Josh Johnson has been plying his trade for a long time. He goes all the way back to 2012, and in this non-stop, ever-evolving music industry, that’s an eternity. In that time, he’s frequently collaborated with some of contemporary music’s most innovative artists, including Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, Nate Mercereau, Marquis Hill, and Kiefer.

His musical skills can also be heard on wide-ranging records by artists such as Harry Styles, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Moonchild, Broken Bells, Miley Cyrus, Louis Cole and Carlos Niño, among others. That versatility gives a fascinating glimpse into Johnson’s all-encompassing style. It’s all there leading us to his debut album, Freedom Excercise, in 2020. 

Now he returns with his latest record, Unusual Object. Across eleven tracks, Johnson’s fantastically processed saxophone and subtle samples and grooves give this work a sort of cyberpunk ambient jazz feel that occasionally crosses into realms akin to classic Warp Records and Jon Hassell’s dreamworld tonalities.

Ahead of its release on 12th March, Johnson has shared the short but ever-so-sweet lead single, Free Mechanical.

Listen to the single below, and while we wait for Johnson’s new album, revisit his debut, Freedom Exercise, here.