Poet, novelist, musician and academic, Anthony Joseph teams up with legendary UK producer Dave Okumu for forthcoming album, ‘Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back’

Dave Okumu, known perhaps best as frontman for The Invisible, though digging deeper into his production credits, huge names emerge such as; Grace Jones, Amy Winehouse, Jesse Ware, Rosie Lowe and Eska. On this album, the magic and alchemy of Dave’s production style showcase subtle sonics and deep layering resulting in a contemporary sound to carry Anthony’s afrofuturistic metrical
meanings.
Anthony and Dave first came across each other when working with Shabaka Hutchings during Covid broadcasts, and then after Anthony performed some poems on Dave’s 2023 album ‘I Came From Love’, the seeds of collaboration were sown. With a little more psychedelia, a little more experimentation, Dave’s eclectic vision focuses on the actual sounds on these pieces. Anthony stated that “The best producers guide you, not push you” now add to that the fact that both these humans were born on the same day, a concoction of laid back attitudes in people with strong purpose, some real magic can happen, naturally.
Early writing sessions for this record took place in 2022, around Mount Blanc in France. Anthony was away touring with long-time collaborator, Jason Yarde. Ideas were a little thin and they found themselves
somewhat repeating previous work resulting in Anthony rethinking things a little, and so entered Dave Okumu.
LP opener ‘Satellite’ is a fine example of how this new partnership pans out. New musicians have been enlisted; Dan See (Drums), Aviram Barath (Synths), Nick Ramm on Fender Rhodes and Byron Wallen (Trumpet). Add to that the mighty vocal power house of Eska and we have a whole new dimension of soul and depth, to carry Anthony’s statements. “You build a wall, we go under, you build it
higher, we go higher, like a satellite” . On the album's second single, ‘Tony’ - there’s a nod to all drummers and creators of African rhythms, from the point of view of Afrobeat legend Tony Allen. Highlighting this is drummer’s drummer Richard Spaven as Dave’s choice of skin beater. He successfully reminds us that Tony was someone who understood the real power of rhythm and how it is used to unite people.
As well as the new musicians on this LP, Dave Okumu played all the guitars and used the studio as his tool. On ‘A Juba for Janet’ - a poem to Joseph’s mother, and a track so bass heavy that it feels as though
it could sit in a deep dubstep set in Plastic People days, - Anthony’s voice reaches straight down your ear canals next to dark drums, huge synths and delayed saxophone stabs from Colin Webster. Slightly more introspective verses on ‘An Afrofuturist Poem’ see Dave’s beats show off the real future sound of
this record, kalimba, moog bass and guitars all played by the man himself.
Mellower and deeper moments are also present, Anthony’s cryptic yet informative storytelling is at its absolute best on ‘Churches Of Sound (The Benetiz-Rojo)’ - Caribbean and Windrush history reeled off alongside a linear musical timeline of Black music in the diaspora.
A reminder that this body of work is first of 2 volumes, ‘Rowing Up River To Get Our

Names Back’ is not a follow up to Anthony’s previous album, but more a development of his 2006 novel, ‘The African Origins of UFOs’ a book where experimental elements of afrofuturism, metafiction, science fiction, surrealism, mythology are rewritten in Anthony’s innovative language.
Look out for Volume 2 also coming in 2025.
Anthony Joseph releases, ‘Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back’ (Vol. 1) via Heavenly Sweetness 7th February 2025 and he will play live at Ronnie Scotts in London on 14th March 2025,
with Dave Okumu as a special guest.
CREDITS:
Vocals - Anthony Joseph
Additional vocals, vocal arrangements - Eska Mtungwazi
Producer - Guitars, Bass, Moog, Synthesisers, Programming, Percussion - Dave Okumu
Drums - Dan See
Drums on ‘Tony’ - Richard Spaven
Synthesiser - Aviram Barath
Fender Rhodes, Synthesisers, Nick Ramm
Trumpet - Byron Wallen
Saxophones - Colin Webster
Trombones - James Wade Sired

About this release:

To celebrate the 15th birthday of our first ever vinyl reissue, we did a new edition of this spiritual Jazz classic on cult label Srata East.

New vinyl mastering and lacquers done by the great Frank Merritt at The Carvery (London).
Mastered to and from 1/4” tape for added warmth and character.
Tape layback to disc; direct analogue lacquer cut from 1/4” tape using pure analogue signal path. Studer A80 preview to Neumann VMS70.

180g black vinyl.

New scans of the original artwork . Exact replica of the original cover.
Printed on deluxe Tip-on sleeve. Heavy cardboard;

The definitive edition of this incredible album by drummer John Betsch and his Society. A must have for any spiritual jazz fan.

LIMITED EDITION OF 1000 EXS, DON'T SLEEP

LUDIVINE ISSAMBOURG est une l'une des flûtistes, compositrices et productrices les
plus reconnues en France depuis près de 15 ans, et dont le talent a séduit de nombreux
grands artistes tels que Wax Tailor, Eric Legnini, Chassol, Nils Landgren, Angélique Kidjo,
Laurent Coulondre, Dominique A, ASM, Cut Killer, Catherine Ringer, Christian Escoudé, ...
Impliquée dans de multiples projets et collaborations, cette musicienne hyperactive alterne
les albums electro jazz, hip hop ou encore jazz funk entre ses deux formations principales,
Antiloops et Outlaws.
En 2024, Ludivine Issambourg donne une suite très attendue à l'album Outlaws, qui était
paru en 2020, avec lequel elle a rencontré un véritable succès critique et public, recevant
notamment les félicitations du légendaire flûtiste américain « Hubert Laws » en personne,
dont elle revisitait l'oeuvre jazz funk.
A l'époque, elle avait convaincu Eric Legnini d’être le directeur musical de l’album «
Outlaws », s'entourant pour l’occasion des meilleurs musiciens de la scène jazz française
(Laurent Coulondre, Stéphane Huchard, Julien Herné) avec le soutien du label Heavenly
Sweetness.
Grâce au succès de ce premier album et à la suite d'un voyage à New York, Ludivine a
souhaité poursuivre son hommage et l'élargir à d’autres de ses grandes inspirations : Gil
Scott Heron, & Brian Jackson, Nils Landgren, mais aussi d'autres flûtistes qui l'ont
beaucoup influencée comme Jeremy Steig, Bobbi Humphrey et Dave Valentine.
Ludivine poursuit ainsi l'aventure « OUTLAWS » en livrant un deuxième album intitulé
« ABOVE THE LAWS » sous la bannière du label Heavenly Sweetness. Ce nouvel opus
proposera cette fois-ci des compositions originales de Ludivine, empreintes de la tradition
jazz funk 70's du label CTI, tout en intégrant quelques reprises soigneusement choisies.
Elle réunit pour l'occasion une équipe de réalisateurs exceptionnels comme Eric Legnini,
Michael Lecoq, Laurent de Wilde et Alexandre Finkin. Entourée de musiciens hors pair
tels que Yoann Serra, Swaeli Mbappe, Vincent Aubert, Lucas St Cricq, Alexandre
Herichon, Amen Viana, Céline Bonacina, Ludivine convie même des guests prestigieux
tels que Nils Landgren et Brian Jackson !
Toujours passionnée par le mélange des techniques d'expression du jazz (l'improvisation,
l'harmonie, les arrangements mélodiques...) et celles du funk (le groove prédominant de la
section rythmique, la puissance d'une section cuivre...), Ludivine apporte une vision
moderne et résolument actuelle du jazz, héritée des artistes majeurs de l'Acid Jazz
(Jamiroquai, Incognito) et insufflée depuis quelques années par les nouvelles scènes
anglaise (Kamaal Williams, Yussef Dayes, Nubiyan Twist...) ou américaine (Snarky
Puppy...).

"THE WORLD IS DOOMED, COTONETE IS OUR ONLY HOPE”
CD DIGIPACK
Produced by GUTS feat. Omar, Leron Thomas, Sabrina Malheiros, Gystere

00:00 Odyssée
04:41 Venezuela
10:30 Bebete Vaobora feat. Sabrina Malheiros
15:52 Day In Day Out feat. Leron Thomas
20:14 La dernière guitare
26:10 Satori
32:25 What did you run for? feat. Omar
39:17 O Céu é preto feat. Gystere
46:15 Cinq pour l'aventure

GUTS "Straight From The Decks" compilation is back with Volume 3, still packed with great musical discoveries from the world over. Different genres, different cultures. GUTS invites you to follow him on its musical journey from your living room or your local club!
--
GUTS est de retour avec Straight From The Decks Volume 3 encore remplies de ces belles découvertes musicales des quatre coins du monde. Les genres varient, les cultures aussi.
GUTS vous invite à le suivre dans son voyage musical depuis votre salon ou votre club !

• Black vinyl LPs inside a heavyweight single pocket jacket with obi strip
• Printed inner sleeve
• Artwork by Superscript2

• CD Jewel Case

- Compact Disc (CD)
- 3 panel CD sleeve + 16 pages leaflet

A1 - No One
A2 - No One (Captain Planet Disco Edit)
A3 - Bow Down (Flabaire Remix)

B1 - Bow Down
B2 - Bow Down (Fulgeance Remix)
B3 - Bow Down (Prophetic Soul Remix)

All tracks produced by David Walters & Tom Excell.
All instruments played by David Walters, Bruno Patchworks, Tom Excell.
Plus on “No one” & “Bow Down” Additional guitar : Jeff Kellner.

On “Yemaja”
Backing vocals : Akemis Terran Carrera
Flute : Marine Thibault.

On “Baby Love”
Horns : Bruno Patchworks.

Recorded at Ginger X studio (Lyon), One Two Pass it (Paris), Firebelly studio (Sheffield).
Mix by Mr Gib at One Two Pass it.
Mastered by Frank Merritt at The Carvery (London).
A&R and Executive production : Franck Descollonges.
Artwork by Landry A. (Palaplaya Studio), Photo by Elliot Broué.

Thanks to Guts for his advice, Bruno Patchworks & Tom Excell for the music, Mr Gib, Marine, Jeff, Akemis, Landry & Elliot for the help.

CD DIGIPACK

Etienne et Laurent s'amusent à faire de la musique ensemble ...

Le saxophoniste et compositeur Laurent Bardainne rencontre l'expérimentateur Etienne Jaumet un autre saxophoniste mais aussi maître des claviers. Tous deux passionnés de musique électronique et de jazz. Ils décident de rassembler leurs idées pour en faire un EP 4 titres. Une relecture électronique avec des claviers analogiques de la musique latines des années 50, le Cha cha, le Mambo, le Latin jazz !

Getatchew Mèkurya est probablement le vétéran le plus vénéré du saxophone éthiopien. Un véritable géant, à la fois physiquement et musicalement. Non seulement il est au niveau le plus haut des saxophonistes éthiopiens, mais il est le« inventeur »d’ un veritable style musical très distinctif.

12" vinyl of David Walters' Nocturne Remixes

Available in October

A1 - Mama (Henrik Schwarz Remix) - {Vinyl Only} -> Digital early September
A2 - Baby Go (Synapson Remix)
A3 - Papa Kossa (Batida Remix) - {Vinyl Only} -> Digital early September

B1 - Sam Cook Di (Folamour Remix)
B2 - Vansé (Voilaaa Remix)
B3 - Papa Kossa (Déni-Shain & Mister Francky Remix)

CD Digipack + Booklet
Double LP 180g • Gatefold Cover • Printed Inner Sleeve
La nouvelle signature Heavenly Sweetness !
Le nouvel album des Bonbon Vodou (Oriane Lacaille & Jeremie Boucris) réalisé par Piers Facini & Jean Lamont (Noir Désir, Bashung, Salif Keita…) Enregistré entre la France et l’île volcanique, battu par l’air de l’océan Indien, l'album, dans les mots comme dans les notes, transforme la chanson française en succulence créole.