Hey peeps, welcome to your new Between The Cracks featuring ten must-hear releases. As always 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! It’s Bandcamp Friday so put your ££££ directly into the pockets of artists and labels.
Albums
Keiko Higuchi – Vertical Language
Keiko Higuchi is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who has been releasing music for over two decades. In her two-decade career, Higuchi has developed an aesthetic that emphasises the human voice as the key element, which she calls ‘Vertical Language’. This album is a haunting and minimalistic affair featuring piano and bass alongside Higuchi’s incredible voice. Our next ‘Album Of The Week’ has arrived!
Latarnik – Marianna
A magnificent and very personal solo album from versatile musician and artist Marek Pędziwiatr. Under the pseudonym Latarnik, Marek presents his debut album, Marianna, focusing on the piano without any additional instrumentation. As something of a departure from the collaborative work he did with EABS and Błoto, he perhaps provides us with a sense of where his sound might be headed.
Reginald Omas Mamode IV – Stand Strong
With ‘Stand Strong’, Reginald Omas Mamode IV delivers his fourth solo album, a spirited, soulful, assured, and sonically sure affair. Exploring the collective future and the struggle of the Afro Diaspora people to a soundtrack of intuitive instrumentalism, raw drums, natty funk bass, soulful Fender Rhodes, and Creole percussive patterns, it’s his best work to date.
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – Cold as Weiss
The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio blends funk, soul, jazz, and psychedelia in this new release from the Seattle-based band, who welcome drummer Dan Weiss to their ranks. Feel-good music that makes your booty shake.
Holy Hive – Holy Hive
We still have one eye on musical nuggets we missed in 2021. New York label Big Crown Records released this fantastic folk-soul album last year by Holy Hive (aka Homer Steinweiss, Paul Spring, & Joe Harrison). It’s not groundbreaking, but Holy Hive do what they do very well. You will feel the sunshine as you listen to the laid-back vibes.
Lady Wray – Piece Of Me
Lady Wray (aka Nicole Wray) serves up heartwarming feel-good Friday (or any day) vibes with this vintage soul gem. Superb songwriting, beautiful warm production, and stunning vocals; what more do you need?
Music For Ukraine
Music For Ukraine – The Sound Of Now / Music For Ukraine
The proceeds of this charitable compilation, which features house grooves, electronic heat and Balearic vibes, will benefit the Red Cross and Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Compilations
Various Artists – Leonardo Marques Presents Ilha Do Corvo Sounds Volume 1
Leonardo Marques’ Ilha Do Corvo studio in Belo Horizonte was the setting of this fantastic collection of music by contemporary Brazilian artists. Among the artists on this album are Bernardo Bauer, Moons, Giovanni Leão, Arthur Melo, Invisível and more.
Nashenas – Life Is A Heavy Burden: Ghazals & Poetry From Afghanistan
First digital release for long lost recordings of legendary Afghan singer Nashenas – recorded for Radio Afghanistan in the 1970s and considered lost until now. His seminal Ghazals (a short poem consisting of rhyming couplets) sung in Pashto are classics across the global Afghan diaspora and essential pieces of the jigsaw of Middle Eastern and Asian music. Chris Menist and Mads Jensen researched and compiled this groundbreaking album.
Reissues
Hermeto Pascoal E Grupo – Planetário Da Gávea
Hermeto Pascoal E Grupo recorded a sublime and deep live session in 1981; now released on vinyl courtesy of Far Out Recordings. Fantastic, interstellar jazz fusion from Hermeto Pascoal E Grupo.
