New Wax. #002

Bored of your collection? Need some new music? Every week we’ll be taking you through our current personal favourite releases and represses. You’ve got no need to look elsewhere, let us do the hard work…

This weeks selection comes through with some fresh releases from Session Victim and Al Zanders to name a few along with a compilation from Ryo Kawasaki…

Session Victim - Came To Be Alive (EP)

The boys that can’t stand still and will only work with dripping new wax have produced what can only be described as an absolute chiller of a house track to round off Delusions Of Grandeur’s latest EP featuring Rush Hour regular Nebraska on ‘grit’ duty while Ugly Drums, known for his work on Kolour LTD, fills in the rest of this EP.

Came To Be Alive can only be described as “a completely blissed-out, dusty soul jam tailor-made as much for cozy nights in front of a log fire as for antipodean BBQ’s under a hazy sun.”

We’ll be catching up with the boys for a full on interview later this month and getting an insight into the German duo’s latest projects and musical adventures. Out last week, you can grab this wax only EP (part 1 of 2) on Juno HERE

Trouble Knows Me (Madlib & Sam Herring) - Rings In The Coffee

Premiered earlier this week on Four Tet’s takeover of Benji B’s BBC Radio 1 slot, Madlib’s first collaboration with Future Islands’ Sam herring to form the ‘Trouble Knows Me’ duo hints at a string of exciting new material to come from the Californian beat maker and his new lyricist.

An overly but beautifully sampled track bursting with melodic colour, Madlib’s immediately recognisable cut from 2014’s Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton OST finally receives some lyrical treatment. Sam Herring lays down pure poetic lyricism to complete this new gem, known previously for his rapping under the alias of Hemlock Ernst.

Release date for this track is under wraps for the time being but take a listen HERE.

Al Zanders - AZ001

The Sheffield born producer (known to some as Lodger) is keeping things local this time round with new EP featuring an edit from Sheffield funk infused brass group The Hot Diamond Aces. Expect heavy afro influenced vibes on side A while the original B-side production takes a more tribal-house route with jazz flairs overlaid throughout…

On a side note, Hot Diamond Aces… WOW! This Sheffield group bring such energy to their brass heavy performances, underpinned by heavy African influenced rhythmic sections.

We’ll be checking in with Al later this month so keep an eye out for an exclusive interview coming your way. Sadly this release is a long way off but have a drool while you listen to the preview over here at Redeye and maybe even put in a pre-order if you get a little too over-excited…

Rio Kawasaki - Selected Works 1979 to 1983 (Album)

Ryo Kawasaki is a jazz fusion guitarist from Tokyo, Japan. He is best known as one of the first musicians to develop and popularise the fusion genre and for helping to develop the guitar synthesizer in collaboration with Roland Corporation and Korg.

The guys over at Nu Northern Soul have been digging through Kawasaki’s extensive selection to bring us a small plate of his finest works. They’ve said it themselves; “to be honest we could have easily added 20 more to this list.” This press has some truly imaginative and experimental forms of Japanese Jazz packed into it. Be sure to take a listen to the preview included below.

Up for release on April 11th, preorder your copy over at Bandcamp

Obas Nenor - My Hopes [Nenorion]

Next up, Obas Nenor. This caught my eye simply for its initial sleazy funk baseline which explodes into a delightfully chordal climax accompanied by the smooth vocals of none other than Jocelyn Brown, taken from her disco classic ‘Somebody Else’s Guy.’

Released on Obas’ own label Nenorian, this four track EP is definitely a consideration in my weekly record budget and so should it be in yours. “The ‘Tonight EP’ consists of dancefloor-focussed house jams with a heavy disco influence”

Released only a few days ago… check out the preview below and get your copy HERE

Munk -Hot Medusa (Kai Alce remix)

Last but not least… This next track is not so much of a new releases but as I only came across it recently I

couldn’t help but throw it in last for your listening pleasure. While the rest of Munk’s EP lacks much character, Kai Alce’s remix of Hot Medusa deconstructs the original and re-pieces it into a barely recognisable remix filled with vibrant jazz ornamentation and strong rhythm to support.

Ever since discovering Alce, I cannot put a bad word against a single one of his productions. Each new track bears the bones of a house-like production within its rhythmic sections, although its funked up counterpart is built to sound almost improvised amaze me every time. Be sure to check out ‘Spring’ as well as all the rest…

This EP can be purchased on Juno however for £8.50 plus postage and only one outstanding track, it’s almost certainly a bittersweet purchase…

Until next time.