So much music, so little time. We’re back with a new Between The Cracks selection to soundtrack your weekend. 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
Emergence Collective – Fly Tower
Experimental improvised folk-jazz music. If I had to categorise it, which seems more and more pointless by the day, then that description fits (sort of). A better way to describe the music of the ever-changing Sheffield-based Emergence Collective is refreshing. Each performance is unique and captivating, with a glowing reputation on the live circuit. f the collective’s second album, captures recordings from last year’s performance at the Abbeydale Picturehouse Fly Tower in Sheffield. From the start of the first song, you feel like you’re in the room and become addicted.
Muriel Grossmann – Universal Code
Austrian alto, soprano, tenor saxophonist and composer Muriel Grossmann plays high-quality genre-hopping jazz inspired by the likes of Coltrane and Sanders. A genre-spanning excursion, Universal Code, is her latest offering. Superb – I don’t need to say anything else…
Nora Stanley and Benny Bock – Distance of the Moon
Nora Stanley and Benny Bock’s Distance of the Moon presents a deep journey into acoustic, electronic, and improvisatory realms. Both Stanley and Bock are skilled operators exploring the boundaries between composed and improvised music while finding a balance between modern and traditional sounds. In 30 minutes, they blend jazz, ambient, and alternative music elements to create an immersive sonic experience. Yet another gem released via L.A.’s Colorfield Records.
Sarah Page – Voda
Over nine dynamic movements, Sarah Page’s beautiful harp playing sits exquisitely alongside cellist Vera Ronkos and bassist Jonah Fortune. The album Voda explores mortality and vitality as they entwine humankind’s relationship with water – a must-try for fans of Nils Frahm, Mary Lattimore, and Nala Sinephro.
Bokanté – History
Bokanté dives into the blues on their third album. They trace the genre’s roots in West Africa, the Arab world, and the diaspora into the retro-modern world we live in today. As you listen to these nine tracks, you will hear primarily Guadeloupean Creole lyrics telling stories about outsiders and seers, memories and joy, black history, global unity, and the futility of war. With the release of ‘History’, they have created an impressive sound by combining their extensive range of influences into their music, creating a contemporary and refreshing album.
Inzango Ma – Ngo Ma
Inzango Ma is a collective of Mozambican and South African artists led by the duo of Sibusile Xaba and Ashley Kgabo. To get the full effect of ‘Ngo Ma’, the group’s debut recording, you must immerse yourself in it. A melting pot of various township styles and Sun Ra-influenced jazz, the album’s musical landscape is expansive and unexpected, with each track exploring a different musical path. The 13-plus-minute epic of ‘Mgung u Ndlovu’ alone is worth a listen. Released on renowned London label Brownswood Recordings.
Compilations
V/A: Hip Holland Hip : Modern Jazz In The Netherlands 1950 – 1970
With its sophistication, the classic black and white cover sets the scene for this killer compilation. Explore the vibrant Dutch jazz scene of the 1950s and 1960s with a fantastic assortment of traditional and rare hard bop and cool jazz tracks featuring renowned artists such as Herman Schoonderwalt, the Diamond Five, Wessel Ilcken, and Tony Vos. Classy yet still very heavy. Listen to tunes that sound ahead of their time and experience the golden era of Dutch jazz. Press play and create a sonic time machine of your own.
Luke Una – E Soul Cultura Volume 2
The exceptionally skilled selector Luke Una digs into his vast collection for Mr Bongo for the second instalment of E Soul Cultura. Open-minded when it comes to music, Una takes us into different musical realms and gifts us with an eclectic selection of tasteful sounds. From Afro-Latin, soul, jazz, electro, dub, electronica, disco, and more, Una’s deeper-than-deep selection is sure to delight and surprise and have you scouring Discogs or your local record shop.
