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

Peace Lily

Koln by The Sure Co. from the 5ives EP (Jazz Refreshed).
Richard Spaven - Drums
Grant Windsor - Keys


Koln

Presenting the second single taken from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist Don Glori’s forthcoming third album ‘Paper Can’t Wrap Fire’. ‘Power’ is a spiritual, choir-led, Brazilian-infused beauty. 

It was a song that Don wrote after being fed up with dealing with bad promoters and agents. It’s a simple mantra - protect your power and energy and do what feels free and good. A playful composition, musically it's divided into two parts. The first was inspired by Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' and the West Coast sonic world, delicately balancing the spiritual choir, ghostly horns, and jazz break intro. The song then morphs as it progresses, with the gravity that the choir once provided, ripped away by the next section.

From sombre to cheeky, the group chant turns to a satirical hook from the opposite view of the cynical promoter.
 
‘Take your fee, take your seat, come on man keep it up,
Take your fee, take your seat, come on man just shut up’

The song then breaks into a segment that nods to the Brazilian legends Azymuth and their 1977 track 'Tamborim, Cuíca, Ganzá, Berimbau’. Alcides Neto, Robyn Cummins and Al Kennedy provide the shimmering pandeiro, conga and drum percussion rhythms, as Joel Trigg lets rip with a swelling Rhodes solo that crescendos to the finale.


Don Glori - Power

“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

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 - Caliente Y Grasoso

Breath and Flame

'The Idea' (Feat. @nubya-garcia, @sheldon-agwu & Dylan Jones)
Buy or stream now: https://bluelabbeats.lnk.to/TheIdea

Follow Blue Lab Beats:
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The Idea (Feat. Nubya Garcia, Sheldon Agwu & Dylan Jones)

'Oooo Lala' (Feat. Kaidi Akinnibi) taken from Blue Lab Beats' debut album 'Xover'.

Pre-order the album/stream the single here: BlueLabBeats.lnk.to/Xover

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www.bluelabbeats.com
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Oooo Lala(Feat. Kaidi Akinnibi)

https://soundcloud.com/bluestaeb &  https://soundcloud.com/sfidelity Present Underground Canopy
MENACE l MNC006

Spotify 
https://spoti.fi/2LmCCv0
Apple
https://apple.co/2PhrctY
Fanlink
https://menace.fanlink.to/tonysendo

PREMIERE: Bluestaeb & S. Fidelity Present Underground Canopy - Tony Sendo [MENACE Records]

Our latest Compilation featuring family from all over. Enjoy <3

Featured Artists:
https://soundcloud.com/saintnwaizu
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https://soundcloud.com/asonleaux
https://soundcloud.com/alithatdude
https://soundcloud.com/undadesango
https://soundcloud.com/rylersmith
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https://soundcloud.com/milessingleton
https://soundcloud.com/alecbe
https://soundcloud.com/melodiesinfonie
https://soundcloud.com/soulofzurich
https://soundcloud.com/loj-2
https://soundcloud.com/sptmbr-yngstr
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https://soundcloud.com/dylannegativ
https://soundcloud.com/sunheavy
https://soundcloud.com/intalektmusic
https://soundcloud.com/lowusounds
https://soundcloud.com/johnyholiday
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https://soundcloud.com/usandsparkles

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ENDLESS JOURNEY

Melodiesinfonie - Reflection Of Beauty

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