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Miles Away Records are proud to welcome a brand-new addition to their catalogue, fresh out the bag and never before released.
Back in September 2024, Rob J Madin sent over a SoundCloud link featuring a set of instrumental covers he’d been working on. Among them were inspired reinterpretations of tracks by Ponderosa Twins, Michael Miglio, and Rupa. Instantly captivated, the Miles Away team were drawn to both his tasteful selections and the distinct musical lens through which he approached them.
Following that spark, Rob shared a handful of original compositions in a similar style, and the result is MONSTRO: six instrumental slabs of jazz-funk fire. Produced almost entirely in the attic of his Sheffield home, the EP sees Rob flexing his multi-instrumentalist chops on guitar, bass, keys, and percussion, with each track grounded in iconic drum breaks.
Expect shimmering synths, buttery electric pianos, and hooks that just won’t quit. Imagine BADBADNOTGOOD colliding with Mildlife, garnished with a side of Herbie Hancock. From the punchy, percussive drive of “Callisto Disco” to the smouldering soul of “Heartacher”, the sun-soaked optimism of “Cherryade”, and the synth-fueled earworm that is “Bouquet Garni” every track delivers.
Rounding out the project are two beautifully reimagined covers from that original SoundCloud message: Michael Miglio’s “Never Gonna Let You Go” and Rupa’s “Ayee Morshume Be-Reham Duniya” rare early-80s treasures, given new life through Madin’s unique touch.
Reflecting on the release, Rob shared:
“I’ve been obsessed with the sounds of 70s jazz-funk since discovering Herbie Hancock’s ‘Head Hunters’ album as a teenager. I love that it seems to be having a resurgence of popularity through bands like Surprise Chef and BadBadNotGood, as well as some great reissues from labels like Miles Away. This EP is a nod to both the old and the new.“
Here are the ten tracks that inspired Rob J Madin’s musical journey and helped shape the sound of MONSTRO.
We performed this as part of a school assembly when I was 8, which is surprising given the amount of drug references in the lyrics. I remember going to buy the album with my parents. Still a huge Beatles fan.
This was one of the first singles I bought on CD. I think I was mainly drawn to the cover art, which had a blurry photo of a rollercoaster on. The Fairground Remix is still one of my favourite Prodigy tunes.
I played the drums in a school production of Jesus Christ Superstar when I was about 16, so I feel like I know all the songs inside out. It must have been around this time I discovered the 1973 Norman Jewison film version, which is incredible. It’s the most 1970s thing you’ll ever see. Ted Neely’s vocals in this song are absolutely insane.
I’ve been a big Slipknot fan since their debut album in 1999. It’s the only CD I’ve ever worn out to the point of it being unplayable. This version of Duality is from an album of funk covers of metal songs I made during lockdown.
This is one of the tracks that really got me into jazz-funk as a teenager (specifically this live version). This is actually the first time I’ve seen the video of it. It’s even more 80s than I could have imagined.
My dad gave me four Peter Gabriel-era Genesis albums on CD for my 18th birthday (must have been a deal on). I didn’t really get into them straight away as it they seemed a bit overwhelmingly ‘prog’. But this (23 minute) song is what eventually hooked me in. It’s a masterpiece. It’s possibly the least cool thing on this list (a list that includes Jesus Christ Superstar and Steely Dan), but I stand by it.
I love Justice. All their albums have a special place in my heart, but it’s tough to beat their debut. It came out when I was at university in Leeds. I’ve picked Stress as the standout track because it’s the most ludicrous. Very intense when they play it live.
A lot of my time is spent writing funny songs (in a professional capacity), but it’s relatively rare that I find a comedy song that actually makes me laugh. This tune from ‘Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!’ is one of my favourites.
I was quite late to the Steely Dan train, but I’m firmly aboard now and making up for lost time. I think De La Soul’s sampling of this tune was a bit of a gateway. The whole Aja album is perfect.
This is my favourite track from the MONSTRO EP I just released. I approached it a bit more like a disco / house track – lots of Latin percussion and spacey synth lines. The layered vocal “aah” swells that pop up throughout were actually inspired by the opening titles of Jurassic Park, weirdly.
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Big thanks to Rob J Madin for diving deep with us into the tracks that shaped his world. Whether it’s funk, prog, or Jurassic Park-inspired synths, MONSTRO is a sonic trip worth taking. Don’t sleep on it, the full EP drops May 16th via Miles Away Records, and the first single “Never Gonna Let You Go” is already out now and turning heads.
Stream the new single, pre-save the EP, and if you’re near Sheffield, catch Rob and his band live at Sidney & Matilda on release day. It’s jazz-funk, but not as you know it.
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DJ | MUSIC CURATOR & SELECTOR | PODCAST MAKER | BLOGGER Professional online interpreneur. Coffee practitioner. Electronic music culture maven. Total music guru. Infuriatingly humble problem solver. Food & sports fanatic.
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