Seven years after their last ‘Americana‘ compilation for BBE Music, The Mighty Zaf and Mark GV Taylor present two more rare blue eyed soul cuts from across the pond: ‘So Close To You’ by Arthur, and ‘Reincarnation’ by Future Force.

Taken from his first and only solo album, 1981’s ‘Joy’, ‘So Close To You’ is a sweet, folk- tinged song written by Arthur’s guitarist Dean Devener and voiced by Maye Cavallaro. Hailing from New York, a diamond dealer by day and a bassist by night, Arthur joined his first band in ’66. He was living in the tiny community of Inverness, just North of San Francisco when he recorded ‘So Close To You’, which featured mainly local musicians from the West Marin area. “Between around 1980 and 2010, if someone told me I’d see any interest let alone money from my album, I’d have thought they were hallucinating” says Arthur. In 2010, the DJ son of a friend of Arthur’s saw an original copy of ‘Joy’ hanging on the wall of A-1 records in New York, priced at $50. Soon afterwards, compiler Mark Taylor tracked Arthur down on Facebook and the pair met in London, where by happy coincidence Arthur had a brief flight stopover. “We met Mark in a coffee place just outside security and sold him the box of records. I thought he looked like a cop, not a jazz DJ, although if you think 1950s America, the two could look the same”. Arthur returned to London in May 2019 and attended Mark’s ‘Reference Point’ party at the BBE Store, delighted to sign copies of his original ‘Joy’ LP for the regulars, and ecstatic to hear ‘So Close To You’ played in public for the first time.

‘Reincarnation’ was originally the B-side of NYC pop / funk band Future Force’s only recording, a 7″ single released in 1981. Future Force was formed by brothers David and Howard Bowler, who went on to write and produce dance cuts for A&M with the band’s keyboardist Eric Li, including the hit song ‘Sayin’ Sorry Don’t Make It Right’ by Denise Lopez. Recorded live with only the lead vocals overdubbed, ‘Reincarnation’ captures the raw, soulful sound for which Future Force shows had gained notoriety, both in New York City and beyond. The song was written by guitarist Jehri Riley and performed by lead singer Jackie Stewart, who was born in Brixton to Jamaican parents, moving to NYC at the age of 13.

About the compilers:

The Mighty Zaf began his journey at the famous London store Reckless Records, before becoming a respected private record dealer. These days you can find him behind the counter at Love Vinyl in London, the store he co-owns with BBE’s graphic designer Jake Holloway. Mark GV Taylor began collecting records as a schoolboy, started DJing internationally in 1990 and hasn’t looked back since. He’s also a former contributor for Straight No Chaser and compiler for Blue Note Records.

Arthur - So Close To You

MF Robots unleash the third salvo from upcoming BBE Music album ‘Break The Wall’, a feelgood mid-tempo funk bubbler entitled ‘Good People’.

Underpinned by Jan’s unmistakable rock-solid rhythm section and topped off with Dawn’s life-affirming lyrics, ‘Good People’ delivers yet another tough groove, brought to life by some of the UK’s tightest musicians.

Following up their latest single ‘Good People’ on BBE Music, MF Robots unveil an extended version of the track accompanied by an up-tempo remix by MontaQue Adamson and a brand new ‘Bossy Nova’ version of ‘Mother Funkin’ Robots’ by Jan Kincaid.

Emerging London production duo MontaQue Adamson have both played with MF Robots since their first gig at The Bussey Building and helped write the band’s upcoming album ‘Break The Wall’. Both Alex Montaque (keys) and Naz Adamson (bass) have been staples in the UK music scene for the past 15 years, working with world-renowned artists both on stage and in the studio. Their remix of ‘Good People’ takes the laid back original and sends it into overdrive, with a funky-house interpretation.

Making the most of Dawn Joseph’s powerhouse vocal, Jan Kincaid’s ‘Bossy Nova Refit’ of previous single ‘Mother Funkin’ Robots’ injects an enticing Latin vibe into the cut, with a delightfully old-school synth line providing some light hearted interplay with that superb brass section. Says Jan: “it was a challenge to remix this tune and give it a different personality. I wanted it to be a fun late night, the last few dancers left in the place type of thing.”
An extended of ‘Good People’ is also included in the package, alongside instrumental versions of all three tracks.

About MF Robots:
Collaborating for the first time while recording and performing with one of the UK’s most commercially successful Acid Jazz bands The Brand New Heavies in 2013, founder / drummer Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph discovered immediate musical chemistry and began writing songs together right away. They soon left the band to concentrate on their own work, starting MF Robots (Music For Robots) and releasing an eponymous debut in 2018. The duo quickly morphed into a band as they found themselves in-demand at venues and festivals all over Europe, and haven’t looked back since.

MF Robots - Mother Funkin' Robots (Bossy Nova Re - Fit)

Stream, download & pre-order LP: http://melting-pot-music.lnk.to/beatkiosk

Koralle and Kuranes are probably the two of the most inspiring and successful beat makers from Italy. As it happens, they are both from Bologna and they have been friends for a long time. Strangely enough they never did music together until now! “Amaro” is their final single from the upcoming album “Beat Kiosk” and a sure shot for listeners who like their beats jazzy and dope! Artwork by Colombian illustrator SagaUno (artwork for The Silhouettes Project).

Follow Koralle
Spotify https://sptfy.com/koralle
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/koralle.beats/

Follow Kuranes
Spotify https://sptfy.com/kuranes
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/k.kuranes/

Follow Melting Pot Music
Spotify https://sptfy.com/meltingpotmusic
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/melting_pot_music
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/MPMTV
Bandcamp https://meltingpotmusic.bandcamp.com
SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/mpmcgn

Produced and mixed by Koralle & Kuranes. 
Mastering by Roe Beardie. 
Artwork by Sergio “SagaUno” Alferéz. https://www.instagram.com/sagauno

Cat No: MPM 289-4
Artist: Koralle & Kuranes
Titel: Amaro

© ℗ 2021 Melting Pot Music

Koralle & Kuranes - Amaro

Stream & download: http://melting-pot-music.lnk.to/ontariobeats

Pawcut is dropping beats from Ontario. The renowned producer from Minden, Gemany (his first release was a split album with FloFilz) has turned his 2021 album “Next Flight Ontario” with Sudanese rapper Zen-Zin into a fully-fledged beat tape. No bars, all vibes. 13 reworks fuelled with Jazz, Boogie & Lo-Fi. The first single “Bob’s Law” has a tasty 80‘s flavour. Enjoy!

Follow Pawcut
Spotify https://sptfy.com/pawcut
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pawcut

Follow Melting Pot Music
Spotify https://sptfy.com/meltingpotmusic
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/melting_pot_music
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/MPMTV
Bandcamp https://meltingpotmusic.bandcamp.com
SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/mpmcgn

Produced & mixed by Pawcut & SterilOne.
Mastered by SterilOne at Staub Audio Engineering, Vienna. 
Artwork by Hr.Pixel.

Cat No: MPM 286-B
Artist: Pawcut	
Titel: Next Flight Ontario (Beat Edits)

© ℗ 2021 Melting Pot Music

Pawcut - Bob's Law

Kozmodrum, Croatian organic dance music pioneers, release their long-awaited third album, self-titled 'Kozmodrum; on Rika Muzika on June 25th. Today we premiere the organic psychedelic disco funk meets synth bass sounds of opening song, "Povratak na Parni Pogon".

While offering snippets of undefinable, futuristic aspirations, the evolving, musical themes across the album provide a headlong dash for new horizons, connecting instrumental soundscapes into what can only be described as a magic ride to the world of Kozmodrum.

Kozmodrum

Pre-Order

Exclusive Premiere: Kozmodrum "Povratak na Parni Pogon" (Forthcoming on Rika Muzika)

29.05.21
Rebecca Vasmant - Start Of Time
Brain Damage, Big Youth - Play It Again
Athletic Progression - Debra
Gil Scott-Heron - Jazz
Gil Scott-Heron - Inner City Blues
Jerome Thomas - No B.S
Yarni - Purezento
Yelfris Valdés - After Sly (Osunlade Remix)
Malphino - Aji de Malphino
Meridian Brothers y Grupo Renacimiento - Bomba Atomica

Yarni Mix

Triorität - Brexit feat. Lukas Lehmann
Quantic - You Used To Love Me ft. Denitia
Huw Marc Bennett - In My Craft
jitwam - temptations
Jacob Groening - Kopru Ortas (Original Mix)
Emanuel	Arbete/Fritid - Aquarius	Prins
Tommy Guerrero - El Camino Negro
Keno & Tristan De Liege - Forever We Were
Boozoo Bajou -  Under My Sensi
Sylvester ‎– I Need Somebody To Love Tonight (Psychemagik Remix)
Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas	- Bar Asfalt
Susso - Ansumana
Sandpipers - The Windmills Of Your Mind
Silvetti - Spring Rain (Original Mix)
Boz Scaggs - Lowdown

www.musicamacondo.com

Musica Macondo on Jazz FM with Tim Garcia Ft Yarni

The second episode of Seeing Sound takes a literal turn, as Paul meets musicians touched and fascinated by the unique phenomenon of synesthesia; senses overlapping to create involuntary new ways of perceiving music. L.A. based beat genius Daedelus and multi-sensory auteur Portrait XO share their personal experiences.

Background music by OMMA
https://soundcloud.com/olga-maximova

Read more:
https://seeingsound.playtronica.com/

Seeing Sound Episode 2. Daedelus and Portrait XO

Jeff and Baxter were live with another instalment of Sweet Nothings. They ran two hours of warm and sunkissed soul, MPB and salsa from the likes of Sisters Love, Leo's Sunship and The Boogaloo Assasins.

Sweet Nothings w/ Jeff and Baxter - June 2021

Jeff Higgins - Every Thursday night 11pm-1am. Repeated every Saturday 12-2pm - http://universalrhythms.net
Playing the late night sound of London. Electronic, Jazz, Dance, Hip Hop and beyond

Tracklist
el michels affair - i love ny
childeren of zeus - balance
pyton, brice balnco - let it flow
robert glasper - main theme 
muwosi - a song for someone
rebecca vasmant - timing’s end
outkast - elevators 
hiatus kaiyote - chivaley is not dead
athletic progression - debra
tiana major9, haile - think about you
king tubby, agustus pablo - more warning 
skiifall - bentayga dust
oscar #worldpleace, p nut - need
mansur brown - serious
dean blunt - nil by mouth
natureboy flako - through the old forest
beatchild - unselfish
georgia anne muldrow - yoself
nikhil beats - thoda resham lagta hai
culross close - intrinsic value
foshe and bentley - tech yes
turbulance - one for brother misho
toshiyuki goto - house of takoradi (friend and lover mix)
sampology, allysha joy
patchworks - summertime
oyobi - crossroads (vincent sebastian and atjazz remix)
nina simone - see-line woman (masters at work remix)

Jeff Higgins Universal Rhythms - Jeff Higgins  17/06/21

We are delighted to premiere the sublime sounds of “No Words”, by Awkward Corners, featuring acclaimed multi-reed player and Collocutor chief, Tamar Osborn.  Taken from ‘Amateur Dramatics’, Awkward Corners AKA Chris Menist’s second LP in the space of a year. 

Awkward Corners is Chris Menist, percussionist for The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band​, in-demand DJ, NTS radio host, compiler for the likes of Finders Keepers​ and ​Soundway, and writer for esteemed publications such as Songlines, Straight No Chaser and FACT. 

Awkward Corners started life as a small project in Islamabad, where Chris was living at the time. Initial recordings were made with local musicians in Pakistan and then subsequently in Thailand. This culminated in the​ ​’Sweet Decay​’ split LP on Finders Keepers’ Disposable Music​ in 2014, anda limited tape release on Boomkat/Reel Torque of original compositions and re-edits of Thai 45s the same year. 

Jumping a few years ahead, having relocated to the UK Chris began recordings for ‘Dislocation Songs’ in reaction to Brexit, collaborating on many of the tracks with award-winning performer Sarathy Korwar. The album’s release on Shapes of Rhythm in May 2020 marked his first full album. Catching the mood of the times and offering an incredibly fresh sound, it was hailed across the likes of NTS, Resonance FM, BBC 6 Music, Balamii and of course our own site and made Tom Ravenscroft’s LPs of 2020.

In 2020 – a time when the global pandemic gave artists more time and space to think about their music – Chris took his collaborations and compositions to a different level. Having already collaborated remotely with Sarathy Korwar amongst many others, Chris turned his thoughts towards a new project. 

‘Amateur Dramatics’ builds on foundations of the meditative, devotional electronic aspects of previous LP ‘Dislocation Songs’ but this time frames it more in a spiritual jazz context with significant collaborations with Collocutor’s Tamar Osborn on four tracks, and also for the first time, a vocal collaboration. The result is a thoughtful and deep listening 40 minute listening experience.

“No Words” heralds the first collaboration with Tamar Osborn - founder of acclaimed jazz ensemble Collocutor, frequently heard performing and recording with the likes of Dele Sosimi, Maisha, Emanative, Sarathy Korwar and ILL Considered. 

With a rhythmic bed of Tamar’s bass clarinet and Chris’ electric piano, the space is there for Tamar to grab an alto sax and solo above. As we reach the centre of the composition, the clarinet steps out of its loop and begins to engage with the saxophone. An LP standout, “No Words” underlines the progression from ‘Dislocation Songs’ to a more collaborative, and detailed approach with deeper levels of instrumentation.

 ‘Amateur Dramatics’ is released on Shapes of Rhythm on August 20th, and is available to pre-order now from Bandcamp.

Exclusive Premiere: Awkward Corners "No Words" (Forthcoming on Shapes of Rhythm)

Tru Community were live running music from Butcher Brown, Tyler, The Creator, Dean Blunt, and more. Contemporary Jazz, Soul, and Garage all inside.

Tru Community - June 2021

Playtronica is a platform that bridges entertainment, education and art through interactive musical experiences. It is an international collective of musicians, educators, designers and engineers.

Seeing Sound podcast is created to support Orbita: a playful music device that lets you access creativity through sound and colors.

https://orbita.playtronica.com/
https://playtronica.com/

Seeing Sound Episode 2. Daedelus and Portrait XO

Playtronica

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