It’s been too long since we’ve heard something new from Hello Skinny. After releasing his eponymous debut album back in 2013, the drummer extraordinaire returns with his second album, “Watermelon Sun”.
Pulling influences from New York’s dub-disco, UK jazz, New Jersey house and Chicago footwork, the 10-track project features Arthur Russell collaborator and influential trombone player and composer Peter Zummo.
The album is said to be strongly influenced by Zummo’s open-form approach to composition, with the talented Sons of Kemet and Owiny Sigoma Band member approaching the recording sessions with just some written material – a clutch of riffs, melodies and basslines – as the jumping off point for open-ended recordings. Rejecting the kind of improvisation where each player takes their turn to solo, Skinner embraced a group-oriented approach. Or as he puts it, “I like improvising where it doesn’t sound like improvising.”
Lead cut “Mr. P.Z.” is a delicious slice of off-kilter disco jazz mixed with dub, and funky dance floor grooves.
Keep an eye out for the album set to drop on November 24th via Brownswood Recordings.
Tracklist:
A1. Prelude
A2. Watermelon Sun
B1. Mr P.Z.
B2. Signs
C1. Bluebells
C2. Rashad
D1. iDEATH
D2. Coda
