Hannah Williams and the Affirmations new single, album

Great new single that starts out as a mellow soul groover, then blasts off two thirds of the way thru in spectacular fashion.

 Off the forthcoming album from Hannah Williams and the Affirmations, called '50 Foot Woman', produced by Shawn Lee, out on Record Kicks on Oct 18 2019.

"Hannah Williams, the British soul hurricane who sensationally became part of Jay-Z's chart-topping 4:44 album, is primed and ready for her own national and international breakthrough.

Williams turned heads worldwide when the hip-hop superstar sampled her heart-stopping vocals on 'Late Nights & Heartbreak' for the title track, ‘4.44’ on his 2017 album.

Now Hannah and her exemplary, Bristol-based band the Affirmations deliver a definitive career statement with the drop-dead soulful new album 50 Foot Woman which will be released October 18th on the Milan based imprint Record Kicks"

Ring The Alarm playlist, October 12

Charles Wright - That's all that matters baby
Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers - Hey Jude
Cymande - The message
Cal Tjader - Soul sauce (live)
Cesar's Salad - Manteca
Ray and his Court - Soul freedom
Surrprise Chef - All news is good news
Mauskovic Dance Band - Drinks by the sea
Ronin Arkestra - Lullabies of the lost
Mighty Mocambos - Preaching to the choir
Omar feat Erykah Badu - Be thankful
William Florelle and Bahia - Make it right
Kode9 and Spaceape - Black sun
King Midas Sound - One ting (Dabrye remix)
King Kapisi -Subcranium feeling inst
Alphabethead - Springs got next
Ermehn - Walls of steel
Ladi6 - Burn with me
Dr Tree - Eugino D
Mike Nock - Blackout
Tatou Combo - Femme Antillaises
Silvertones - Tamborito swing
Double Dee and Steinski - Realm of the Jezebel spirit
Tackhead -Ticking timebomb

Surprise Chef album debut

Via College of Knowledge Recs: "All News Is Good News is the title track from the debut album from Melbourne instrumental soul group Surprise Chef.

Drawing on influences from David Axelrod, the tune encapsulates Surprise Chef’s distinct fusion of dramatic film-esque arrangement and heavy jazz-funk rhythm section playing, moving coolly through cinematic shades of light and dark - delving into moments dissonance and positivity.

Recorded live to tape over a handful of sessions in the band’s home studio in Melbourne’s inner-northern suburb of Coburg, the upcoming album traverses the group’s unconventional jazz-funk sound.

Whilst the band comprises of four key members, the album features multiple guest instrumentalists on flute, saxophone, congas and assorted percussion, with vibraphone featuring heavily of the title track.

The album is the first full-length release from the College Of Knowledge Records imprint, following the label’s three 7” releases from Melbourne left- field funk/soul bands Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens."

Out Nov 8 2019, LP/digital.

Ring The Alarm playlist, October 5

The Traffic - California love
Zapp - More bounce to the ounce
Parlet - Pleasure principle
Ohio Players - Take de funk off, fly
George Duke - Dukey stick pt1
BT Express - Do it til you're satisfied
The Totals - Total man
Mephisto Jones - Chocolate hot sauce
DJ Vee feat Mighty Asterix - Best in me
Lord Echo - The creator has a master plan
Lewis McCallum - Tales of Mingus
Beat Pharmacy feat Spaceape - Ghostship
Manassseh and Johnny Osbourne - Rise up
Unitone Hifi - Static (corduroy dreams)
Karate Boogaloo - Bam bam
The Diabolical Liberties - Egyptian moons
Guts - Mucagiami (remix)
Bobby Womack - I can understand it
Percy Sledge - Dark end of the street
Garnet Mimms - Cry baby
Sunny and the Sunliners - Get down
Coko and the Misha Panfilov Combo - Soulstrut
Cannibal and the Headhunters - Land of a thousand dances
Teresa - He's a cooker
Wild Magnolias - Battlefield (Joe Claussell remix)
Nicola Conte with Rosalia de Souza - Maria moita
Gilberto Gil - Batmacumba
Ladi6 - Royal blue (Silent Jay, Sensible J and Leigh Fisher remix)
Mauskovic Dance Band - Same heads

Karate Boogaloo mixtape #2 out now

This is wicked good, out now on LP/CD/digital: "Karate Boogaloo ​bring you ‘KB’s Mixtape No. 2’, reminding us of the beauty of colouring outside the lines; their unconventional funk guided by a steadfast commitment to bending the rules.

2018’s ​KB’s Mixtape No. 1,​ a self-produced and released collection of interpretations of hip hop samples done in Karate Boogaloo’s immediately recognisable wonky style is fast becoming a cult classic amongst Melbourne’s diggers, selling out in local record stores through word of mouth alone.

Now in late 2019, The KB’s bring you the second in their ‘KB’s Mixtape’ series with songs from the 80s that were sampled into your favourite hits​. Songs by Blondie, Kraftwerk, Patti LaBelle & Stevie Nicks sampled by artists such as Destiny’s Child, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey & Warren G, all flipped and twisted in Karate Boogaloo’s unique way."

Ronin Arkestra debut album arrives

Out now on Albert's Favoutrites: "Led by producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Mark de Clive Lowe, Tokyo’s Rōnin Arkestra brings together some of the most supreme and innovative players in Japan’s Jazz and electronic scene, featuring members of Kyoto Jazz Sextet, WONK, Cro-Magnon, Root Soul, Sleepwalker, Sauce81 and Kyoto Jazz Massive.

Formed in 2017, the collective’s debut album ‘Sonkei’, released 27th September via Albert’s Favourites, fuses ’60s deep and spiritual jazz with experimental electronica. The album follows the release of their critically acclaimed debut EP ‘First Meeting’, released earlier this year."

Mighty Mocambos drop new album soon

Their new album '2066'is out oct 18 on Legere Recordings (with guests Gizelle Smith, Lee Fields, Ice T), single out now. Check Bandcamp.

Moodymann doco

Great short doco on Kenny Dixon Jr aka Moodymann, interviewed by Gilles Peterson. Well worth  checking.

Ring The Alarm playlist, September 21

Tony Allen - No accommodation for Lagos
James Brown - Shoot your shot
Reuben Wilson - Stoned out of my mind
Lyn Collins - You can't love me if you don't respect me
Jean Jacques Perrey and Luke Vibert - Dream 106
S-Tone Inc - Rendezvous a minuit
La Creme De New York - Cisco kid
Ray and His Court - De eso nada monada
Gilberto Gil - Batmacumba
War - Cinco de mayo
Mandrill - Having a love attack
Richard Eriwata - Weekend
Collision - Run run run
Dalvanius - Who said that
The Supremes - Love is like an itching in my heart
Four Tops - Something about you
Ray Charles - You're just about to lose our clown
Inez Andrews - I hear music
Honeydrippers - Impeach the President
Cymande - Brothers on the slide
Yellow sunshine - Yellow sunshine
Omar with Erykah Badu  -Be thankful
Vin Gordon - Styler man
Blackjob - Queen in my empire
Coldcut with Roots Manuva - Beat your chest

Sir Frank Karikari & The Polyversal Souls new 7

New from Philphon, on 7": "Sir Frank Karikari is the son of legendary highlife musician Ralph Karikari who played bass on countless classic albums such as "Sikyi Highlife" by Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings. Frank grew up surrounded 24/7 with high class highlife music plus he has inherited the natural talent of his father. Now he teamed up with the Polyversal Souls to keep the spirit of highlife alive.

'Siakwaa / Nana Agyei' are two songs taken from above mentioned album 'Sikyi Highlife'. Frank gets here some vocal support from the original court singers of the Ashanti king, which fits perfectly, as both songs are praise songs to the king.

'Odo Agye Gye Me' is composed by legendary Kumasi based singer Baffour Kyei, who sang for groups such as Kyeremateng Stars or B.B. Collins & His Powerful Believers. Besides creating this song, he is part of the choir on this future highlife classic." Out Sept 20 2019.

Ring The Alarm playlist, September 14

Quantic - Te pico el yaibi
Bongmaster - Brothers and sisters
Lee Oskar - Haunted house (Leftside wobble edit)
Charles Wright and Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band - Just to settle my nerves
Sir Joe Quarterman and Free Soul - I got so much trouble on my mind
DLT  -Liquid skies (ultra neon mix)
Staff Benda Billi  - Sala mosala
Opotopo - Belema
Moodswingers - Recede to flourish
Eru Dangerspiel - Sambaskool dropout
Gene Faith - Family man
Marvin Gaye  -You're a wonderful one
Five Stairsteps and Cubie - Little young lover
Jackie Wilson - Somebody up there likes you
Della Reese - If it feels good, do it
The Hueys - You aint no hippie
Edwin Starr - Don't tell me I'm crazy
Marion Jarvis - Get it
Betty Harris - Cry to me
Dottye Fultz - Jesus is a soul man
Bobby Moore - Hey Mr DJ
Uncle Louie - Full tilt boogie
Mantronix - Scream
Che Fu - Misty frequencies (Submariner remix)
Merata Mita and Diatribe - Treaty song (long version)
Ballistic Brothers - Prophecy reveal

Ring The Alarm playlist, September 7

Reble - Sweetest taboo (soca)
Gichy Dans Beachwood No 9 - On a day like this (Todd Terje edit)
Kid Creole and the Coconuts - I'm a wonderful thing baby
Grayship Daviz - Get up get down and let your body pop
P-Crew - Nasty rock
Beside with Bernard Fowler  - Odeon (dance mix)
Beat Pharmacy - Drifter (dub mix)
Fat Freddy's Drop - Shiverman
Mala - Como como (Theo Parrish remix)
Shogun Orchestra - Shadow clan
Julien Dyne - Incredulous
Lou Courtney - Skate now
Delfonics - Down is up, up is down
Eddie Floyd - Big bird
Bobby McClure - Doing it rite on time
Family Daptone - Hey brother
Dizzy Gillespie - Soul kiss pt1
James Brown - Get up offa that thing
Cold Blood - Kissing my love
Ann Winley - Watchdog
Black Heat - Love the life you live

Ring The Alarm playlist, August 31

Herbie Hancock - Dont hold it
Sir Joe Quarterman and Free Soul - Thanks Dad
The Rebirth - Talking me down (Domu remix)
Lewis McCallum feat Tama Waipara - New someone
Willie Colon and Reuben Blades - Plastico  (Bugz in the Attic remix)
Maxwell Implosion - Grasshopper
Manasseh - Skenga 12" mix
Sound Dimension - Real rock
Lone Ranger - Noah in the ark
Xternals - Queen of the minstrels
Jackie Mittoo - Fancy pants
Rhythm and Sound with Bobbo Shanti - Poor people must work
African Head Charge - Somebody touch I
Bobby Bland - I'm so tired
Four Tops - Something about you
Alice Clark - You hit me right where it hurt me
Shirley Ellis - Puzzle song
Durand Jones and the Indications -You and me
ZZ Hill - I keep on loving you
Gene Chandler - Check yourself
Impressions -Fool for you
Lou Courtney - I've got just the thing
St Etienne - Only love can break your heart
Primal Scream - Higher than the sun
African Vibration - Hinde (Julien Dyne rework)
Mark de Clive Lowe - Ghaziya
AceTones - Rolling like a Trojan
Wild Bill Ricketts - Riki

Ring The Alarm playlist, August 24

Bomb The Bass - Bugpowder dust (La Funk Mob mix)
Tosca - Chocolate Elvis (Boozoo Bajou mix)
The Nomad - Look around
Otautahi Allstars - Shot
Freddie Cruger - Running from love
Phase 5 - Bag juice
Mo Kolours - Biddies (truth is light edit)
Myele Manzanza feat Charlie K and Ladi6 - City of Atlantis
Tuatara - The desert sky
Mulatu Astatque - Netsanet
Joe Quarterman and Freee Soul - You know it's true
Fred Wesley & the JBs - Everybody got soul
Breakestra  -Joyful noise
Soul Searchers - Ashley's roachclip
Rufus and Chaka Khan - Once you get started (Reflex edit)
Chuck Higgins -Funkyfied
D'Angelo -Spanish joint
Liquid Liquid - Cavern
Hugh Masekela - Don't go lose it baby (dub version)
New Order - Confusion
William Florelle and Bahia - Make it right
Electro Hafiz - Yarim Pansiyon
Khurangbin - Four of five

Ring The Alarm playlist, August 17

George Benson - World is a ghetto
Ghetto Kitty - Stand up and be counted
Patti Jo - Make me believe in you
Laura Lee - Crumbs off the table
James Brown - There it is pt1
Jr Walker Allstars - Shake and fingerpop
Bill Doggett - Honky tonk pt1
Aaron Neville - Why worry
Aretha Franklin - Jump
Cameo - Soul army
Peaches and Herb - Roller skatin' mate
Brides of Funkenstein - Disco to go
Bronx River Pkwy - La valla
La Lupe - Fever
International Observer - Friday afternoon dub
Salmonella Dub - Problems (SonSine mix)
Unitone Hifi - Juicy (Juicy NDS mix)
Adi Dick - Jah jah is coming
Diabolocal Liberties - Interplanetary children
Theo Parrish - Footwork
Brassroots - Good life
The M-Tet - Express yourself
Recloose - Dust
Soul Surfers and Shawn Lee - Jose Chicago
Clifton Chenier - Black gal
Leonard Charles - Neil's rainbow