John Parry, Author at Backseat Mafia

Album Review : SHOLTO – ‘The Changing Tides Of Dreams’ EP : Cinematic soul given a fresh new perspective.

You could say producer, composer, drummer and instrumentalist Oscar ‘SHOLTO’ Robertson has always operated under the radar. He was part of the indie/r&b stompers Hidden Charms who in 2015/16 looked…

View Post

View Post

Album Review : Maria Grapsa Sextet– Life : The jazz pianist/composer and her band merge melody, power and tradition to break new ground.

As we gear up to indulge in all things jazz for next week’s London Jazz fest, here’s a strong reminder that the UK scene itself remains bustling with new talents.…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: Wax Machine : ‘The Sky Unfurls, The Dance Goes On’ : stirring up a whirlpool of psych, folk, bossa and jazz energies.

Brighton’s Wax Machine are a band who thrive on drift. Sometimes cosmic, often psychedelic and frequently exotic, they float between the warming thrill of tropicalia and the misty chill of…

View Post

View Post

Album Reviews : Off World – ‘3’ : Illuminating soundscapes and sonic free flow from the illustrious Canadian collective.

Sandro Perri seems like one of those quietly busy people. A touch stone within the Canadian contemporary scene, the guitarist, producer and pioneer of ‘infinite song-writing’ has over the last…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: The Offline – ‘La couleur de la mer’ : Ingenious cinematic soul funk with a fresh plot.

So the soundtrack to an imaginary film makes a return in the hands of Hamburg composer/guitarist The Offline (aka Felix Müller) with his new album ‘La couleur de la mer’…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: El Búho – ‘Strata’: Cumbia infused electronica to celebrate and satisfy.

If anyone was going to justifiably lay claim to the tags ‘organic electronics’ or ‘natural electronica’ with any degree of credibility then that must be El Búho. The UK producer/DJ,…

View Post

View Post

New Track/ Video: Pushing electro-acoustic possibilities ever onwards, NY sound artist/composer Lea Bertucci previews new album ‘Of Shadow And Substance’.

In a field where electronics and programming have come to dominate, the diligent work of New York based sound artist, composer and performer Lea Bertucci more than holds its own.…

View Post

View Post

Album Review : New Age Doom & Tuvaband – ‘There Is No End’ : re-constituting electric rock and breaking real new ground.

Unintentional maybe but the title of New Age Doom’s latest ‘There Is No End’ describes the extent of the Vancouver duo’s musical vision, reach and range. Drummer Eric J. Breitenbach…

View Post

View Post

Track/Video : Johannesburg jazz collective iPhupho L’ka Biko offer up ‘Braam Streets’ ahead of their significant debut EP ‘Azania’

More proof then, if you really need it, of the power and fortitude within new gen South African jazz. Those diligent sound searchers at We Are Busy Bodies announce ‘Azania’,…

View Post

View Post

Album Review : Ana Frango Elétrico – ‘Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua’ : Another high point for new wave MPB.

Musician/producer Ana Frango Elétrico is one of the pivots of today’s kaleidoscopic Rio scene, who over the last few years has helped power the resurgence of Música Popular Brasileira (MPB).…

View Post

Pages