We’re back with another Between The Cracks selection to soundtrack your weekend. We only write short reviews; who reads them anyway? You’re here to listen to music, so we keep it short and sweet! You can check out our weekly mini-guide below, and if you like what you hear, click the links to support the artists.
Albums
Darius Jones – fLuXkit Vancouver (i̶t̶s suite but sacred)
If you like your jazz experimental, expressive and expansive, look no further. fLuXkit Vancouver (i̶t̶s suite but sacred) is a radiant manifesto of artistic freedom, showcasing the brilliant talents of Darius Jones on alto saxophone. Brace yourself for a symphony in four free-flowing movements, carefully crafted and passionately performed with long-time collaborator Gerald Cleaver on drums and four Vancouver-based string musicians: violinists Jesse Zubot and Josh Zubot, cellist Peggy Lee and bassist James Meger. A quality first collaborative release from Brooklyn-based Northern Spy and Helsinki-based We Jazz Records.
ENEMY – The Betrayal
Another fantastic LP from We Jazz Records as they present the third album from jazz trio ENEMY made up of bassist Petter Eldh, drummer James Maddren and pianist Kit Downes. This trio nails it! They’ve put together an album full of short songs that keep you hooked from start to finish – every second counts, with no wasted moments in sight. The tracklist is perfectly consistent, giving you a varied and dynamic listening experience.
Richard Sears – Appear to Fade
Appear to Fade takes you on a journey where jazz and ambient music come together so fluidly that it will leave you wondering what genre even means. Richard Sears’ skilled hands on the piano will transport you to an otherworldly realm, guided by the celestial sounds of Una Corda. Calling all music fans with an open mind! Grab your headphones, close your eyes, and let the sound waves tickle your eardrums in this ear-pleasing musical meditation.
mouse on the keys – Pointillism
The piano/keys and drum trio of Akira Kawasaki, Atsushi Kiyota and Daisuke Niitome showcases their deliciously twisted cocktail of math rock, jazz, killer piano progressions and an endless array of rhythms that will leave you tapping your feet (and scratching your head) in awe.
Hearsay – Glossolalia
Hold onto your seats, folks! Prepare for a wild ride as the fearless Chicago trio Hearsay takes their adventurous techniques to new heights. It’s like a roller coaster for your ears but without the motion sickness. These three musical mavericks fearlessly weave elements of free jazz, textural noise music, and avant-garde styles to create a unique avant-groove. Wow!
Helen Svoboda – The Odd River
The Odd River is yet another diverse musical adventure created by Helen Svoboda, the Finnish-born Melbourne-based bassist, vocalist and composer. It’s a whimsical journey where the organic meets the inorganic, and the natural clashes with the unnatural. Get ready to dive into this surreal sonic experience! Svoboda’s creative juices flow from the bizarre things we’ve done to our environment. With a fascination for finding unconventional sounds (an apple being eaten is the first thing you’ll hear) and ways to play her instrument, this new body of work is a 29-minute experimentation with genres, sounds, textures and moods. We love it!
Gerald Bailey – Migration Climate
We’re a bit late on this cool concept album created by the immensely talented multi-instrumentalist Gerald Bailey, hailing all the way from Chicago. This album is bursting with creativity. Bailey set out to make a record exploring jazzy and dusty beats in isolation. He sculpted layers of overdubbed trumpet, flugabone, drums, and keyboards using a simple recording setup to portray themes of migration, social evolution, upheaval, and positive change. So glad we finally discover this album and late is better than never, right?
Compilations
Ellen Zweig – Fiction of the Physical
Ellen Zweig, a renowned poet from the US, skilfully blends unconventional spoken word with ambient and fourth world minimalism. This unique combination is showcased in this curious release, ‘Fiction of the Physical’, which features previously unpublished works from the 70s and 80s. Exploring Zweig’s artistic evolution during this pivotal period is an exciting opportunity you want to take advantage of.
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