It’s been 35 years since “There’s Nothing Like This”, Omar’s groundbreaking debut which still keeps on spinning in our Barbalala playlist of alltime favorite tracks. And 8 years after “Love In Beats”, his last album for Freestyle Records, Omar returns with his first album for BBE, the double LP “Brighter The Days” with 16 new…
lovetempo is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based singer and guitarist Mattie Safer (who has worked with Poolside and The Rapture in the past). His first EP came out a couple of years ago. Band members also include Mel Chambers (vocals, keys), Andre Chez Lewis (keys), Mayteana Morales (dr), and Henry Raker (sax). In late 2023, he…
I had a lot of admiration and good things to say when Macy Gray released her 2016 album “Stripped”. And I still go back to her debut album “On How Life Is”, which came out in 1999. Macy is currently on a big tour celebrating 25 years since her debut. But yesterday, some things went…
There is an immense amount of beauty on “Heartstrings”, the new album by UK duo Snowpoet, Lauren Kinsella and Chris Hyson. The whole album was recorded and written in the studio, with the band improvising in real time. The result is a stunning collection of ten songs, starting off with the ethereal and easily flowing…
Melbourne-born and London based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Gordon Li, better known as Don Glori, has just released his third LP after “Welcome” (2022) and “Don’t Forget To Have Fun” (2024). “Paper Can’t Wrap Fire” is his first for Mr. Bongo Records. His brilliant mix of Fusion Jazz à la George Duke, Brazilian music, and…
Black Loops is Italian Riccardo Paffetti who has finally released his debut full-length album “Always Moving” on Freerange Records, out since May 9th on double vinyl. The house producer who lives in Berlin has stretched and varied his sound which includes some gut-wrenching soul, funk and disco in addition to his warm and breezy house…
Multi-instrumentalist and multi-talented singer and composer Jordan Lee has finally released his debut album. Known as the co-writer and singer of French 80s funk and boogie sensation Dabeull, (his “Analog Love” LP was recorded on the same console as “Thriller”), Jordan impressed us two years ago with the sensational “Easy”. On “Fighter For Love”, his…
José James is back with a sequel to last year’s brilliant “1978” LP. The eight new tracks were recorded in one take at Dreamland Studio which is an old church close to Woodstock, New York. His band includes his wife Taali on vocals, BIGYUKI on keys, David Ginyard and Kyle Miles on bass, and Jharis…
Chet Baker needs no introduction here but he will probably get some new admirers and fans with this latest 15-song compilation of some of his best-known tunes, recorded by a plethora of young artists from all over the world, to be released this Friday on Decca records. It coincides with the 70th anniversary of his…
19 year old Berlin-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Lautaro released his second album “AUTONOMIA” last Friday. We’ve already praised his four singles which came out in the last couple of months as a preview. This is really a pretty surprising output for such a young artist since it has a lot of ingredients…