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.


Love In Memory / Bluebell

Stream 'Mammone' now : https://bfan.link/mammone

Rachel Kitchlew unveils Mammone, the first single from her debut album, a haunting UK jazz ballad where melancholic harp and ethereal guitar weave a journey of mystery and nostalgia. Emerging from late nights at SFJ HQ (SHOLTO and Dave Bardon’s band), it captures raw spontaneity and self-expression, honoring personal memories and the beauty of playing music with friends. With Mammone, she pushes acoustic jazz into a deeply evocative, timeless realm.

Flirty Ghost

Mammone

Rachel Kitchlew & SFJ (ft. SHOLTO & David Bardon) - Mammone

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

Stream 'Falling' now: https://idol-io.ffm.to/falling-

MAX RAD, Tutankhamun, and Vicky Sometani team up on Falling to form a British-American trio that exceeds all expectations. Blending their diverse influences from jazz and blues to electronica and indie pop/rock, the three artists unveil a fresh new single. With strong support from BBC, KCRW and standout live appearances at Glastonbury, Forwards Festival and more, they come together on this track that’s both infectious and moving, driven by catchy toplines and joyful bursts of piano and guitar.

MAX RAD, Tutankhamun, Vicky Sometani - Falling

“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

Finn Rees & Sholto - Bluebell

Finn Rees & Sholto - Love In Memory

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

'Dersen Cafe' & 'Give Nothing' taken from the album 'Roulette' - out on 3 October
Pre-order a copy via lnk.to/alfamist_roulette  

Dersen Cafe
Written by: Alfa Sekitoleko
Produced by: Alfa Mist
Recorded & Mixed at: Invada 
Mixed by: Alfa Mist 
Engineer & Additional mixing: Stuart Matthews
Mastered by: Guy at Electric Mastering 
Alfa Sekitoleko - Keys, Synths, String Arrangement, Production, Vocals
Kaya Thomas-Dyke - Double Bass
Samuel Rapley - Sax/Bass Clarinet
Johnny Woodham - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Jamie Leeming - Guitar
Jamie Houghton - Drums

Give Nothing 
Written by: Alfa Sekitoleko
Produced by: Alfa Mist
Recorded & Mixed at: Invada 
Mixed by: Alfa Mist 
Engineer & Additional mixing: Stuart Matthews
Mastered by: Guy at Electric Mastering 
Alfa Sekitoleko - Keys, Synths, String Arrangement, Production, Vocals
Kaya Thomas-Dyke - Double Bass
Samuel Rapley - Sax/Bass Clarinet
Johnny Woodham - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Jamie Leeming - Guitar
Jamie Houghton - Drums



Give Nothing

Official video:https://youtu.be/9JFhJogfPv8

Turbo Goldfish

Debut release by new Lofi artist Slow For Dust, collaborating with 9 Theory on his first venture into the genre.  Super vibey beats meets bluesy tasteful guitar on this steezy EP.

Tiger Lily EP

Tiger Lily

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

Finn Rees & Sholto - Bluebell

Mr Bongo

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