Hello good people; we’re back with a new Between The Cracks selection. 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! Check out our weekly mini-guide below, and if you like what you hear, click the links and support the artists.
Albums
Andy Hay – Children Of The Sun
Recorded live in two consecutive sessions, mainly first takes with no overdubs. Enter Andy Hay’s rich sound world, a sound that draws on jazz greats like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders, and more, so you know this one is deep in spirituality. With a wonderful cast of stellar collaborators, the musicianship is first-rate, and everything on this album flows seamlessly. Calming and dreamy with lovely upbeat moments, this is food for the soul.
Nostalgia 77 – The Loneliest Flower in the Village
London-based jazz producer Benedic Lamdin aka Nostalgia 77, returns after an extended absence. We last heard from Lamdin back in 2015 when he released a collaborative project with a varied cast of musicians, including country soul singer-songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols under the guise of Strange Faith. British jazz is at its core in this nine-song album, but references to South Africa’s rich jazz heritage are abundant. Welcome back.
Zeñel – 5IVE
London-based outfit Zeñel has released a Jazz re:freshed album as part of the iconic 5IVE series, which has seen projects by Rosie Turton, Nubya Garcia, Jas Kayser, TROPE, and more. They create a poetic fusion of jazz improvisation and electronic music through a singular approach to computer-based performance. Their sound draws on influences from various electronic production styles, including grime, UK drill, afrobeat, and future bass. Listen up!
Fire feat. Adrian Sherwood
A few weeks back, Fire and Adrian Sherwood released their joint project, and we’ve had it on repeat and loud ever since. The Italian outfit hooked up with dub legend Adrian Sherwood for a live performance at the Torino Jazz Festival in 2020. The recording is finally seeing the light of day via Salgari Records. The Fire crew cooks up a sonic clash between electronica, jazz and dub, while Sherwood crafts live mixes and dubs. The chemistry between the musicians and the dubmaster is hot as hell.
Soundtrack
Misha Panfilov – Plan X
Misha Panfilo’s psychedelic-funk dance-theatre soundtrack for ‘Plan X’, which premiered in Tallinn in 2021, is now available on Funk Night Records. Excellent work here, as always, from the uber-talented Panfilo.
EP’s
rRoxymore – Perpetual Now
Berlin’s finest rRoxymore returns with a new project that continues her constant exploration of creative musical avenues. With four detailed soundscapes that move between genres, styles, and sounds of all kinds, ‘Perpetual Now’ plays with dance norms and somehow shapes them into something strangely entertaining. Those who enjoy pulsating rhythms and fractured melodies in their club music dive straight in. All in all, another quality release.
DJ Plead – Quick E.P.
The Melbourne genius DJ Plead landed on Livity Sound again late last year with four deviant club variations. He creates a mesmerising kaleidoscope of playful percussion and killer melodic hooks that draw parallels between global dance music genres without being confined to a specific formula. Full of tropical carnival futurism, infectious reggaeton lilt, understated trance synths and his trademarked hypnotic grooves that would work on any discerning dancefloor.
