Manchester-based trumpeter, composer, producer, and label owner Matthew Halsall wanted to capture “the feeling of openness and escapism” for his new album “An Ever Changing View”, which arrived last Friday, three years after his stunning “Salute To The Sun” LP. He set himself up in an architect’s house in the British countryside and composed this…
Two years after “In Praise Of Shadows”, the critically acclaimed debut album by Jacob Allen, better known as Puma Blue, the South Londoner is back with “Holy Waters”. It’s another hopelessly romantic, in parts pretty gloomy, but overall absolutely exciting set of tunes. His whispering vocals lead the charming melody of “Pretty”, a guitar-driven ballad…
Singer extraordinaire Stacey Kent has just announced a new album, to be released worldwide on November 10th. “Summer Me, Winter Me” is supposed to be “a response to all those people who have said over the years, somewhat disappointed, “you haven’t recorded “If You Go Away”?”, and so on”, according to a statement from Stacey…
It is supposed to be a tribute to her father João Gilberto. Singer Bebel Gilberto‘s new album, simply called “João”, has just come out and it is a return to her basic musical memories. The instrumentation on this nicely subdued and stripped-back album is actually quiet comforting. However, her voice is not. She has now…
UK based neosoul, funk, house, soul, and pop singer and songwriter Natasha Watts will return with her fourth album “Music Is My Life” on September 22nd. It’s her first album to be released on vinyl. One of the UK’s leading female independent soul artists, Natasha has always come up with strong and solid releases ever…
Introducing RADIOHOP, a young, four-man group from Amsterdam. They met while studying jazz at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. The four band members hail from three different countries: Joshua Lutz plays keyboards, Johnny Biner guitar, Joel Svedberg bass, and Euan Jenkins drums. Inspired by the music of J Dilla, Azymuth, Herbie Hancock, Kaidi Tatham, D’Angelo, and…
Two years after his “Deadpan Love” debut, Joshua Karpeh, or Cautious Clay, returns with his Blue Note debut “KARPEH”. The Cleveland-born multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer, has come up with a genre-defying album which spans everything from jazz to indie pop and beyond. Cautious can be heard on the album’s 15 tracks on flute, bass…
LA-based sound meister Kiefer has just released his second single from his upcoming album. After “Dreamer”, “August Again” is another brilliant example of his exciting melange of electronica, jazz, hip hop, soul, and r&b. His new album “It’s OK, B U”, comes out on my birthday by the way: September 22nd. Another reason to celebrate….
Brazilian singer and songwriter Bruno Berle just announced a short European tour. Pretty short-scaled, but please check him out if you’re around in one of the following cities. Bruno released his wonderful debut “No Reino Dos Afetos” last year on Far Out Recordings, based in London. 08/10 Wimborne St. Giles – We Out Here Festival08/11…
There was a time period from the late 70s to the late 80 when looking at album credits was at least as important as the music of the main artist. Background vocalists were especially important to me when picking up records from formerly unknown artists. Paulette McWilliams was singing lead and background vocals on albums…