Anatoly Ice - Rhymes Are Muted

When I tell you that Anatoly Ice is a Beatmaker from Russia whose latest release is called "Rhymes Are Muted" you probably know exactly what you can expect. Maybe you still remember his remarkable soul collaboration with singer Dariya - now you can hear his works in an all instrumental outfit.

Though vocals or raps would be a good fit for most of the tracks they also make a pretty good and grooving impression on their own. This is a collection of carefully and well placed samples and a an impressive demonstration in beatmaking.

Get the full stream on Soundcloud.

Teej and Cuth - Seven Ages

British producer Cuth is once again part of a great hip hop duo after the relase  with his mate Adam earlier this year. The new record "Seven Ages" features rapper Teej who is equally up to the task of rhyming nicely over Cuth's original and soulful beats.

There is an overall more serious vibe on this one which shows in Teej's lyrics and the dusty beats. But this certainly doesn't subtract the dynamics or the quality of their music. A track like "Boy Meets World" is an excellent example for great storytelling and original beatmaking. There's a concept behind the tunes looking at life through the perspective of seven ages. Guest features on this album are provided by Kiran Harrison, Elemental and Cuth's former partner in crime Adam. If you're a fan of the traditional approach to the rap genre "Seven Ages" should definitely be on your list.

Get the full stream and video to "Born Alone" below or on Bandcamp.

BENJAMIN - Arriving

The Chicago-based label Cherries Records is lately releasing some nice funk and r&b records - and its hard to tell if they are either ignoring modern trends in soul music or if they are the very incarnation of them. 

The latest release features the BENJAMIN-duo and their new album "Arriving". The first single "Those Memories (Sneak Up On Me)" already dropped earlier this year and was a nice example for the synth-vibes and smooth production that you will find on the full-length record. BENJAMIN's music is certainly a timeless approach that might have been the result of a collaboration between Leroy Hutson and Bootsy Collins. Clothed in a super clean and funky production this is one of the best and unique contemporary soul records you will find out there.

Get the full stream on Bandcamp.

Abeokuta Afrobeat - Agô EP

For quite some time now Brazil has seem to be a hot bed for the worldwide expansion of the afrobeat tradition. The Abeokuta collective from Recife is another example for the excellent contributions coming from this part of the globe.

The group's brand new four-track EP is called "Agô" and features an explosive and dynamic approach. The title track and opener is an high speed afro groove with melodic brass sections and nice vocals while a tune like "Lessimí" is an exercise in slow and intense rhythms. The positive vibes on this EP are addicting and are coming to you for free.

Get the stream and free download on Soundcloud.

The Putbacks - Kung Fu Pyramids / Snake Eyes

This is not the first time Melbourne's funk and soul collective The Putbacks is mentioned on this blog. Their ongoing  collaboration with Emma Donovan resulted in one of last year's finest soul records and now there is a brand new single on HopeStreet Records.

The name of this limited vinyl release is "Kung Fu Pyramids" and it is coming your way in an uptempo funk outfit with a driving guitar and haunting organ vibes. On the flipside you will find a very dynamic tune in "Snake Eyes" which is walking the line between solid soul grooves and psychedelic rock jams.

Get the full stream on Soundcloud.

Moon Curse - Spirit Remains

Only one song of the new Moon Curse album "Spirit Remains" is streaming currently on Bandcamp - But this one, the opener "Beneath The Waves", is all you need to get sucked into this band's vibes and to await the release of this record at the end of this month.

It marks the second album by the trio from Milwaukee that again knows how to create slow moving and huge sonic monsters. This first single is a perfect prove of that point. Behind the big guitar sounds and stomping rhythms you will be able to find very melodic elements that are worked out nicely and well developed through the songs. "Spirit Remains" spans five songs - five deep and capturing trips into heavy iffs and melancholic melodies.

Get the stream on Bandcamp.

V​​.​​​/​​A. - Santa's Funk & Soul Christmas Party 3

You should never change a winning compilation series - and you should never stop putting some fresh and groovy vibes to your otherwise dusty and repeating collection of christmas tunes. Tramp Records' "Santa's Funk & Soul Christmas Party" series has just seen it's third installment which also marks the label's 50th full-length release.

Sean Delany and Jan Kohlmeyer compiled this new selection of seriously grooving christmas-themed songs. By now it should go without saying that when you see the Tramp logo you can expect high quality and rare records that you can hardly find anywhere else in the world. Just try Joe Shinall's opener "Sock it To 'em Santa" or any of the following tunes and you will be in a very special chistmas mood. Just imagine these tracks being played out there in the stores during Christmas shopping time - it wouldn't be a drag at all.

Get a preview on Soundcloud and a few tracks on Bandcamp.

Pericopes +1 - These Human Beings

Pericopes is an acclaimed jazz duo from Italy/France consisting of saxophonist Emiliano Vernizzi and pianist Alessandro Sgobbio. The name Pericopes+1 under which their latest album "These Human Beings" was released refers to the addition of New York-based drummer Nick Wight.

On this new approach Wight adds a dynamic element to the lifely sounds of his fellow musicians. The songs on "These Human Beings", and you can really call them songs, follow clear structures and reach out to elements from various genres. Still there is no doubt that you're dealing with a jazz trio - one with very dynamic and progressive songwriting that leaves spaces for playful and melodic outings. Just take the rhythmic approach in "Jersey Zombies" or the shifting moods in the opener "Through Piat" for an example.

Stream some tracks on the group's Soundcloud.

Kowloon Walled City - Grievances

San Francisco's Kowloon Walled City are back with another sublime record. After a number of great outputs including the fantastic "Container Ships"  the band finally releases new full-length album in "Grievances" on Neurot Recordings.

On seven new tracks you will be able to witness Kowloon Walled City's slow stomping rhythms, heavy guitars and desperate shouting vocals. But as always their music goes beyond the typical sludge standards and finds its intensity in dynamic structures with minimal instrumentation. The songs evolve out of these structures and sound very much alive despite their negative and threatening vibes.

Get the full stream on Bandcamp.

Seedy Jeezus - Echoes In The Sky

You could already tell the quality and psychedelic influences of Melbourne's Seedy Jeezus on their heavy grooving S/T release earlier this year - now on the brand new single "Echoes In The Sky" they completely sold their soul to the psych-jam god.

As part of the band's European tour record they put this 16-minutes jam on vinyl. It's a dynamic and grooving jam that evolves slowly on a solid foundation. You probably shouldn't read too much in this kind of music because after all it is a bunch of guys just doing their thing while on the other hand this is the perfect backdrop for authentic and organic music - what more can you ask for?

Get the full stream on Bandcamp.

Tour de Manège - Special Piano

As a music blogger you experience a few constants in the music world out there - One of those is the French producer collective "Tour De Manège" which is releasing solid jazz beats on a regular basis as can be witnessed on part I and II of their previous outputs.

As you can probably guess from the coverart above, this one is all about piano samples and the good old dusty beats. "Special Piano" is the first part of the new special series which features beatmakers Grand-Huit, GooMar, JIM, GuiB, James Cole, Saligo, Dee La Kream and SmokedBeat.

Get the free stream/download on Bandcamp.

Pixel - Golden Years

Last month saw the release of a truly impressive and progressive jazz record. "Golden Years" is the third album release by Pixel from Norway which appeared on Cuneiform Records (like so many other great albums these days).

The quartet consists of double bassist and main vocalist Ellen Andrea Wang, drummer Jon Audun Baar, trumpeter Jonas Kilmork Vemøy, and Harald Lassen on saxophone. Just take the opener "Rainforest" which creates a perfect setting for the following tracks; a steady and grooving rhythm accompanied by soothing brass sounds playing beautiful harmonies. It is the composition of the tracks, how the pieces fit together, that make them special, like the following track "People Pleaser" whose vocal chorus could've easily ended up in any cheesy pop song - but the strong and lively jazz foundation transforms this element into something entirely different. Every sound on "Golden Years" sits perfectly in its place but also leaves room for some improvisational passages.

Get the full stream on Bandcamp.

The Milk - Favourite Worry

It's been a while since The Milk from London have released some new music - Now they are back with a stunning new album "Favourite Worry" on Wah Wah 45s which shows the band in a very soulful mood.

From the great opener "Wonderlust" that equally moves through solid soul grooves and dramatic brass sections to smooth-as-butter tracks like "Lonelines Has Eyes" and the impressive climax in "Favourite Worry", this album is everything that a soul fan could wish for. It features a blend of Stax-like old school vibes and a healthy dose of contemporary elements which show in the tapestry of the recordings and their production.

Get the full stream on Soundcloud.