With December here, Ban Ban Ton Ton is looking back on the musical year. Since Japanese superstition holds 7 as her luckiest number, we’re gonna try to keep each selection tight to this total, in the hope that our conjuring of 7 X 7 X 7 X … will collectively manifest some magic for 2025. You may witness some attempts to creatively bend the rules, blur / invent genres and rinse formats, in order to squeeze in as many great releases as possible… 

I’ve been a fan of Martin Fisher / J Walk’s music since I first heard someone famous – either Gilles Peterson or Ross Allen – play Soul Vibration on the radio, way back more than 20 years ago. He did an incredible E2-E2 tribute in 2015, and Ban Ban Ton Ton has coveted several of Martin’s subsequent recent releases on WonderfulSound and Before I Die. However, his latest, Broken Beauty, still came as a bit of a surprise. Representing, as it does, a sonic shift, a directional departure, and the results of a self-confessed experiment (you need to buy the LP and read the sleeve notes).

I pulled the promo from a pile and put it in the car stereo on a late night drive, heading out to collect my son from his study club. This is a time and place that new music really sinks or swims, sometimes comes to die, as I rarely relish going back into the dark and doing the 50 mile round trip. I’ll be honest, cranky and in the mood to be hyper critical, hearing the first few skanking 8-bit beats, I thought “Ah, a Jahtari rip-off”, but the album quickly revealed itself to be something else entirely. The digital dub was there as a base / bass, but into that Martin mixed rock n roll rumble guitar and a host of post-punk influences – probably tapping into and paying homage to his hometown, Manchester’s rich musical roots. Every track turned out to be a winner, with a shared aesthetic / sonic palette – but a slightly different twist. It instantly became one of my top long-players of 2024.

Here, Martin shares 7 of his own favourite releases from the last 12 months. While formatting his list, I ordered 2 of them…

Super selections and wonderful words by Martin “Brew” Fisher aka J Walk. 

Here we go. 7 killer 7s, all from ‘24.

Brothers Vanguard Electriq / Dominos 

Record of the year for me. Hazy, dreamy west coast dream pop with a touch of melancholia for that extra little tug on the heart strings. The flip side is as equally magnificent. Who are these people?!

Dubkasm feat. Eek-A-Mouse / Skateland Rocking (Dub Version) 

A triple heavyweight line up, being released on Tricky’s False Idols label. Great to hear the Mouse squeaking again! This is a true electronic dub killer, reminiscent of Groucho Smykle’s exemplary lysergic mixing on Sly & Robbie’s A Dub Experience album.

DJ Cat / Possibelle 

Easy, breezy breakbeat and organ groove, with the beautiful air of European library music. The soaring strings, synth twinklings and rolling drums combine to make this perfect for lazy summer outdoor lounging.

Shayne Amani & The Dub Chronicles / Where Has The Love Gone (Version) 

Another summer scorcher, this time in the 70s roots style. Other than the fine guitar work and the synthetic Arp-style strings, what makes this track really stand out is the playful high-note G-funk synth melody. Even though Shayne is Canadian, this is what I imagine Frankie Knuckles’ Whistle Song would’ve sounded like had it been conceived in Jamaica!

Durand Jones & The Indications / Private Space 

Very special and timeless modern soul, exuding class and elegance with Durand’s falsetto vocals draped over a 70s orchestral soul groove, twinned with contemporary production values. I was somehow reminded of Starvue’s Body Fusion when I first heard this, so it’s already a classic in my book.

Mato feat. Lady Gatica / You Can’t Turn Me Away (Mato Dub Version) 

It’s always a pleasure to check any new release from the French retro-reggae master, and this doesn’t disappoint. How could it, when he takes on Sylvia Striplin’s Roy Ayers-produced soul classic and updates it with extra weight whilst still fully retaining the essence of the original? Presenting the dub here, so that the true beauty of each instrument gets its rightful say.

What Are People For? / Criminals R Snoozing 

Slightly wonky but super heavy slo-mo low-slung mechanical funk, evocative of Tom Tom Club at their weirdest, funniest and finest.

J Walk’s brilliant Broken Beauty is out now on Before I Die.