Hey folks, welcome to your new Between The Cracks selection. Once again, the end of the week brings a delightful medley of sounds to caress your eardrums. Heal your mind, body, and soul with new musical gems that have recently popped up on our radar. So, without further ado, here are ten great releases worth checking out. Dive in for audio goodness from KILEDJIAN, Bolts Of Melody, Trio Heinz Herbert, and more. As always, enjoy the music, and one last thing: don’t forget that it’s Bandcamp Friday today, so it’s a great day to support artists and labels as your ££££ go directly into their pockets.
Albums
Carlos Niño, Idris Ackamoor, Nate Mercereau – Free, Dancing...
So, cards on the table. I’m only halfway through this 17-track album, but what I’ve heard so far is worth raving about. Collaborating in the live arena since the summer of 2022, “Free, Dancing…” is an album from percussionist and producer Carlos Niño, veteran multi-instrumentalist Idris Ackamoor (The Pyramids), and the talented guitarist Nate Mercereau. The performance displays incredible discipline yet exudes a loose, free-roaming vibe reminiscent of spiritual jazz.
KILEDJIAN – The Otium Mixtape
KILEDJIAN, the mastermind and producer of Creole Afro-futurists Dowdelin, ventures out on his own for his first solo project, The Otium Mixtape. With this endeavour, he brilliantly merges the worlds of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic avant-garde to present a uniquely fresh sound. Standout tracks include ‘Father Sky’, ‘Shaadü’, ‘Silver Cab’, ‘Promesses’, and ‘Post Trama’. Don’t miss out on this brilliant album’s neoteric fusion of sounds crafted by KILEDJIAN!
Trio Heinz Herbert – Tomorrow Wonderland
With love for J Dilla, Juan Atkins, and Jaki-Liebezeit pulsating through the veins, Zurich’s Trio Heinz Herbert dives further into a musical ocean of possibilities with their fifth album. Moving their sound in unexpected ways, the trio’s fusion of their jazz influences with electronic music breathes new life into familiar genres. THH are reshaping soundscapes, questioning the norms and typical paths of musical expression as they journey forward.
Bolts of Melody – Film Noir
Hooking us in with a noir-esque title, Bolts of Melody’s Film Noir transports us to the dark underworld of midcentury crime dramas. An assemblage of seasoned musicians, including J Mascis and Kellii Scott, the album conjures the smoky atmospheres and tension-filled scenes of classic noir. Delving into ominous soundscapes in tracks like “Cops Raid Easy’s,” the album also delivers swinging rhythms and slinky leads in cuts like “Black Flower,” where vocalists Kellie Lloyd and Sukie Smith shine. While the brief ambient sketches “The Village Sleeps” and “Church Scene” set the mood, standouts like the guitar-driven “Vibratube” and sax-prominent “LSME” reveal the compositional chops at play. For those longing for the dangerous romance of dimly-lit alleyways and half-lit faces, Film Noir hits all the right notes.
YĪN YĪN – Mount Matsu
Dutch outfit YĪN YĪN are back with their unabashedly eclectic third album, Mount Matsu. The group of four lays down myriad musical influences and genres, from surf tunes, Southeast Asian psychedelia, Stax soul, offbeat 80s disco, city pop, and the mesmerising instrumental tones of Japanese folk (sōkyoku). It all comes together to create a cosmic collage that is pure listening pleasure.
Misha Panfilov – Atlântico
Misha Panfilov is undeniably one of the most prolific musicians around. He releases so much music that it can be easy to overlook an album or two. With that in mind, we’re sharing his latest musical endeavour, brought to life on his label, Miraaz Records, towards the end of 2023. ‘Atlântico’ takes you on a delightful funk, jazz, and exotic whirl fused with psychedelic rock and kosmische music. Its beautifully serene and mind-bending productions are worth your time!
Compilations
Wagadu Grooves: The Hypnotic Sound of Camara 1987-2016
This compilation album offers an immersive journey through the innovative productions of Gaye Mody Camara across almost 30 years. Blending traditional West African instrumentation and vocals with various styles creates a hypnotic soundscape that pays homage to the past while pushing genre boundaries. Standouts include the opener “Kori,” transportive tracks like “Koolo Fune,” the joyous “Nteri Diaba,” and emotionally resonant pieces such as “Ayebo.” Ranging from driving percussive numbers to melodic ballads, this diverse collection showcases Camara’s sonic evolution and timeless talent. As the tracks blur borders between disco, reggae, and soul, listeners’ ears will delight with the echo of a magical musical experience – a chronicle of harmonic creativity that is a fitting tribute to this formidable artist and his brilliant Camara Production label. Props to Louis at Hot Mule!
EP’s
Joshua Crumbly – P.S
Ethereal synth forward soundscapes from Joshua Crumbly as he teams up with Samora Pinderhughes, Michael Rocketship and Little Dragon’s Håkan Wirestrand and Erik Bodin to fuse heavenly synth soundscapes with sparkling electronics, alongside gentle percussion and dreamy vocals. All of this is anchored by Crumbly’s suave bass groove that captivates listeners instantly, keeping you locked in from beginning to end.
Gianni Brezzo – Filigrani
Six enjoyable slices of jazz-infused brilliance from multi-instrumentalist and producer Gianni Brezzo. Filigrani weaves a mesmerising tapestry of sound that beckons listeners into his captivating world. Guitar melodies gracefully intertwine with subtle drum beats, dreamy harps, and the enchanting whispers of saxophones and flutes.
XL Regular – Store Duties
Acquaint yourself with XL Regular and his fusion of sounds, which hits the mark from start to finish. Over the course of six tracks, XL Regular lays down a masterful blend of musical genres, including jazz, broken beat, house, and soul, that displays his profound love of percussion and groove. Enjoy the EP, and look out for more brilliance from the newcomer soon!
