The Bongolian
Harlem Hipshake sees the welcome return of The Bongolian AKA multi-instrumentalist and Big Boss Man front man Nasser Bouzida. This, the sixth album under The Bongolian moniker, follows the highly acclaimed Moog Maximus.
Harlem Hipshake finds The Bongolian deeply immersed in his lifelong love for the music of the sixties New York’s Latin Soul scene, particularly the music of Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria and Joe Bataan. Principally a drummer, percussionist by trade, Nasser has once again delivered another set of heavy breaks and percussive grooves underpinning this brand-new collection of songs which he has written and produced. Whilst Nasser performs many of the instruments (as is usual with Bongolian albums) on the album, it also features a prominent use of additional UK musicians on brass duties. These include Terry Edwards (Trumpet, Trombone, Sax, Flute), Gareth James Bailey (Trombone) and Craig Crofton (Alto Sax), James Morton (Alto Sax), Andrew Ross (Tenor and Baritone sax) and Ralph Lamb (Trumpet).
From the East Side to the West Side, get ready for the Harlem Hipshake.
“the fabulously cool Harlem Hipshake is everything the title promises”. Shindig Magazine
I’m just loving this, so perfect, can’t stop playing it, just by listening to this makes you feel cooler.” Craig Charles (Funk & Soul Show BBC 6 Music)
“awesome album” Scootering Magazine
Back in 2001, Nasser Bouzida disappeared into his studio and created a solo set of recordings which resulted in the birth of his alter ego The Bongolian. Drawing on influences of Funk, Latin, Soul and Jazz, Nasser produced an inspired selection of recordings blending elements of grinding percussion and heavy Bongo rhythms. The eponymous debut ‘The Bongolian’ was released early in 2002 to much critical acclaim, and followed up by the albums ‘Blueprint’, ‘Outer Bongolia’ and ‘Bongos For Beatniks’ and Moog Maximus. The albums have become record box essentials for DJs, finding a wide appeal from Dance and Hip-Hop to Rare Groove and Funk 45s fans.
Nasser Bouzida is the leader and chief songwriter of Big Boss Man whose 4th album ‘Last Man On Earth’ which received strong support at BBC 6 Music (Cerys Mathews, Craig Charles, Gideon Coe, Nemone) with the band touring Europe extensively since its release. The Bongolian also collaborated with Fay Hallam for the album Lost In Sound (Fay Hallam & The Bongolian).
As part of Blow Up 25th anniversary celebrations Blow Up Records re-released a brand-new vinyl cut, as a limited 180g clear vinyl pressing of the classic third Bongolian album ‘Outer Bongolia’. The original vinyl pressing had long been long sold out and original copies were much sort after.
Selected quotes of releases from The Bongolian:
“It’s official. The Bongolian. My new favourite band. You heard it here first” Craig Charles, BBC 6 Music Funk & Soul Show
“A superb record” Nemone, BBC 6 Music (Moog Maximus)
“All I know is that it makes me want to dance” Craig Charles House Party (Radio 2)
“That is sheer musicality” Cerys Mathews BBC 6 Music
“Terrific stuff, that is” Gary Crowley BBC London
“Beautiful new breaks” Nemone BBC 6 Music “A brilliant, brilliant funk” Chris Hawkins BBC 6 Music (Googa Mama)
“Guaranteed to keep the party going” Vive Le Rock (Moog Maximus)
“This is the feel-good album. 9/10 ” Louder Than War (Moog Maximus)
“Forget your preconceptions, this is the REAL incredible bongo band.” CLASH Magazine
“Nasser Bouzida is a man with talent to spare. A Latin-flavoured jazz-funk odyssey” (Outer Bongolia) Q Magazine
“The UK’s premier exponent of bongo-driven freakbeat” PLAN B
“A beautifully well-rounded album. Gorgeously psychedelic.” SUBBA-CULTCHA
” Mightily funky, Hammond driven bongo rhythms… part mod, part Sergio Mendes, very swingin’…” TIME OUT
Hipper, groovier, and funkier than ever before! Imagine Booker T & The MGs, The Duke Of Burlington, and Alan Hawkshaw taking a trip to the stars” DUSTY GROOVE
Big Boss Man
Big Boss Man formed in 1998 when three long-time friends Nasser Bouzida, Trev Harding and Scott Milsom, got together to form the (mostly) instrumental based group centred around some furious Hammond and heavy groove action. Signing to Blow Up Records in 1999, the Newbury based band released their debut album ‘Humanize’ in 2000 which immediately precipitated a worldwide interest in the band, the record being a clear definition of the BBM sound: a hip Hammond hybrid of 60’s R’N’B, Latin, Soul, Bongo-Fuzz and Funk. The record featured Bouzida performing all drums, percussion, keys and vocals whilst Harding and Milsom performed electric and Bass Guitars respectively.
Tracks from Humanize were utilised for the soundtrack for the BAFTA award winning short film ‘Sweet’ which featured Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Big Boss Man also making an appearance in the nightclub sequences of the film.
Party 7 was used by Nike for a worldwide campaign ad for the 2006 World Cup which featured Thierry Henry and Eric Cantona. The debut single ‘Sea Groove’ taken from Humanize passed over 5 million streams on Spotify in 2020.
Their 2005 follow up ‘Winner‘ (Blow Up) was produced by Morgan Nicholls (The Streets / Muse / Gorillaz), who being the son of Immediate Records’ in-house songwriter Billy Nicholls, seemed a suitable fit for the band who fully utilised the studios unique vintage gear: The Who’s Hammond Organ, Steve Marriott’s first guitar; Clavinet and Wurlitzer electric piano, all made their way onto the tracks. The album musically continuing on from Humanize – with 60’s flavoured Funk, Bongo / Fuzz, Latin Soul, French Beat, Boogaloo all in the musical mix. The opening track ‘Kelvin Stardust’ featured in a worldwide ad campaign for Renault Fluence and was used in the TV show Ugly Betty.
In 2010 ‘Full English Beat Breakfast’ (Blow Up) was released. Recorded by the band and mixed by Nick Terry at the Premises Studio B Hackney London. The highly acclaimed third album received many outstanding reviews with it being cited at the time as their best album to date. They extensively toured the album in UK & Europe including an appearance at the Latitude Festival (UK) and with various radio sessions including one for BBC Radio 2 Mark Lamarr’s God’s Jukebox show.
Big Boss Man‘s fourth album ‘Last Man On Earth‘ was released in 2014. The band supporting the release with numerous European live dates, the album was subsequently given an additional limited pressing on 180g red vinyl in 2015. The album received strong UK radio support particularly from BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2 presenters that included Craig Charles, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Gideon Coe, Nemone, Chris Hawkins & Lisa Tarbuck and others.
A solo project from BBM band leader Nasser Bouzida as The Bongolian has released six albums to date on Blow Up Records The Bongolian, Blueprint, Outer Bongolia Bongos For Beatniks, Moog Maximus and Harlem Hipshake and a collaboration with Fay Hallam was released in 2011 (Fay Hallam & The Bongolian ‘Lost In Sound).
Big Boss Man have remixed several artists including for Paul Weller ‘The Bottle’ (v2 Records),
Big Boss Man performed at the Blow Up 25 concert in October 2019 at the 100 Club London. They are currently working on tracks for their 5th album.
Baltic Fleet
BALTIC FLEET is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist and DIY producer Paul Fleming who returns with his third album ‘The Dear One’. The new album follows his critically acclaimed debut ‘Baltic Fleet‘ (a Rough Trade Shop ‘Albums of the Year’) and his second album ‘Towers‘ which also made several End of Year Polls and was nominated for the Liverpool Music Awards Album of The Year alongside Miles Kane and Ian Skelly. Baltic Fleet is also a winner of the annual Liverpool GIT Award, dubbed the ‘Scouse Mercury Prize’ by The Quietus.
Both previous albums have gained both UK radio support particularly from BBC 6 Music (including Steve Lamacq, Gideon Coe, Stuart Maconie & Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley who invited Baltic Fleet in for a 6 Music session), and BBC Radio 2 (Janice Long) as well as international airplay. Baltic Fleet were also nominated for a MusicWeek Sync Award.
Although initially bourne from a studio project Paul Fleming brings together like-minded musicians for the occasional rare live show. Baltic Fleet has performed with acts including Public Service Broadcasting and at festivals including Liverpool Soundcity, Yoko Ono’s Meltdown, FestEvol (Liverpool), Norwich Sound & Vision, Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia, Sheffield Sensoria, Club Paradiso’s annual ‘London Calling’ in Amsterdam, as well as being invited to play at Rough Trade East’s Birthday Celebrations.
Whilst on a World Tour playing keyboards for Echo and the Bunnymen Paul began to write what would come to be his 2008 self-titled debut ‘Baltic Fleet‘. With a laptop and any instruments that were to hand he would capture, in music, what inspired him in each city around the world; from Texas to Barcelona to Berlin to Copenhagen to Reykjavik and back to the UK in Brighton. In hotel rooms, tour buses, planes, at the end of radio sessions and sound-checks, every opportunity was taken and tracks gradually started to form into an album, and a sound was born influenced by works from artists such as Eno, The Doves, NEU!, Sigur Ros and DJ Shadow.
Written, produced and performed by Paul, the album also features contributions from Simon Finley on drums, Will Sergeant on guitar and Pete Wilkinson on Bass. Paul signed to Blow Up Records in April 2007, and the same Summer took his recordings into Studio B, The Premises in Hackney for additional production, mixing and some heavy-duty valve and analogue processing with Nick Terry (Simian Mobile Disco).
The album was released to critical acclaim, and was made an Album of the Year (No 29) for Rough Trade Shops who described it as “A faultless piece of instrumental music that captures the spirit of Eno, NEU! all the way through to modern post-rock and chamber music”.
TOWERS
The cinematic aspect was still apparent on this second offering but more direct: analogue synthesisers intertwined with distant guitars rolling over a backdrop of live and electronic drums. Two years in the making, the album tells a story of life in between the silos of Liverpool and Manchester but with a foot in both, a cultural no-man’s land, in the shadows of industry. ‘Towers’ was written and produced by Paul Fleming and again mixed by Nick Terry at Malabar Studios, Oslo.
Rough Trade Shops again placed the album in their Album Club, making ‘Towers’ Album Of The Week and an Album Of The Month: “Immense. Fleming has upped the ante on an already stellar debut” . The NME referred to Towers’ “Exceptional motorik beats” whilst Subba-Cultcha described the album as “A sublimely cinematic blend of kosmische musik, dream pop”and Prog as a “Haunting electronic elegy for post-industrial Britain”. The album appeared in end of year polls including Vive Le Rock, Crack Magazine, Louder Than War: “A wonderfully well rounded and complete album” and The Liverpool Echowho described it as “One of the finest records from Liverpool in years”.
Aspic Boulevard
Sicilian brothers Alessandro and Marco Barrano take a journey through space and time as Aspic Boulevard, with this, their debut album Memory Recall of a Replicant Dream.
The sound is characterized by the use of vintage electronics: analogue keyboards, analogue drum machines, tape recorders, circuit bending and many homemade musical instruments, made of materials such as wooden boxes, metal springs and contact microphones. Some others are built by modifying everyday objects, musical toys and transistor radios, as with the experimentations of Pierre Schaeffer and musicians from Musique Concrète school in France in the early 40’s.
The whole project is a sound collage that puts together retro-Futurism, classic sci-fi nuances of 60s & 70s cinematic music, psychedelia and Kosmische.
MARCO BARRANO
Vocals, guitars, banjitar, bass, piano, synthesizers, electronic organs, keyboards, Theremin, circuit bending, homemade devices.
ALESSANDRO BARRANO
Drums, street drums, tammorra, cajon, darbuka, djambe, bongos, rainstick, windchimes, homemade devices.
Kubernetikós single is heading for imminent release and is accompanied by an animated video created by the band that takes its inspiration from the atmospheres of Karel Zeman, Ray Harryhausen, Cristina Làstrego, etc.
Composer Marco Barrano is of course no stranger to Blow Up Records having previously released MHz Invasion as one half of Daiquiri Fantomas, which received support at BBC 6 Music from DJs such as Radcliff and Maconie, Steve Lamacq on its release in 2013.
Memory Recall of a Replicant Dream: In the media
Prog Magazine (UK)
“Old gear meets dystopian futures. The result is a truly unique record”
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Electronic Sound Magazine (UK)
“Like Syd Barrett is contributing to Ralf & Florian”
“Like Joe Meek producing Jean-Michel Jarre”
“Space age bachelor music for the now generation.”
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Shindig! (UK)
“It’s quite a bold experiment nonetheless, as indeed is the whole LP. One to watch.”
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Classic Rock (Italy)
“Phenomenal album, of rare compositional depth, well-finished and particularly original.”
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Rumore (Italy)
“Impeccables and inspired.”
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Rockerilla (Italy)
“Enjoyable, shameless, unpredictable”
“A debut album. Incredible, original, different.”
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Red Ronnie (Broadcaster – Italy)
“I was impressed with Akragas because it is a kind of ‘weird’ electronic Prog. It’s a beautiful Prog, done well. The video is also done well and really worth it.”
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Rockit.it (Italy)
“Regarding the care and research of sounds we are really at high levels”
“A very, very dense record, very rich in ideas and also cinematographic references”
“The work of the Sicilian brothers really has the breath of the great interplanetary opera”
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Buscadero (Italy)
“A retro-futuristic space-rock not too dark, but rather characterized by a melodic approach”
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Mat2020 (Italy)
“Urania, the next song that Dario Argento should use for his definitive masterpiece”
“Akragas has within it the Sicilian roots of their immense and magnificent culture, an exercise in style that can only surprise”
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Impatto Sonoro (Italy)
“…the album adapts to the most diverse wishes of potential listeners”
“…a continuous flow of slides dating back to the beginnings of the electronic experience, seen through the eyes of two musicians of the twenty-first century”
“A sort of portal, through which it is possible to relive the mists of time and slowly, at will, turn the clock hands forward”
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Alias/Il Manifesto (Italy)
“A fun, smart, creative record”
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Distorsioni (Italy)
“An album of undoubted charm”
“All done with remarkable skill and dexterity, with an enviable personality”
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Fotografie Rock (Italy)
“An example of how to approach very distant worlds without being trapped in the labyrinth of the past”
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Magazzini Inesistenti (Italy)
“An excellent business card for these ‘lords of the galaxies’.”
“Echoes of primordial kosmic musik, new age and space-rock materialize in the warps of “Memory Recall of a Replicant Dream”, transshipping the listener on duty inside solitary cargo floating in the middle of silent and unknown interplanetary routes”
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DenpaFuzz (Spain)
“Noise, jazz, fusion, progressive??? Surely every listener will find an adjective that can define their eclectic sound.”
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MusicalNews (Italy)
“The Barrano brothers know how to manipulate sounds and do it with skill”
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Sound 36 Magazine (Italy)
“Music that narrates and lets the listener’s imagination wander”
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Brescia Oggi (Italy)
“A fascinating listening”
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Rockshock.it (Italy)
“…that genuine taste for refined melodies and sounds that make the debut of Aspic Boulevard certainly very interesting”
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Carry’s New Music Underground (Holland)
“Akragas is a wonderful song”
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WoMoms (Italy)
“A duo to keep an eye on”
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Format Folk/Lineatrad Television (Italy)
“…These new southern Pink Floyd are absolutely to be listened to”
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TomTomRock (Italy)
“A record for the present and the future”
“…in its atypical nature, destined to become a classic.”
“…an album that has the intrinsic ability to take the listener into very original and absolutely unexplored territories…”
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RadUni Musica (Italy)
“Twelve tracks in which synths interact to guide the listener on a space journey that seems to come from an old science fiction movie, between dreamlike sound layers and 60’s choirs”
“Between cinematic reverberations and sounds that come from deep space and psychedelia”
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Sicilian Post (Italy)
“Everything is absorbed and assimilated by Aspic Boulevard in a playful, fun, pleasant, enveloping project. Ancient and futuristic”
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Rock Nation (Italy)
“Lots of electronics, evident rock and prog-rock influences, a boundless amount of different colors and instruments”
“This work is a maniacal research of the sounds themselves, of the rhythmic and harmonic figures that Alessandro and Marco compose and assemble as in a sound workshop”
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Europa e Cultura Elettronica (Italy)
“Recommended for those who love the music of Brian Eno, Air, Stereolab, High Llamas”
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Trippa Shake Fanzine (Italy)
“Akragas and Electomagnetic Playground will amaze you”
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QuaranZine (USA)
“It takes you on a wild ride through a variety of soundscapes, sometimes bringing to mind Air, but with the experimental edginess of Wendy Carlos or Steve Reich”
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Radio Una Voce Vicina (Italy)
“A unique sensory and emotional experience”
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Mason & Dixon (Italy)
“A layered work full of joy”
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La Ragnatela (Italy)
“Delicious little Mediterranean Sicilian electro psychedelic Bon Bons for superfine palates”
“Aspic Boulevard have coined a new electro / prog / psycho / Mediterranean language”
Alfa 9
MY SWEET MOVIDA
Alfa 9 released their third studio album ‘My Sweet Movida‘ in 2018. The Newcastle-under-Lyme based four piece returning with their Morricone-esque tinged cosmic country psych rock, layered with vocal harmonies and delivering what the band believe to be their strongest set of songs to date.
This was their first release since ‘Gone To Ground’, which had made Vive le Rock and Sound of Confusion best of the year lists in 2013 and saw the band featured in various magazines including Classic Rock and Shindig. They were interviewed by Steve Lamacq for his ‘New Favourite Band’ feature at BBC 6 Music around the album release and El Morocco (taken from Gone To Ground) later hit the BBC 6 Music playlist for a month as the band performed live at the Liverpool Psych Fest.
Of the band’s debut ‘Then We Begin’ Clash described this as “A fully realised and hugely ambitious debut which succeeds on every level” whilst Shindig said “one of the best albums of the last decade”. The title track ‘Then We Begin’ and ‘Flasher’ from the album more recently surfaced in key sequences of the auto-behemoth that is The Grand Tour.
The first taste from My Sweet Movida ‘Smile Dog’ received radio support from Gideon Coe and Guy Garvey at BBC 6 Music.
GONE TO GROUND
Alfa 9 release their second album Gone To Ground this March on Blow Up Records. The self produced twelve song set was recorded in their home town of Newcastle-under-Lyme at their own Dungeon Studios. Mixed in London by Myles Clarke (The Who / Pete Townsend).
After several years had gone by between the release of their debut Then We Begin the band have remerged with Gone To Ground. Now a four piece with the addition of Andrew Vernon on drums: Phil Mason on Guitar / Vocals; Ali Heath – Guitar / Vocals; Lean Jones – Guitar / keyboards; and Andrew Vernon – Drums
Through recording in their own Dungeon Studios – “in reality a garage behind a bookies with an old disused walk-in fridge as the live room!” says guitarist Leon Jones – the band took things back to basics, focusing on three-four minute songs, great harmonies and losing the dirt from the guitars and the keyboards.
Citing the ’60s and early ’70s folk and country-rock of The Byrds, in particular, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers, the Paisley Underground bands of early ’80s LA and signature influence The Stone Roses. Gone To Ground(which was recorded over six months) channels the same love of the past as such contemporaries as The See See, Tame Impala, The Quarter After, Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Beachwood Sparks. “I guess the sort of stuff we were becoming influenced by was far more subtly produced, so it was a pretty natural move,” says Leon of the album’s more spacious production, marked by rich mid-60s harmonies, ringing 12 strings and naturally overdriven and fuzztone guitars.
Gone To Ground deserves a place on the record shelf of anyone susceptible to organic jangle and fine melodies. The album will be preceded by the single Into The Light (a free download currently available at www.alfa9.co.uk)
THEN WE BEGIN
Back in 2005 Alfa 9 signed to Blow Up Records, and the same month recorded at The Charlatans’ (who they shared management with – Steve Harrison) Big Mushroom studio in Cheshire with Liverpool producer Mike Cave (The Coral, Ian McNabb). Mostly recorded in under two weeks, with additional production in Liverpool at Mike’s studio. The completed album was mastered in Devon at Super Audio Mastering by Simon Heyworth (Tubular Bells) at the end result being the psych rock masterpiece Then We Begin.
A limited 7″ single For Your Bones B/W Little Girl was released towards the end of 2005 and ahead of the album in July 2006 the single Deadman (7″ & CD Single) just released prior to the album’s release in August 2006.
The band spent their time honing their skills on the live circuit around the release. Their relentless gigging and dedication paid off, wowing the local scene with their epic psychedelic live shows and on a national level with supports slots for The Coral, Sunshine Underground, The Charlatans, Edgar Jones and Ian McNabb.