Needle Time

  Tony Allen - The Source [5768336 FRA 2017 24-Bit FLAC] If you look closely bottom left of the sleeve, you will notice the 'AAA triple analog' annotation. That hints that perhaps something really good is going on here ....and I am not just talking about this superbly pressed double album of jazz-afro on Blue Note France.  You may also remember those early days of compact discs when we studied the inlay card encased in plastic for a similar indication of the sources used for that little silver disc contained therein. AAD was okay, ADD got you concerned and these days everything on compact disc seems to be DDD. I've been known to occasionally, and believe quite rightly whinge that most current vinyl releases tend to be DDA, which just seems quite wrong when you think about.  This album quite proudly states: analog recording, analog mixing, analog mastering - no digital process was used in the production of this sound recording. It was recorded live to analog tape in Paris...

Tony Allen & Jeff Mills - Tomorrow Comes The Harvest [778630-6 FRA 2018 24-Bit FLAC] Inspirational Nigerian drummer, Tony Allen sadly passed away in April this year. One of his final recordings was the 10" EP collaboration with Detroit techno-ologist, Jeff Mills which runs close to thirty minutes, so I would suggest it really clocks in as a mini-album.  Tomorrow Comes The Harvest is a splendid blend of the old and the new as Allen's afro-beats fill the left channel mixing into the multi-layers of Mills' electronic meanders - uncredited French musician, Jean-Philippe Dary adds touches of organ and synths. The two key tracks are the opening  Locked And Loaded and the closing The Seed which easily stand head and shoulders above the two other works which lack as much purpose. If it wasn't for Allen's presence then most (including me) would overlook one of the coolest afro-vibe meets future jazz records of the past few years. Put this on your audio system tonigh...