Single Review: “I Gøt Home” – Ben l’Oncle Soul

Oh my word. On first hearing this track I thought it was a long forgotten track from the 60s left in the archives of some studio in Memphis. The vocals are rough, and full of blues and soul, Ben l’Oncle Soul’s voice does not show his 41 years of age he sings with a power …

Single Review: “A La Mode” – Jazz Emu

Now this is so cool! This simmers along at the beginning, with instruments that sound about ready to explode – but the energy is held back for the vocals and it switches between rock and theatrical. I could imagine this being a treat live! The lyrics reference the high life – ala mode meaning in …

Single Review: “Back To Black” – The Zutons

This is the cover of a classic Amy Winehouse song I never knew I needed. The connection between The Zutons and Amy Winehouse is a pretty cool one given that she turned an already banging track of theirs called “Valerie” into arguably one of the best cover versions ever. Now The Zutons are back with …

Album Review: “Eleven Short Stories – The Remix Album” – The Music Of Sound

The Music Of Sound X Minimums – First Light  This has such a cinematic feel to it, and I wouldn’t expect any less from Minimums having played and reviewed their work before. This is like an overture to the album and it’s an inspired choice both in choice of remixer and the sequence in which …

In The Spotlight: Sammy Stein Talks To Kim Cypher.

Tell us briefly about your journey in music until now. Music has been a lifelong journey. As a young child I was drawn to all things musical. There was always music playing in the house (my dad loved big band music) and when I was introduced to the recorder and the piano, I could instinctively …

Single Review: “You Lost Out” – The Music Of Sound

This song is just gorgeous. With a line up change and the addition of Sherry Sahayaraj, The Music Of Sound keep their melodic flavours going but with a slight spice in flavour.  Let’s talk about the instruments first. It’s a simple arrangement, bass keeping the groove along with the drums with a slight variation in …

Single Review: “Money” – Ahmala

Well! This combines jazz, hip hop, neo soul, a touch of Motown and some gospel into this lovely track! There’s a flute to kick off proceedings over a bass that I’m suspecting is played live on the recording – it’s got some depth to it. Add to that a Rhodes piano and an upright piano, …

Single Review: “Last Call” – Summer Lee Carlson X Mute Speaker

Keeping with their overall vibes of old school soul Summer Lee Carlson and producer Mute Speaker are back. This takes a drop in tempo but maintains the same temperature, there are snare drum rolls with ghost notes as well as some sneaky percussion to keep the groove going – there are some synth pads in …

Single Review: “Angel” – Sinead Campbell

Wow. This is the 70s throwback I didn’t know I needed today. This has everything – a glockenspiel, electric piano, flute, guitar run through a wah and drums and bass with a pocket deeper than Elon Musk. But let’s salute Sinead’s vocals here – she goes from playful to straight down the line jazz and …