It’s time to venture beyond the confines of the mainstream and experience the joy of discovering unheralded underground gems. The beauty of our “Between The Cracks” feature resides in its diversity, including electronic, ambient, folk, modern classical, jazz, uncharted experimental music, and more. This musical potpourri caters to ever-curious listeners constantly seeking new and exciting sounds. Enjoy the music, hit BUY/SHARE, and help support artists and labels.
Albums
Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed- Gratitude
Cassie Kinoshi’s ‘gratitude’, is an album with her flagship ensemble seed. Cassie celebrates the contemporary Black London culture with the London Contemporary Orchestra and turntablist NikNak. This album searches for optimism in the daily grind. The 10-piece group was praised for their textural and dynamic flexibility, showcasing their ability to lay down a deep groove in every movement of ‘gratitude’. Kinoshi’s sharp sense of instrumentation and Incorporation of elements of jazz, classical, and contemporary music seamlessly blend tradition with innovation. This album has tracks like ‘ii’ and ‘Smoke in the Sun’, where the band is grounded in a pocket, and tracks ‘iv’ and the aptly titled ‘ sun through my window’, giving off a sense of warmth. A truly great listen.
Ill Considered – Precipice
Ill Considered, the London jazz trio returns to their roots with their latest album, ‘Precipice’. The trio, known for their dynamic improvisational approach, moved away from their last album’s more expansive sound and embraced a raw aesthetic reminiscent of the golden age of 70s jazz. ‘Precipice’s is a testament to the telepathic connection between the band’s members: saxophonist Idris Rahman, drummer Emre Ramazanoglu, and bassist Liran Donin. This stupendously dynamic album has a playful and exploratory feel, as in the opening track ‘Jellyfish’; at the same time, it has moments of frenetic climax like in ‘Vespa Crabro’, owing to Rahman’s introspective saxophone with Ramazanoglu’s nuanced drumming and Donin’s propulsive bass. It’s a must for fans of improvised jazz.
Vijay Iyer Trio – Compassion
American pianist and composer Vijay Iyer released his innovative project, ‘Compassion’, with bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Tyshawn Sorey as Vijay Iyer trio, following their acclaimed 2021 album ‘Uneasy’. All the tracks bear the mark of Iyer’s melodically enticing, rhythmically exhilarating compositions. The energetic and intricate interplay between the musicians is palpable, from the ruminative title track to the vibrant ‘Panegyric’ and ‘Ghostrumental.’. Iyer has bestowed us with his take on Stevie Wonder’s ‘Overjoyed’, an indirect homage to the late Chick Corea, and ‘Nonaah’, by avant-garde sage Roscoe Mitchell, with a mesmerizing blend of warmth and impact, atmosphere and clarity.
Okvsho – A Place Between Us
‘A Place Between Us’ is the second album by Okvsho. Okvsho is a duo of two brothers, Georg and Christoph Kiss, who resurfaced after a nearly three-year hiatus, offering the experiences and wisdom they acquired in the past few years. ‘A Place Between Us’ is a personal and artistic journey that underscores the ties between music and listeners and the bond between brothers. They blended organic and electronic elements of music and created beautiful yet subtle harmony with dynamic rhythm throughout the album. Okvsho has always been evolving in its music-making approach, and this album is the outcome of that mindset. Keeping that in mind, this album features an eclectic pantheon of artists such as South African artists on the track Soulé Dylane Fine on electric guitar, Zwide Ndwandwe on bass; Swiss-Argentinian rapper AKIRA on ‘Pasitos Jaguari’ Haitian artist TRVΛNIΛ on ‘Where I’m Made Of Brings’. Even better than their excellent 2021 EP, this is one of those albums you can’t stop listening to.
Daudi Matsiko – The King of Misery
So, Daudi Matsiko’s debut, The King of Misery, is a terrific album of confessional folk. Matsiko’s voice ebbs and flows, occasionally emerging from under spacious instrumentation only to retreat into it. It disappears temporarily, replaced by the soothing strums of a guitar, gentle cello strings, the soft notes of a sax, or even an enveloping quietude. He lets the melodies breathe, and the words speak for themselves.
Soema Montenegro – Círculo Radiante
‘Círculo Radiante’ is the fifth album by the Argentinian singer Soema Montenegro. Growing up on the margins of Buenos Aires, Montenegro has always been captivated by Argentina’s wilderness. Her music draws inspiration from Argentina’s traditional music and beyond. ‘Círculo Radiante’ will take the listener through the Latin American landscape. Incorporating electronic elements with traditional music and utilising instruments like guitar, piano, and violin make the entire album all the more mesmerising. Montenegro’s haunting and beautiful voice, paired with the poetic and evocative lyrics, is the major factor adding to the album’s unique charm.
EP’s
Al Wootton – River Songs
Al Wootton returns with a new EP for Trule. ‘River Songs’ maintains his approach to creating heady dance floor excursions. Polyrhythmic hand percussion, acid-psychedelic soundscapes, and dubby techno rhythms offset with modular synthesis are on the menu, as Wootton’s relentless search for new musical frontiers keeps our ears and feet engaged and entertained.
Reissues
Mal Waldron / Terumasa Hino – Reminiscence Suite/ Black Forest
BBE’s J Jazz Masterclass Series reaches 19, and they’ve got a special one by Mal Waldron and Terumasa Hino to celebrate. Originally released in 1973, it features the two jazz legends and a band of top Japanese jazz musicians. The title track exudes a dark, brooding, heavy groove characteristic of Waldron’s early 70s sound. ‘”Black Forest” is a vibrant and dynamic composition, enriched with intricate percussion and infused with Hino’s distinctive trumpet sound. It is essential jazz-funk fusion and a must-listen for jazz-dance fans.
