High calibre rhythms and playing, some hot jams!”

Paul Bradshaw (Straight No Chaser) - "The delivers that 70's NYC bario vibe perfectly.... Kickin'!!!”

Francois K - "All great cuts, very well put together”

Announcing the debut album from one of London’s most electrifying acts, New Regency Orchestra. An 18-piece Afro-Cuban big band, inspired by the musical melting pot of NYC in the 1950s, but with the punch and power of a whole host of London’s best Latin and jazz musicians. Blowing new life into these compositions, the album is a reimagining of some of the finest music from that golden era. From early 1950s René Hernandez and Tito Puente, through to the 1970s salsa of Rafael Labasta and Orlando Marin, produced and performed with fresh fire.

NRO is the brainchild of its artistic director, and the man behind Total Refreshment Centre and Church of Sound, Lex Blondin. Through a long-held passion for jazz, Lex discovered the explosive Afro-Cuban rhythms of mid-1940s NYC via the godfather of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mario Bauzá. A time when two musical worlds collided in a fusion of creativity and energy, jazz luminaries like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker joining forces with Cuban greats like Machito and Chano Pozo. This vibrant sound was music to dance to and found a home at The New York Palladium, a formative space of freedom and expression that was key to the scene’s development.

Although dance-focussed in their makeup, those early recordings are not often heard in modern club environments and Lex dreamt of retelling their story with a contemporary dynamism. A slice of serendipity followed, as a slot at a new festival opened up and Lex jumped at the chance to make this idea a reality, an 18-piece big band breathing new life into these beloved songs.

Enlisting the expertise of some of the capital’s finest talent, Lex and co-captain Andy Wood, of Como No fame, put together a world-class line-up of talent. Bringing in Eliane Correa as musical director and bandleader, a fluid and interchanging 18-piece band was formed.

The album itself is a hand-picked selection of timeless Afro-Cuban jazz classics, reimagined with NRO’s unbridled energy. It contains ten incredible instrumental tracks including 'Pregon' with its anthemic horn stabs and the addictive head nod bounce of 'Mambo Rama', alongside two scorching vocal numbers in 'Papa Boco' and 'Labasta Llego'. Coupling a heavyweight rhythm section with a wall of horns, they provide a fresh spin on songs from Tito Puente and Chico O'Farrill, René Hernandez through to Rafael Labasta.

“Some of the tunes like Tito Puente’s ‘Mambo Rama’ and ‘Scarlet Mambo’ might sound like they went to a gym as extra drums and bass synth were added to them whilst the tune ‘Sahib & Tito’ is a mix of Tito’s ‘Mambo Buda’ and Sahib Shihab’s ‘Nus’. Our intention is to be both respectful to the innovators and inventors of this incredible music and to pay our dues, but also to add something special from London where the city’s new jazz scene connects with its Latin American musicians and the musical influences around us.”

This pure collective joy, shared experience and music you can’t help but move to.

New Regency Orchestra - Harlem Jamboree

New Regency Orchestra - Scarlet Mambo Hour

The debut album of the Waggish Sheep Project, in which he takes the stage and tells the story of a black sheep through music.  The numbered tracks suggest a listening order. It combines several musical trends, which sometimes surprise, sometimes touch, but definitely results in a unique style. The multi-instrumentalist musician pays tribute to his recently deceased younger brother with this material.

14_22_40

Italian Academy alumni Bienoise put out an excellent LP called ‘Meanwhile, Tomorrow’ on White Forest Records at the tail end of 2015 and now he follows up this release with an EP of remixes of the opening track (including one by Waxlife, who inspired the EP concept). Fellow RBMA grad Broke One’s take on “Focus Numbers” is a sublime bit of drum & bass, utilizing warm synth pads and the original’s vocal loop to coat his drum breaks in.

‘Focus Numbers Remixed’ is out June 20 on White Forest Records: https://whiteforestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/focus-numbers-remixed-wfr037

Check out Bienoise’s ‘Meanwhile, Tomorrow’ LP here: https://whiteforestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile-tomorrow-wfr028

@bienoise
@broke-one
http://redbullmusicacademy.com

Bienoise - Focus Numbers (Broke One Endless Remix)

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

Finn Rees - End Of The Line

Mr Bongo

Recent comments

ronseal

Related tracks