Smiling C Holland Vinyl & CDs

Review: Bahamian super talent Fritz Bootle Jr., or FJ, has only one other Discogs entry to his name next to this album, and it's an EP from 1993. The years in-between led to much of his music being lost but thanks to Smiling C, six of his best tunes have been unearthed and pressed to vinyl for the first time here. Mixing up '80s synth and boogie, some tropical rhythms and soft boy vocals, it makes for an exotic, sun-kissed take on r&b that transports you directly to a dance floor in the Caribbean where a warm red fireball is slowly sinking below the horizon as you sip on a cocktail and prepare to get up to get down.

Review: Manchester's distinctly-un-Manchester sounding opiate guitar troubadour Kevin McCormick released his acclaimed Light Patterns in 1982, then went on to set about putting a few songs onto tape that explored what was possible as a solo six string player (the aforementioned was made with David Horridge). The result is this collection of work which is widely ahead of its time and completely unique.
Moving past the traditional acoustic sound of what had come before, instead the artist turns his attention to this stargazing aesthetics. A place where electronic ambient and gentle, patient guitars combine to offer this far-reaching, almost meditative feeling. A piece of work that has late night intimacy written into its DNA, less structured and more free flowing, and certainly setting precedents for where so many artists have wound up today.

Review: Props to new label Smiling C, which debuts with a thrilling collection of tracks by obscure 1980s Moroccan rapper Shams Dinn. Originally, the label intended just to re-issue his sole single, 1987's brilliant electro-funk/rap hybrid "Hedi Bled Noumo", but quickly discovered that he had a wealth of unreleased material ripe for release. These six previously unissued tracks, which mostly join the dots between original New York electro, synth-pop, P-funk and boogie with a few trademark North African touches, are all on a similar tip to his most famous outing. More impressively, they're all unbelievably hot dancefloor workouts that deserve wider recognition. In other words, you need this in your life.

Review: Smiling Cis a reissue label focused on obscure 80's and 90's music from around the world. Working closely with the artists to make sure their musical works are presented to listeners in the loveliest way. Here they present a wonderful compilation entitled A Totally New Sound, which showcases the sound of Aset: a collective founded by a group of individuals deeply involved in community improvement initiatives and the struggle for justice and equality. The project links motivated adults with talented young people in the Washington, DC area. Featuring the in-house band members, supporting emerging talents like 11 year old Latonya, singing about divorce, love and dancing on "Eyes Of A Child". The 'poster children' of the project, Treo - a trio of high school girls singing about love and relationships on the neon-lit "Demands Decrease Desire". And of course Whax, the 'strange' high school boys strutting their stuff on the '80s derived swing of "Can I Take You Home?"