John Parry, Author at Backseat Mafia

Album Reviews: Virgilio Armas – ‘De Repente’ & ‘Espejismo’ : Sensational 70’s Latin jazz twin releases.

They are definitely spoiling us ! So far this year Toronto’s We Are Busy Bodies have graced us with seminal releases from the less frequented corners of South African jazz…

View Post

View Post

Album Review : Síntesis Moderna – An Alternative Vision Of Argentinean Music 1980-1990 : a ‘must have’ compilation.

Knowledgeable compilers, significant context and cracking music – these are the key components of a ‘must-have’ rather than ‘may be’ collection. Fresh onto those discerning record store racks, Síntesis Moderna:…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: Maral – Ground Groove : global big beats with vision.

The fine art of sampling is less about cut and paste or stitching together, it’s much more than finding that funky line or hipster phrase and building from there. The…

View Post

View Post

Track/Video: DAAM announce ‘bivouac of the avant-garde’, a stunning three part excursion through experimental soundscapes.

What makes for the best small labels? A clear identity, enthusiastic curation, independence and endurance are good for starters. Well Difficult Art And Music (DAAM) gives you all of these…

View Post

View Post

Track/Video: Eminent composer and film-maker Christina Vantzou previews album ‘No 5’ with the radiant ‘Reclining Figures’.

If you are looking to explore a ‘body of work’ rather than a plain old back catalogue then Christina Vantzou’s CV will see you right. The composer, artist and experimental…

View Post

View Post

New Track/Video: Global beatniks Mauskovic Dance Band present pumping single ‘Face’ from soon-come album ‘Bukaroo Bank’

Amsterdam’s leftfield space disco troubadours Mauskovic Dance Band are getting busy. With their new album ‘Bukaroo Bank’ due 28th October via Bongo Joe, it’s time for a second snapshot to…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: Star Feminine Band – In Paris : Afro-pop energy from Benin’s ‘band like no other’.

If you missed catching onto the joyous pop of Star Feminine Band when their self-titled debut burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, then now is the time…

View Post

View Post

Album Review: Jessica Moss – Galaxy Heart: art-rock atmospheres with an enduring soul.

What will we think of lock down records when we listen back to them in years to come? Introspective music from a time of looking inwards because the outside world…

View Post

View Post

New Track/video: More bumping 80’s funk: Soundway preview ground-breaking Argentinian electro compilation ‘Sintesis Moderna’ with single ’Como Son Los Retratos’.

A few weeks back those flawless global beat curators at Soundway Records announced the 21st October release of their next ‘must have’ artefact ‘Síntesis Moderna: An Alternative Vision Of Argentinian…

View Post

View Post

Track/Video: ‘Go-to’ instrumentalist Amir Yaghmai slips into the solo spotlight with ‘White Turtleneck’ from soon come debut ‘Go Bozo’.

Don’t you just love labels that do things differently? LA’s Colorfield Records are on a mission driven by the search for spontaneity, coaxing consummate musicians from session and backing bands…

View Post

Pages