With so much good music coming through thick and fast, it’s easy for albums to drop online and go overlooked. No lengthy write-ups as who reads those anyway? We keep it short and to the point because you’re here to listen to the music! Check out our weekly mini-guide below and if you like what you hear, click the links and support the artists.
Albums
The Sultan’s Swing – Matter of Urgency
A great new album from London-jazz outfit The Sultan’s Swing released via Lazy Robot Records. On this LP, they take inspiration from the likes of Lonnie Liston Smith, Softmachine and Ravi Shankar, the title track, however, is a hit of U.K. urban/spoken word. A completely improvised, organic, yet sophisticated voyage from the opening sax of ‘Jazz Emergency’ to the hypnotic tanpura and spiritual vibes of the final track, ‘Sound of Pulsar’. Essential
Antonio Neves – A Pegada Agora É Essa (The Sway Now)
Multi-instrumentalist and arranger Antonio Neves returns after five years with a new album. Falling somewhere between Latin and jazz, with touches of rock, pop and afro, A Pegada Agora É Essa (The Sway Now) continuously shifts to keep the listener on their toes. He even finds times to drop a little Gershwin standard. Highly recommended!!!
Carwyn Ellis with Rio 18 – Mas
Following the much loved ‘Joia!’, folk artist Carwyn Ellis continues his explorations into Latin music with his band Rio 18. Like its predecessor, ‘Mas’ is sung in Welsh but is inspired by bossa nova, cumbia, samba and tropicalia. The music’s joyfulness is juxtaposed as Ellis addresses important subjects: the drowning of villages, climate change, migration and the rise of megacities. One to get you moving and thinking.
Caravela – Orla
Caravela follows up their 2017 self-titled EP with their debut album via None More Records. ‘Orla’ is a beautiful meeting of Afro-Brazillian rhythms and contemporary London jazz drenched in modern psychedelic and progressive textures that make this album a must-listen. Standouts include recent singles ’A Macirira’, ‘Mar Pretu’, as well as ‘Vale do Capão’, and ‘Um e Meio’. Please don’t sleep on this one!
Reymour – Leviosa
Landing on Knekelhuis Records having dropped their brilliant debut EP ‘Sarabande à Deux’ early last year, real-life partners Lou Savary and Luc Bersier, aka Reymour deliver their first full-length proper. On ‘Leviosa’, the sumptuous chanson, synthpop and minimal wave vibes make it impossible not to get drawn into this varied and always exciting album. While they might draw from vintage styles, it so impeccably crafted it all feels timeless. This comes highly recommended!
Lutto Lento – LEGENDO
Polish producer and DJ Lubomir Grzelak unveil his new Lutto Lento album. Exploring roleplaying and fantasy, LEGENDO is the sequel to his 2017 LP Dark Secret, where Lento first dabbled in ambient dancehall dub. Delving deeper into eerie derision and surreal trickery Lento, incorporates heavy bass, gloomy dub and otherworldly folk music. Just listen and make up your own mind. Features guest spots from vocalist John Glacier, guitarist Adam Repucha and koto player Katarzyna Karpowicz. Strong album.
EP’s
KerenDun & Nitai Hershkovits – Let The Mountain In
It’s always great to see your favourite artists collaborate, but it’s even better when the result is as good as this! New York-based pianist Nitai Hershkovits and Tel Aviv based writer and vocalist KerenDun teamed up for an enchanting five-song collection of piano and vocal pieces. A match made in heaven, Hershkovits’ lush piano chords provide the perfect backdrop for KerenDun’s utterly captivating vocals. A brief but very satisfying offering.
The Colours That Rise – Mixtape 1
Multi-instrumentalists and production duo The Colours That Rise return with a fresh offering, ‘Mixtape 1’. The three-song release consists of one brand new studio production and two new compositions recorded live last year. Their latest short but sweet release contains three very different moods and sees them work with close musical friends drummer Yussef Dayes and guitarist Mansur Brown. Another fantastic offering from the duo and the Rhythm Section label.
Venezonix — La Que Es
Venezonix creates a magical fusion of Afro Venezuelan rhythms with electronic music and technology. Led by agpa, producer and founding member of Elastic Bond, the band’s debut EP ‘La Que Es’ features collaborations with Betsayda Machado and Parranda el Clavo and a selection of genre-bending explorations mixing traditional Venezuelan instruments with futuristic electronic textures. Tip!
Forthcoming
Richard Greenan – Rehearsing Heat
Richard Greenan will return in May with his first solo record in six years. Opening track ‘Rehearsing Heat’ paints layers of ornamental pop, rumblingly playful hip-hop, widescreen swathes of drone and beyond – with a wide cast of friends and collaborators along for the ride. Of the seven full tracks, only two are available to stream at this time, but if they are as good, we’re in for a real treat.
