With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for brand-new music to drop online and go overlooked. To help prevent this, we’ve picked five new releases you may have missed but need to hear — stream music from Neue Grafik, BRAHJA, Blackpocket, Sault and Ghost Funk Orchestra. If you like what you hear, hit the links and support the artists.
Neue Grafik – Foulden Road
After the last few years releasing top-notch music on such noted labels as 22a, CoOp Presents and Rhythm Section, French producer Neue Grafik, unveiled his EP ‘Foulden Road’ on Total Refreshment Centre. Inspired by an after-hours jam where Grafik was introduced to the TRC community, Lex Blondel (TRC founder) paired him up with Emma-Jean Thackray, to arrange his compositions for an ensemble which includes Dougal Taylor on drums, Matt Gedrych on bass and Jordan Saintard on sax. The album also features contributions from saxophonist Nubya Garcia, singer Allysha Joy and spoken word artist Brother Portrait. It’s one of those records that stops you dead in your tracks. Spread the word, Neue Grafik has created an instant classic!
BRAHJA – BRAHJA
Led by New York saxophonist, drummer, synthesiser player and composer Devin Brahja Waldman, BRAHJA recently shared their wonderous self-titled album. BRAHJA is made up of 10 musicians which include core members — Waldman, Damon Shadrach Hankoff, Isis Giraldo, Martin Heslop, and Daniel Gelina. Also appearing on the LP are guest artist Luke Stewart, Anais Maviel, Margaret Morris, Sam Shalabi and Daniel Carter. Over eleven years, the friendship and musicianship between the players have gone from strength to strength, and this their sixth album is easily one of the years best. Make sure you grab the deluxe vinyl (digital contains only 4 tracks) for the full eight-track version of this beautiful spiritual jazz record.
Blackpocket – ALAYLY
Always good to have new music from Steve Spacek! For this release, he dons his Blackpocket guise for the first time in over a decade and what we get is his signature 21st century cosmic soul. Over the seven tracks, Spacek takes us through an ever-changing kaleidoscope of styles and moods. Tracks like ‘Footsteps’, ‘World Together’, ‘Organic Tech’ and ‘Sho U’ which features Fatima serve as impressive reminders of why Spacek continues to be at the forefront of contemporary soul. Vintage high tech indeed!
Sault – 7
Wow, having released their intoxicating debut album earlier this year Sault waste no time with a new LP packed with more brilliance. Once again the elusive outfit hovers comfortably between genres and styles, from funk, dance, post-punk, soul and disco its all delivered with effortless ease. Fans of Liquid Liquid and ESG will find much to love here, but those comparisons only touch the surface of the sound they have to offer. Seriously excellent and funky AF! Buy on sight.
Ghost Funk Orchestra – A Song For Paul
Ghost Funk Orchestra is a mystery. Plain and simple. Dirty, soulful production, verbed and fuzzed-out guitars, mysterious vocals that feel like a lost score to a Quentin Tarantino film. The brainchild of one-man producer/musician/arranger Seth Applebaum, GFO is forging new territory and blurring the line between soul and psychedelic. Wow, this is some deep soulful music.
