With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for new music to drop online and go unnoticed. To help prevent this, we’ve picked five albums you need to hear. Stream music from The Sorcerers, Diggs Duke, IKESTRA, Golden Rules and Georgia. If you like what you hear support the artist.
The Sorcerers – The Sorcerers
Taking influences from Ethiopiques ethiojazz as well as the soundtracks for the European horror films of the 60s and 70s, The Sorcerers seamlessly blend these disparate elements into one cohesive package. Based in ATA Records’ home of Leeds, The Sorcerers are made up of the cream of the city’s jazz and world scene. Forming the backbone of the ATA Records house band they merge bass clarinets, flutes, and vibraphone alongside bass, guitar organ and drums, providing Ellingtonian textures on top of a solid rhythmic foundation.
7/10
Diggs Duke – Because You’re So Wonderful, We Grieve While You’re Still Livin
An absolute no brainer for all the folk/jazz music heads! Diggs Duke follows up “The Upper Hand & Other Grand Illusions” EP with a new 6-track EP entitled “Because You’re So Wonderful, We Grieve While You’re Still Livin’ “. Check out the EP below, this is not to be missed.
8/10
IKESTRA – IKESTRA
The criminally slept on album by Ikestra come out a few years ago; however I was reminded of it by The Sorcerers due to their Leeds College of Music connection. The seven piece Leeds-based band experiment with soul, jazz, and funk the combination of which results in something special. Take a listen and keep an eye on their SoundCloud for future releases.
7/10
Golden Rules – Golden Ticket
South London producer Paul White and Florida vocalist / rapper Eric Biddines recently dropped their debut album. “Golden Ticket” is soulful, psychedelic hip-hop and its sound recalls Outkast and Cee-Lo. Paul White has been described by the Independent as ‘a 21st Century DJ Shadow’, counts Madlib and Diplo among his fans and is best known for his production for the likes of Danny Brown and Charli XCX. Newcomer Eric Biddines has built a career in Florida and his last video received heavy rotation on MTV Jams, but this is his first step on the international stage. A must listen.
8/10
Georgia – Georgia
Written, performed and produced by Georgia in its entirety and recorded in her own home-studio, ‘Georgia’ is the product of two years of obsessive work, but also a young lifetime of voracious music listening. Elements of the glacial yet hyper-melodic tone of early 00’s grime, sweltering, mid-summer west London dub and ragga, sophisticated pop, first-wave post-punk agitation, the formative influence of Missy Elliott and the high-concept, illuminated sound-design work of contemporary artists such as The Knife and Hudson Mohawke run through ‘Georgia’, a record that reveals new layers of intrigue and ingenuity with every listen.
7/10
