© 2013 Secret Stash Records (uploaded with permission)

While Secret Stash has been in the business for several years releasing a number of gems ranging from the soul of America to reggae takes on Miles Davis and acoustic Peruvian folk music, they are now focusing some effort on new music as well. Longtime Secret Stash fans rest easy, though. They are still going to continue to mine the vaults the world over to find long-forgotten but essential music.

One of their first new music releases is coming out this September courtesy of Black Market Brass. The band and label both hail from Minneapolis. Secret Stash, which has a very DIY approach to their label, often hosts record-release assembly parties where the local community is invited to come to their offices and assemble the records and album sleeves in return for pizza and beer. It was through several of these that Eric Foss, VP of Marketing and Sales for Secret Stash, met Mitch Sigurdson, one of the founding members of the band.

Sigurdson assembled some friends and local talent to play a variety of styles, often Ghanian highlife and funk. Per Foss, “I think it took a little while for them to realize that they play Afrobeat as well or better than most of the bands out there doing it today. I watched as they transitioned from playing spot-on covers of Fela and Tony Allen to writing their own material.”

This past April, the band headed to the studio to record some original material. Coincidentally, the band picked up a new baritone sax player, Cole Pulice, who was already working with Sonny Knight & the Lakers and Dérobé Dance Band, bands whose original material also will be seeing releases from the label. In a single afternoon, they cut the two tracks heard on the upcoming 45.

“Snake Oil Man” is heavy Nigerian madness. You can bet that it’s no beginners luck. Check out the flip side, “Big Muffler," on Secret Stash’s SoundCloud page (https://soundcloud.com/secretstashrecords/black-market-brass-big-muffler). If this is their first swing at the genre, you can expect some exciting material in the future from Black Market Brass who has enough original material already for a full LP.

We reached out to Pierre Chrétien from Souljazz Orchestra, who knows his way around an Afrobeat tune, to hear his thoughts on the band’s sound. Says Chrétien, “It sounds amazing. Definitely no lack of sweat and stink here!” No disagreements here.


Black Market Brass "Snake Oil Man"

Wah Wah 45s are proud to present a brand new project where label boss, esteemed producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, AdamScrimshire, is let loose to remix "Cages" - the critically acclaimed LP released last year by southern soul boysThe Milk.

This full set of reworks from the South London based sonic chameleon is set to build on heavy radio support from Huey Morgan, Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, Radcliffe & Maconie and Cerys Matthews on BBC 6Music, The Selector, Radio X, BBC Radio London, and beyond, to add to mainstream and specialist press props for both The Milk and Scrimshire's original work.

From the introspective downtempo revisions of "Broken Sky", "The Great Sorrow" and "Cages"; the latin / jazz flavoured take of "Never Come Down"; dance floor friendly reworkings of "Colours" and "Feels So Good"; to the out-there versions of "Knock Me Out For Ten" and "Wild Chained Man" the producer took a lot of pleasure in having the opportunity to demonstrate his full range as a remixer on such rich and soulful source material.



'Having heard the songs come together in the studio, it was really interesting to get a bit more time to pull apart the tracks for the whole album and understand its building blocks a bit better. The journey of remixing a whole album is a new one on me. It started just after finishing my album Believers Vol. 1 and it opened up a lot of ideas and new ways of thinking about what a remix should be. I went into a lot of different places with these versions and I just hope people enjoy the new spaces I put these songs in.'Adam Scrimshire

Having cut his teeth with three much loved albums right here on Wah Wah 45s, Scrimshire released his first album on Albert's Favourites in 2019. The LP, "Listeners", featured collabs with the likes ofEmma-Jean Thackray, James Alexander BrightandGeorgia Anne Muldrow, and gained plaudits includingBBC 6Music Album of the Day. The 2020 follow up "Believers Vol.1" featured, amongst others, latin bass worriersPenyaand UK soul royaltyOmar. He released his latest opus, "Nothing Feels Like Everything", in October this year featuring legendsCleveland WatkissandUrsula Rucker, as well as burgeoning London jazz talent like TamarCollocutorandIdris Rahman.

The Milk are four life-long friends, Ricky Nunn (vocals), Mitch Ayling (drums) Luke Ayling (bass) and Dan Le Gresley (guitar) who formed their first band when they were still at school in Essex, playing countless working men's clubs.

Since signing to Wah Wah 45s, the band released their second album "Favourite Worry", which becameone of BBC 6 Music's albums of the year, and the critically acclaimed follow up "Cages"; sold out London's Union Chapel, KOKO and Hoxton Hall; toured with theFun Lovin' Criminalsand recently got back on the road in in the summer of this year, culminating in a packed at show at London's famous Jazz Café.

The Milk Meet Scrimshire

The Milk - Cages (Scrimshire Remix)

private yoga lesson on a yacht: 
https://boogiearkestra.bandcamp.com/track/intimate-healing

boogie arkestra :  intimate healing

'Scorpio’s Waltz’ is the second single to be taken from Project Gemini’s forthcoming album. Project Gemini, aka Paul Osborne, has created a cinematic musical journey that plays out like a long-lost soundtrack (think cult B-movies of the 60s and 70s); 'The Children of Scorpio’ was formed from Paul's love of a myriad of genres; from European library music, acid folk, psych-funk, vintage soundtracks and the contemporary breaks scene. 

’Scorpio’s Waltz’ is a smoky breakbeat psych-funk gem. Evoking images of a 70s psychedelic-rock band jamming late into the hazy night. This slightly sinister instrumental is full blown funky rock with a classic hip-hop breaks’ vibe. 

Although a stellar track, it nearly didn’t make it onto the album as Paul explains, “’Scorpio’s Waltz’ was built around a bassline which I’d had knocking about for a while but hadn’t used. I recorded the bass and drums towards the end of the initial sessions for the album and although in my head I wanted it to sound like a haunted ’60s garage band attempting jazz crossed with an Italian library record (The Strawberry Alarm Clock meets Sandro Brugnolini maybe?), I couldn’t quite figure what to do with it, so as I reached the end of the recording process it was destined not to make the final cut. I heard a 1974 track by Giancarlo Gazzani called ‘Faccia Di Bronzo’ which Sonor Music Editions re-released in June 2020 which has this incredible wild and waspy fuzz guitar solo that blew my mind, so I sent the rhythm track to Barrie Cadogan (Little Barrie) and ‘Faccia Di Bronzo’ as a reference point and he totally nailed the vibe I wanted with what you hear on the record. I was honoured to have one of the best guitar players and nicest dudes in the world bring his ‘A’ game, and he lifted it from potential off-cut to what’s become one of my favourite tracks on the record.”

Download

Project Gemini - Scorpio’s Waltz

Sweaty African Afternoon [ARCHIVES 2011]

"Gimme the Music" Nickodemus feat The Real Live Show & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
For all the music lovers out there, This one features music by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo & lyrics by Stimulus & Malik Work of the NYC group The Real Live Show! 

*Special thanks to Vincent Ahehehinnou & Analog Africa for making this possible!!

"Gimme the Music" Nickodemus feat The Real Live Show & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

It's Valentine's Day, and the new DopeGems record is on point with that special occasion... Heartfelt, soulful performances from the vaults of early quiet storm is what it's all about.

Two beautiful tracks from the golden era of symphonic soul ballads rearranged as rich and intense small group instrumentals.

As an added 'secret' threat, those who know and recognize 'game' will be delighted to see this music reflect either side of their persona.

Available February 14th on digital

Limited Edition White 7" w/ deluxe die-cut cover available March 11th.

Vibraphone : Yragael Unfer
Keyboards : Giuliano Veludo
Guitar : Slikk Tim
Bass : Emmanuel Harang
Drums: Slikk Tim

Arranged, recorded and mixed by Slikk Tim.
Mastered by Shawn Joseph.

Graphic Design by Anton Gret

Special Thanks to Francky "D "

Ballads - EP

DOPEGEMS  "Travelling Man"

Remix of Renegade Brass Band's 'This Shall Not Stand', taken from the remix album 'Beats, Rhymes & Brass Remixed'. Album also features remixes from Tall Black Guy, Colman Brothers and Paper Tiger.

The track also appears on my recent compilation of remixes and productions for BBE 'All Night'.

Renegade Brass Band - This Shall Not Stand (Chris Read's All Night Mix)

These 45s are only available at http://recordcity.net/  or
https://www.discogs.com/seller/RecordCityBK/profile
Don't buy from hawkers and don't pay more than $15

The Friimen - Gonnna Sail On

Cotonete "Cabo" EP is available!
Including the original Cabo track, and a remix by Phil Asher.
This is the last part of the Cotonete trilogy: 3 EPs with "Inside Outside" and "Earth Overshoot Day"
Available on all platforms: https://IDOL.lnk.to/Cabo
Buy the vinyl in our shop: https://www.wiseband.com/yo/shop.php?indispo=1&visuel=1&boutique=3772

Cotonete - CABO

Like a fine wine which matures each year Samosa Records steps into 2020 with a beautifully rounded fuller flavour release in the shape of Funk Purpose Vol. 3. In the same way as its predecessors the label has assembled an impressive team of heavy hitting producers to create an eight track EP which will surely cause serious mischief on dancefloors across the globe. As per Vol. 2 the release will be split into two separate four track 12”s which will be released a week apart on 10th & 20th of February.

German duo SoulBrigada are up next. Taking things down a couple of notches BPM wise with ‘Gonna Do’ they have created a lazy engaging groove which will see many a dancefloor off into a heaving mass.

The Friimen - Gonnna Sail On

Voodoo Funk