With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for albums to drop online and go overlooked. To help prevent this, we share our weekly mini-guide to the best albums you or we may have missed — stream music from Binker Golding, Komo Saxo, OK:KO, Mr Freddy, and Carla dal Forno. If you like what you hear, hit the links and support the artists.
Binker Golding – Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers
Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers marks Binker Golding’s first solo LP released with Gearbox Records, following three collaborative albums with Moses Boyd on the label. Drawing creativity from the jazz fusion of the 80s and 90s the album features the stellar talents of Joe Armon-Jones on piano, Daniel Casimir on double bass, and Sam Jones on drums. The fusion touches that lace the young player’s individual work are there but only in subtle flourishes. Exquisite She-Green is a truly stunning track, smooth sax lines twisting around twinking keys and crisp percussion. The laidback groove of And I Like Your Feathers takes the pace down as it sways to Sam Jones’ rhythmic swing and Casimir’s elegant bass plucks. On You, That Place, That Time things get a little moodier with Armon-Jones showing off his prodigious talents while Golding gets seductive on the sax. With his new record Gloding his crafted his most straight-ahead work that will please both jazz traditionalists and entice the new wave jazz heads alike.
Peter Eldh presents Komo Saxo – Komo Saxo
From 3TM to OK:KO (see below), Helsinki based label We Jazz is home to some of the most exciting new jazz in the world right now. You can add Petter Eldh’s new Komo Saxo project to that list. On their debut album, the twelve tracks dynamically unfold like a band wilfully freestyling but always knowing where they’re heading. Highlights include the high octane feverish swing of ‘Ostron Koma’, the off-kilter brilliance of ‘Slakten Makten Takten’ the shuffling swagger of ‘LH440’ and the pastoral finale, ‘Så Rinner Tiden Bort’. Wonderful stuff!
OK: KO – Syrtti
As we mentioned above the We Jazz imprint is home to some of the hottest sounding new jazz around. This album by OK:KO has been around a while, but somehow we’re only just sharing it with you. This new quartet led by drummer Okko Saastamoinen deliver some of the most spiritual and deeply searching jazz you’ll likely to hear in 2019. Comprised of Okko Saastamoinen (drums), Jarno Tikka (sax), Toomas Keski-Säntti (piano) and Mikael Saastamoinen (bass) throughout the LP each musician skillfully brings their own vocabulary into the collective musical language. Rooted in tradition but with a strong personal musical statement, this record is not to be missed. Highest recommendation.
Mr Freddy – Lay Of The Land
We’re very late on this one, but it’s just too good not to share. Released back in early 2018 Mr Freddy is jazz drummer Mwesigwa Kisaakye and multi-instrumentalist Ralph Louis Smit. The Swaziland-based duo draws on Fourth World ideas, improvisation, world music, electronic pallets and psychedelic hues to create a kaleidoscopic and textured listening experience. Their knack of effortlessly blending so many varied styles while still keeping the whole project free-flowing and cohesive is a testament to their creative talent. The six-track EP is produced by Bristol artist, and Future Bubbler Sydney who’s own album is well worth your ears. Essential listening.
Carla dal Forno – Look Up Sharp
Carla dal Forno new album ‘Look Up Sharp’ is truly an impressive second release. Gently transporting the listener through her dub-damaged DIY dispatches and flawless dream-pop, as the daylight becomes shorter and the nights get colder this is the perfect record to take us into the new season. Our highlights include the calming psychedelic synth of ‘No Trace’, the doomy yet beautiful ‘I’m Conscious’ and the post-punk electronic dub perfection of ‘Took A Long Time’. Put on those headphones and let the CDF take you on a journey.
