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 please support all of the artists you enjoy by buying their music.
Albums
Ron Trent presents WARM – What Do The Stars Say To You
Those expecting deep house delights will be disappointed, but not for long. WARM finds the legendary producer collaborating with Azymuth’s Ivan Conti and Alex Malheriros, violin player Jean Luc Ponty, ambient musician Gigi Masin and Khruangbin on an album that moves from house to funk to jazz and soul effortlessly. There’s also a François Kervorkian Continuous Mix to immerse in once you’ve devoured the album. All hope for the world is lost if you press play and don’t grab a copy.
Anna Butterss – Activities
Few musicians can boast of having worked with such diverse artists as Jeff Parker, Phoebe Bridgers, Larry Goldings, Bright Eyes, and Makaya McCraven. But that’s what makes Anna Butterss unique. Anna’s music crosses genres throughout the album, dabbling as quickly in jazz as in ambient and electro-acoustic. Honestly, ‘Activities’ is pretty much without genre allegiances; It’s hard to describe it other than that I loved it from the first second, and it never fails to surprise me. This lovely ride through a musical landscape never ceases to change and is filled with highlights.
Jasmine Myra – Horizons
Jasmine Myra, a Leeds Conservatoire graduate and saxophonist, presents her first solo studio recording. Released on Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana Records label, Horizons is an album of dynamic instrumental music that spans jazz and electronic sounds with subtle hip-hop and classical influences. Halsall also produced the album. Click on play and let Myra’s wistful and uplifting journey float into your mind.
DoomCannon – Renaissance
In terms of quality, Dominic Cannon’s debut solo album is everything we’d hoped for and more. In London’s alternative jazz scene with Project Karnak and Triforce, Cannon has quietly been bubbling away. Renaissance should significantly raise his public profile. The nine-track album comes in at around forty-five minutes and is packed with a rich breadth of soundscapes. Informed by issues such as the global pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, the Grenfell tragedy, and more, this body of work is absolute of the moment. As well as Cannon, the album features Lex Amor on the standout track ‘Times’. Buy on sight!
Greg Foat – Psychosynthesis
Greg Foat returns with a new double album of synthesised soundscapes. The recording was made during the Lockdown of 2020. It is the follow-up to his collaborative album, ‘Photosynthesis’ with James Thorpe and features Morgan Simpson (Black Midi) on the drums. Listen, enjoy and buy.
Carlos Niño & Friends – Extra Presence
This 90-minute, 17-track, 2-LP collection demonstrates the Los Angeles modern music scene pioneer’s “Spiritual, Improvisational, Space Collage” sound. As always, Niño calls upon an incredible cast of friends, including Jamael Dean, Nate Mercereau, Shabazz Palaces, Deantoni Parks, Sam Gendel, Laraaji, Jamire Williams, Iasos, and more. Extra Presence is one you’ll keep coming back to.
Linda Ayupuka – God Created Everything
God Created Everything is the pulsing electro Fra Fra and DIY afro-gospel debut album by Ghanaian singer Linda Ayupuka and produced by Francis Ayamga for Mais Um. Moving from the infectious synth flute of Daguna, that’ll be stuck in your head for days, to the joyous horns and synth stabs of Yine Faamam, Ayupuka will free you of all negativity. Brilliantly infectious and utterly compelling.
Juanita Euka – Mabanzo
The brilliant Juanita Euka shares her debut solo album Mabanzo completing a long journey in music since moving to the UK aged 14. Mabanzo (meaning ‘Thoughts’) combines her varied musical influences and some very personal, uncompromising lyrics. Among its highlights are the 80’s-style boogie of ‘Mboka Moka’ and the heavy Afro-Cuban workout of ‘Baño de Oro’.
Ben Marc – Glass Effect
The debut album from London-based musician Ben Marc is a sharply crafted set of downtempo jazz infused with hip-hop, broken beat, trip-hop, and electronica that features guest appearances from site faves Joshua Idehen and MidnightRoba. Marc delivers a very confident debut that will please fans of Four Tet, DJ Shadow, and Madlib. Glass Effect is a high-quality and varied album from an artist you should watch.
Tommaso Moretti – Inside Out
Italian jazz drummer Tommaso Moretti impresses with his new album Inside Out. Among the musicians who contributed to the album with Moretti are Ben Dillinger (bass), Edinho Gerber (electric and acoustic guitar), Jake Wark (saxophone), Ben Lamar Gay (cornet) and Natalie Lande (flute). Each instrumentalist recorded their part in the studio separately: starting with the percussive foundation and recording each composition layer individually. Inside Out combines Musica Italiana with Chicago and Brazilian jazz for a sound that reaches around the globe.
