Initially slated for release in 2016 Johannesburg collective SPAZA, will unveil their debut album this June via Mushroom Hour Half Hour.

SPAZA is an ever-evolving project with no permanent members. For each release, the lineup is assembled for the express purpose of recording once-off improvised or workshopped material. For this release, SPAZA features a group of musicians with individual and collective links to Johannesburg’s jazz, Afro-funk and experimental electro scenes.

The press release states “In the context of this completely improvised album, the term “spaza” not only refers to the gallery in Troyeville, Johannesburg where this project was recorded live (and in one take) in the autumn of 2015, but to South Africa’s thousands of informal neighbourhood stores.”

Accompanied by a short but engaging visual, ‘Ice Squinchies: Waiting for You’ is an experimental, unique and quite frankly brilliant exploration into sound. Encased in a bed of propulsive but understated bass and percussive groove the FX altered vocals of Siya Makuzeni render a mystical lyric about finding self, a higher force or perhaps a loved one into a textured, magical seance.

SPAZA follows Mushroom Hour Half Hour’s release of Thabang Tabane’s Matjale LP.

Head here for more info ahead of SPAZA’s 21st of June release, and pre-order here.

Featuring:

Ariel Zamonsky – upright bass
Gontse Makhene – percussion and vocals
João Orecchia – synthesisers & electronics
Nosisi Ngakane – vocals & FX
Siya Makuzeni – vocals, FX & trombone
Waldo Alexander – electric violin with FX pedal