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
Dean Blunt – BLACK METAL 2
Genre-hopping experimentalist Dean Blunt, formerly one half of Hype Williams, releases a follow-up to his seminal 2014 solo album ‘BLACK METAL’. On BLACK METAL 2, he mixes the genres from indie, art-pop, dub, and electronic, coupled with his familiar drawl. The project features contributions from Mica Levi, Giles Kwakeulati King-Ashong, and frequent collaborator Joanne Roberton. With a runtime of just 23 minutes, the 13-track album is a short but sweet burst of contrasting energies that leave a lasting impression.
Yelfris Valdés – For The Ones... Remixed
For The Ones … Remixed sees Yelfris Valdés invites Quantic, K15, LCSM, Osunlade, Maxwell Owin, and Contours to put their spin on tracks from his debut album. The talented array of artist-producers vividly reconstruct his jazzy Cuban rhythms, bringing a whole new dimension to the already stunning songs.
Natureboy Flako – Stonefly (Original Game Soundtrack)
Dario Rojo Guerra, aka Natureboy Flako, is known for his genre-hopping and experimental approach to music. Stonefly, a chill and tranquil action-adventure game about self-discovery, legacy, and belonging, is accompanied by Guerra’s rich and colourful soundtrack. Highly recommended.
Angel Bat Dawid – Hush Harbor Mixtape Vol. 1 Doxology
This album is a real gem. Dedicated to Saint Escrava Anastacia, composer, clarinetist, and singer Angel Bat Dawid is back with another psychedelic and spiritual jazz journey. From the vocals to the synths, to the keys, to the rest, everything was performed, produced, recorded, arranged, and mixed by Dawid. This new mixtape is for those seeking a musical adventure.
Amaro Freitas – Sankofa
‘Sankofa’ is the third LP by Brazilian-born pianist and composer Amaro Freitas. The new album follows his sublime 2018 LP, ‘Rasif’. Combining samba and afro-jazz in which he employs intricate rhythmic patterns and time-signature variations as if reimagining the ancient designs of his ancestors, and every track is imbued with a message or a story Freitas is compelled to tell. I’ve only had time to give this one listen so far, but that’s more than enough for it to leave an impact.
Brainstory – Ripe
From the opening track, Scissors, it is clear that Brainstory had a lot of fun making this record. The trio’s new mini-album takes influences from jazz, hip-hop, 70s funk, 60s soul, and life in sunny Southern California, held together by superb musicianship. A treat from start to end, hearing the pure joy of the trio as they hopscotch through genres is nothing short of incredible. Play, listen, and enjoy!
Suzanne Kraft – About You
A world away from the ambient electronic soundscapes that span Suzanne Kraft’s previous work, these new tunes that find Kraft wandering the indie-pop realm sound equally as good! Great to hear Kraft spreading his wings into new musical space.
EP’s
Chip Wickham – Blue to Red Remixed
UK jazz artist Chip Wickham drops a new EP of remixes from his Blue to Red album, with guest producers including Photay, Medlar, and Wickham himself. The result is an EP of house, electronica, and ambience where Chip’s flute takes centre stage, twisted and crafted into a crescendo of soundscapes and bewildering lush fragments of his jazz compositions.
RAS – SHALOSH
A new must-hear release from Berlin-based duo RAS. This is an eclectic offering of vintage drum machines, guitars, synths, soft vocals with a Tascam Portastudio 424 tape machine thrown into the mix. Blending psychedelic soul, Balearic disco, dub, and funk, with Greek, Turkish and Arabic elements and some incredible musicianship, this release is one you’ll keep coming back to.
Matteo Boyero and the People Inside my Computer – Les Robots de Mono
From the Wahever vaults, Matteo Boyero and the People Inside my Computer present ‘Les Robots de Mono’, a diverse representation of the label covering electronic, afro house, breaks, dub, house nu-jazz trip-hop, and tropical flavours inspired and created by various artists.
