| WAH WAH 45S / Music Blog |  | | May News Update |
1. WAH WAH 45S LABEL NEWS
OUT SOON!!
Hardkandy / Second To None b/w Dunks 7 Inch / Digital Download
Second To None, the debut single taken from the album of the same name, serves as the perfect introduction to an act you may already be well aware of: Hardkandy. Having released two well received albums on Catskills Records, this Brighton based outfit have now joined the Wah Wah 45s family with their third, deeply soulful LP.
Hardkandys new album features not only guest vocals from some of the most talented soul/blues artists in the UK including Martin Harley, Laura Vane and Fink (Ninja tune), but also the very Curtis Mayfield styled vocals of Seany Clarke, who features on this dope 7 inch single. With its dance floor friendly beats, soulful strings and Seans stirring vocals, Second To None comes off something like a male vocal version of Nicole Willis If This Aint Love - itÕs that hot!!! On the flip, Dunks is a scorching afro/jazz workout with more of those glorious strings, fierce drums and some very sweet scatting vocals to round off this cute club nugget.
The man behind Hardkandy, Tim Bidwell, says, I wanted to create something that tips a hat to all my influences like 60s and 70s soul but also explores the blues elements of these genre. At the root of all my work is a need to create great songs with great melody, and IÕm sure youÕll agree heÕs achieved just that!
OUT SOON!!
Hardkandy / Second To None CD / Digital Download
Second To None, the much anticipated third album from Hardkandy, features not only guest vocals from some of the most talented soul/blues artists in the UK including Martin Harley, Laura Vane and Seany Clarke, but also musical contributions from Fink (Ninja tune) and Simon Capstone Little (Bonobo live band).
The man behind Hardkandy, musician/producer Tim Bidwell has had a busy year producing many artists including Peggy Sue and the Pirates, Jono McCleery, and Kate Walsh (whos album went to number 1 in the I-tunes chart across most of the world, and has since been licensed to Mercury records in Europe and Verve in the U.S.). As a side project, Tim also runs an indie folk label Folklaw with Fin Greenall (Fink). All this and he still somehow found the time to write and produce Second To None!
The new album is a beautifully crafted journey into soul, blues and funk. Tim says, I wanted to create something that tips a hat to all my influences like 60s and 70s soul but also explores the blues elements of these genre. At the root of all my work is a need to create great songs with great melody and its something, I feel, IÕve really achieved with this album. Also, It was a real joy and honour working with these great artists. It was important for me to collaborate with the right people that could bring a certain sound and feeling to the project.
Hardkandy have previously released two albums with Catskills Records: 2002s critically acclaimed How Do You Do Nothing and 2006s very well received Last To Leave featuring such artists as Terry Callier and Quantic. As a live band they have graced The Big Chill, Shepherds Bush Empire, 93Ft East and Cargo.
WeÕre chuffed to bits to have Hardkandy join the Wah Wah family, and we think this album is their finest and most soulful to date.
Hardkandys new album is made up of strong Sly/The Meters/Mayfield 60/70s soul influenced tracks in a similar way to Nicole Willis or Sharon Jones. Fly Magazine
Hardkandy earn themselves a place in funk nirvana with the likes of the Meters and Sly Stone. Uncut
Loveable, dancefloor savvy modern Soul. MixMag
A Slow Burning Surprise. HipHop Mag.
Smooth like peanut butter theyll set your heart a flutter. Knowledge
Another Classic. DJ
Hardkandy deserve the recognition that the likes of Zero 7 gained back at the start of the millennium. Blowback
OUT NOW!!
Various Artists / Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits: Three CD / Digital Download
Third compilation already! Blimey, time does fly, and with it some artists come and go. Over the past twelve months or so, though, weve been lucky enough to hook up with a number of exciting talents and welcome them to the Wah Wah 45s family.
This selection kicks off with the smoky vocals of East London chanteuse Stac, a friend of the label for some time now, whos not alone in joining the Wah Wah fold. We also welcome Sheffields Middlewood Sessions, delivering a pair of 21st Century jazz crackers from the North-East, and two brand new signings: the incredible Ashley Thomas, and our friends from Brighton, the very soulful Hardkandy, who both have albums coming on Wah Wah 45s in the first part of this year.
Other acts continue to progress on the label: Luna & Bazis come through with a very hip re-working of the tune that featured on the last compilation, Speeka deliver one of the instrumental highlights off their brilliant Bonfire album, and the Colman Brothers do what they do best with their latest club jazz killer. Our favourite young bucks are also on display with Jamie Finlay dropping a couple of quality cuts (in anticipation of his debut album, Pocket Science, out later this year) and Scrimshire debuting a brand new joint, and vocal talent, with Mistaken. Relative old timers, and the best band in the world, Talc, are back too of course, with a little teaser from their new album Licensed Premises Lifestyle, out very soon too. All very exciting! Hold tight!
A lovely selection and great to listen to. really like that folky touch in some of the tunes. Karsten John (Vinyl Vibes, Germany)
Radio support including Mike Stukes, NYC and Kev Beadle, Solar Radio.
OUT NOW!!
Jamie Finlay / Step Forward (Mr. Fraziers Mix) b/w Original Version
Jamie Finlay: Singer, songwriter, producer, DJ, and all-round good guy from Manchester, comes through with his third single for Wah Wah 45s. The pensive ballad Step Forward, featuring Jamies vocal debut, comes hot on the heels of underground smash Show Me, and should tantalise your ear-holes for this young mans debut album, Pocket Science, due to drop later in the year.
Step Forward comes in all its original, subtle glory of course, but as a little 7 inch bonus weve included a mix by the very mysterious Mr. Frazier thatll get you in the mood for some very early summer madness!! Well say no more other than its a little scorcher!!
Critics have long been tipping Master Finlay as a name to watch and have compared his sound to Prince, Plantlife, George Clinton and, legendary producers, the Mizell Brothers. Jamies live show, with the man himself at the helm on lead vocals, has been tearing up venues across the UK, having played at Londons Jazz Cafe, Cargo and Pigalle Club, and The Mint Lounge in Manchester, and is set to continue a busy schedule throughout 2008.
Reactions
With a voice already likened to Prince, Plantlife and Al Green and with touches of Curtis Mayfield thrown in the mix, this young Mancunian should have a pretty sweet career ahead of him. And with tunes as catchy as this, he should have a pretty long one too. With more a commercial production edge this could go big, but for the time being the minimal keys and lo fi drums will worm their way into your head along with the catchy as hell chorus. Great stuff. 4/5 (Shepdog, IDJ Mag)
It is always an excitement connected to get new releases from wah wah family. You know it will always be very very good and first class quality, but will it be jazz, soul, folk, house or bad ass beats? This time the track Step Forward by Jamie Finlay is an brilliant soul pearl! Finlays voice got character and stands out. This will spin at my record player, followed by kisses from my girlfriend the whole spring and summer, yeah! Eivind Olsvik (Hifi Terapi, Norway)
You can't go wrong with Mr Finlay. Sammy Goulbourne (The Other Side, Birmingham)
Sultry original soul. Fergus Murphy (Denmark)
Nice dubby track! Menno Jager (Sound Of Swound)
Radio support from Kev Beadle on Solar Radio, Domu on 1Xtra, The Bogaloo radio show, Germany, and Menno Jager on Sound Of Swound.
OUT NOW!!
Scrimshire feat. Inga Lil Aker / Warm Sound (Aaron Jerome Mix) b/w When The World Was Young (Part 2)
Scrimshires second single on Wah Wah 45s comes almost exactly a year after his debut, You Will Save Me (remixed by Spiritual South) dropped, and during that time this young South London producer has been busy in his basement honing his sound and putting the finishing touches to a plethora of stunning new tracks.
Warm Sound, featuring the sublime vocals of up and coming Norwegian songstress Inga Lill Aker, first appeared on the second Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits compilation in 2007, and here gets a gorgeous minimal house re-rub by man of the moment Aaron Jerome.
On the flip, Scrimshire continues to explore the style of his first single with an extended, percussive workout entitled When The World Was Young (Part 2) - Part 1 will feature on the debut album!! - where the haunting choral vocals take things that bit deeper Ð reminiscent of a certain Troubleman perhaps.
Reactions
Bit of a double whammy from the Wah Wah camp this month, with another belting release in the form of this Carl Craigesque remix from London producer and wearer of nice jumpers Mr Aaron Jerome. Squelching synths and brooding keys supplement the minimal vocal licks in what is definitely the defining remix of his career thus far. On the flip, the sprawling tech jazz of ÔWhen The World Was YoungÕ gets the double thumbs up too. More like this please chaps. 5/5 (Shepdog, IDJ Magazine)
I love the Scrimshire! Just put it in my new chart! Karen P (Broad Casting / Sonar Kollektiv)
The track ÒWarm soundÓ by Scrimshire gets the right twist by lovely Aaron Jerome who turns the track into a deep soulful electronic head nodder. It is great to hear so many Scandinavian talents slipping through the wahwah releases. Good work fellas! Eivind Olsvik (Hifi Terapi, Norway)
As usual, some faultless releases from WW. Scrims World track is getting an instant rinsing on my floors and in my show this week. Again, it looks like I'll be looking for these on vinyl when they surface. Sammy Goulbourne (The Other Side, Birmingham)
Warm Sound (AJ mix) is for my bag. Will play it out when I get a chance. Zilvinas Strumbas (Bagpak Music)
Love that Scrimshire track When The World Was Young. Beautiful! Simon S (Futuristica)
Great ep from Scrimshire. The original is very organic and the AJ remix brings it to the dance floor. Menno Jager (Sound Of Swound)
Radio play from Domu on 1Xtra, Patrick Forge on Kiss Fm, Menno Jager on Sound Of Swound (Warm Sound original and remix version!), Sammy Goulbourne on The Other Side Radio Show (When The World Was Young), Kev Beadle on Solar Radio, The Bogaloo Radio Show, Germany, and Joe90 on Kiss FM (Bristol).
Coming soon : singles from Hardkandy, Ashley Thomas, Stac, Part Time Heroes & Talc. Plus albums from Hardkandy, Ashley Thomas, Talc, Part Time Heroes, Jamie Finlay and the next Wah Wah compilation!!
All Wah Wah 45s are distributed through Kudos. Check www.kudosrecords.co.uk
2. CLUB NEWS
WAH WAH @ CARGO
Mnay thanks to the mighty TALC for delivering their finest performance yet at Cargo last Friday (how good is that new material sounding!!!???) and to HARDKANDY for smashing it with their debut Cargo performance. Much love too to the beautiful PALM SPRINGS who successfully battled the merchant bankers in the yard, and to Sampsa and Vesa from CLUB WAHOO! who delivered the perfect Wah Wah set!! Another ace session.
OTHER CLUB SESSIONS
Look out for the Wah Wah crew at HOSPITALITY @ HEAVEN on May 23rd, and also Mr. Servini on the decks at VERSION EXCURSION @ EAST VILLAGE earlier on the same night Ð a double whammy!! Then we are back at THE PIGALLE with HARDKANDY and OK-MA live!! Do not miss that one.
FAVOURITE THINGS came back with a vengeance last month and continues every Monday night at the brand new and totally gorgeous PROUD GALLERIES with DJ Dom Servini, the odd special guest, and the band. Essential Monday nights!
| | 2008-05-23 11:02:16 | | | March News Update | 1. WAH WAH 45S LABEL NEWS
ANOTHER NEW WAH WAH SIGNING!!
Following on from the announcement of HARDKANDY and ASHLEY THOMAS last month, were continuing to behave like a certain West London football team and are delighted to tell you that we shall be putting out the debut album by THE PART TIME HEROES later on in 2008. Weve obviously been working with these boys for some time under their PTH PROJECTS guise, and were over the moon when they agreed to join the Wah Wah family full time! The album will drop in September, and itÍs a corker!! In the meantime expect the Ready For Change EP, featuring the vocals of PETE SIMPSON and BRIDGETTE AMOFAH, to appear in June, and that too, of course, is an absolute cracker!! More news soon.
OUT SOON!!
MARCH 31ST
The new Jamie Finlay 7 incher, Step Forward, will be dropping on March 31st, with both the original version and reggae style Mr. Fraziers Mix on the vinyl; and the much anticipated Aaron Jerome minimal house mix of Warm Sound by Scrimshire will be out too (here it on Aarons podcast with GP here http://www.gillespetersonworldwide.com/podcasts.php ), with brand new Scrimshire cut When The World Was Young on the flip too. Watch out!
These will be followed up by the new Wah Wah 45s compilation Underground Hits and Exclusive Bits : Three, which should drop on April 7th, and will feature exclusives from Stac, Ashley Thomas, Talc, Luna & Bazis, Scrimshire, Hardkandy and Middlewood Sessions. Then itÍs all about Hardkandy as we bring you their debut single for Wah Wah, and title track from the album, the Curtis Mayfield flavoured Second To None, on 7 inch vinyl (backed by the afro jazz club nugget Dunks). Then on April 21st we unleash the full length album; a collection of classy tunes mainly on the soul tip and featuring the vocals of Fink, Martin Harley and Laura Vane amongst others!! Soon come.
OUT NOW!!
FEB 11TH 2008
Middlewood Sessions / Red Waters b/w Astro Blue 12Inch / Digital Download
Wah Wah 45s present the brand new single from Middlewood Sessions in 2008!! The outfit from Sheffield, of Fallback fame (released on Brownswood Recordings) debut on Wah Wah with a double headed jazz monster!
Reactions
Really enjoying both sides of this release. Red Waters maybe tips the scales as standout cut, but both tracks capture the true emotive essence of fusion music in its literal sense. Something new for Jazz dancers surely. Spiritual South, Raw Fusion.
Astro Blue for me matey!!!! Hmmm puts me in mind of 4hero 2 Pages era....but for now!!!! Many thanks, will spin on de radio and club for sure! Domu, TrebleO / CoOp
Many thanks for the tracks...really strong. Its hard to pick a winner as both tracks are dope. Proper! Mad Mats, Raw Fusion, Sweden.
A gorgeous double header...a stone cold brass rocking masterpiece with some lovely ivory tinkling towards the ending with Red Waters and some foot shuffling loveliness on the flipside with Astro Blue. Played Red Waters in Japan in December and sounded great on the system. Nik Weston, Mukatsuku Records.
I absolutely love Astro Blue. For me its sounds like a positive spring anthem. Spiritual brothers of 4 hero....Red Waters is a very good uptempo mover too..lovely...Florian Seyberth, Boozoo Bajou, Germany.
Monster tunes. They are so good I'm planning a visit to Sheffield in Feb to check out the live show. Of course Red Waters has been play listed and Astro Blue is on next weeks show. Simon Harrison, Basic Soul radio show.
Thanks for the Red Waters track, really excellent stuff, possibly my fave Wah Wah track so far... Anyways, gonna play it tonight on our new radio show http://www.phonic.fm. Pete Isaac, Jelly Jazz, Plymouth.
Yep, another sterling release from WW (I'll no doubt end up purchasing the vinyl of this one!). Both tracks are strong with Red Waters about to get some stress on my dance floors this weekend, and Astro Blue destined for immediate airplay on my show next week. Sammy Goulbourne, The Other Side Radio Show, Birmingham.
Milic and me love it and cane it all over the place! This is how things should sound in 2008. Great release. A real dance floor monster with a jazzy edge. Killer arrangements, killer structure, very dynamic all the way through, no boring copy-paste jazz-bossa patterns, this one is really fresh! One of the twelves of the year for sure! DJ Jazzmate, Belgrade.
Hello Love! Got the Middlewood 12. Really like both tracks. Upstairs at Bang Bang this weekend, Middlewood loveliness. Snorre Seim, Butti49 / Bang Bang, Norway.
Nice one! Feels like a breeze from Curtis Mayfield camp.. really digging the Astro Blue.. lovely little tune to make me feel like I am still in the Carribean, Zilvinas Stumbras, Bagpak Music, NYC, USA
The Middlewood Sessions twelve is absolutely awesome! Astro Blue is a masterpiece! DJ Vesa, Wahoo! Finland.
The Middlewood sessions track by Red Waters is an outstanding jazzdance track, which made me do spontanous homemade jazzdance lessons in my living room. I am playing this after Mau Mau by Art Farmer and the crowd at HiFi Terapi will go wild style. Wicked! Eivind Olsvik, HiFi Terapi, Norway.
I just played Astro Blue last Friday on Eavesdrop. HEAVY tune. Junior, Recordbreakin.com, USA
Killer new 12 inch on Wah Wah. Pure class. DJ Nicky Moet, Melting Pot, Norway
Radio support from The Unabombers, XFM, Manchester; The BBE Radio Show on Ministry of Sound Radio; DJ Jazzmate on B92, Belgrade; The Futureboogie Show, Kiss 101FM; The Fuisanova 021 Radio Show on Ibiza Sonica FM, Ibiza; Kev Beadle on Solar Radio; Michael Stukes on Mystic Vybes, NYC; Junior, Record Breakin, Philly USA; Simon Harrison, Basic Soul; The Goods Radio Show, Montreal, Canada; Sammy Goulbourne, Birmingham; and Meno Jager, Sound of Swound.
Coming soon : singles from Jamie Finlay, Scrimshire (Aaron Jerome Mix), Hardkandy, Talc, Ashley Thomas and Stac. Plus albums from Hardkandy, Talc, Ashley Thomas, Jamie Finlay, The Part Time Heroes and the next Wah Wah compilation!!
All Wah Wah 45s are distributed through Kudos. Check www.kudosrecords.co.uk
2. CLUB NEWS
WAH WAH @ CARGO
Wah Wah Live returns to Cargo on Friday March 14th with OneTaste favourite MC Xander warming things up for the mighty Middlewood Sessions and Ashley Thomas (two new Wah Wah signings) to do their thing on the stage. Residents Servini, Goss and Capstone will be on the decks too of course to round off another top notch Friday night!! Essential!!
OTHER CLUB SESSIONS
Look out for a special Hungarian flavoured Wah Wah Sunday Joint session at THE VIBE BAR with Hungarian soul specialists The Ka-Boom! Band performing live, with support from Servini & special guest DJ from Hungary DJ PFunk, on March 3oth, and its FREE!!
And news from the FAVOURITE THINGS camp is that we will be back for a one-off at the brand new PROUD GALLERIES on MONDAY APRIL 28TH!!! Much more news on that one next month. | | 2008-03-28 15:18:10 | | | who wha we? | The brainchild of dj's simon goss and his brother chris, that sprung to life way back in 1989, the hey day of acid jazz, in the form of the first proper wah wah session at the old albany (the venue where the Chemical Brothers started too!!) in london.
After some serious underground parties, the session returned to the albany in 1996, and its quality selection of wah wah jazz,funk, latin and the best of the new skool sounds impressed the Jazz Cafe's Adrian Gibson so much that he headhunted Simon and Chris to run their friday night sessions, along with (over the years) DJ's Billy Whizz and Oscar Goldenchild. The wah wah sessions remained at the jazz cafe for another four years, seeing off all in their path, and keeping the good folk of Camden happy with far too many legendary parties to remember. Over the years wah wah played host to the likes of pucho and the latin soul brothers, donnie, fred wesley, common and nathan haines to name but a few. Guest DJ's varied from phil asher, a man called adam, bob jones, ig culture and dj's from around the globe including the kyoto jazz massive, espen horne, eivind olsvik and dj spider from france. In 1999, simon and chris enticed mouseorgan's dom servini to join them on their quest to find the perfect beat. Due to Chris' pivotal role in London Elektricity (Hospital records) his involvement in wah wah has become less pronounced, leaving Simon and Dom to run most of the club sessions and the record label alike.
The wah wah 45's 7-inch imprint's first release was the massive dancefloor latin/nu-jazz anthem magnetica, by long time wah wah associate Espen Horne (the bobby hughes experience/stereo deluxe). The fantastic reception that the single received on the camden dancefloor, as well as from dj's worldwide, spurred the crew on to more and more releases. Since then, the label has really made its mark, releasing a number of 12s from the likes of Alison Crockett, Unforscene, Max Cole, Aaron Jerome and 12th Floor, as well as 7-inch and even 10-inch pressure (check the incredible Talc release!). Artist LPsfollowed from Max Cole and Talc, as well as the first wah Wah compilation. More to come in 2007 from Scrimshire, as well as the second Wah Wah comp, and another Talc album!
Since leaving the jazz cafe in 2001, the crew ran the popular i love wah wah party at Catch, in london's fashionable shoreditch, followed by their wah wah night at Clockwork in north london, and are now holed up at Cargo witrh thier bi-monthly Wah Wah Live! sessions, whilst expending most of their energy on getting lots and lots of records out!!
Wah Wah..all the right records, not necessarily in the right order. | | 2007-04-17 16:01:49 | | BLOG ARCHIVE
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