In a flash, another week has zipped by, leading us once again to discern the cream of new releases for our “Between The Cracks” feature. Laden with intriguing music that has captured our imaginations, we hope these eight delights will tickle your fancy and strike a chord with you as they have with us. Enjoy the music, and remember it’s Bandcamp Friday, so It’s a fantastic opportunity to channel your money straight to the artists and labels who make it all possible.
Albums
ZA! & Perrate – Jolifanto
‘Jolifanto’ is the result of a radical and unclassifiable collaboration between two Perrate and the duo ZA!. This collaboration is the aftermath of a serendipitous event when Perrate witnessed ZA!’s concert at a festival and reached out for a collaboration. ZA! is an experimental duo overlapping genres between wild jazz, post-rock and avant-garde electronics. The Andalusian singer-songwriter Perrate’s compositional style heavily relies on the outer edges of flamenco without compromising its profound spirit rooted in lineage and tradition, yet sharing the sonic space with reggae, bolero or rock. This album deserves to be hailed as a class of its own, characterised by a constant push and pull between the improvised and the meticulously planned ideas. Well worth checking out this weekend!
Paolo Batà Bianconcini & Circolo Psiconautico – Asapani
‘Asapani’ is a fateful collaboration between percussionist Paolo “Batà” Bianconcini and Circolo Psiconautico. The album is born out of an intent to take the listener outside of themselves through four genre-bending long-form tracks that function as one singular piece of music. ‘Asapani’ can be categorised as spiritual jazz but with a sensation of primitive settings. The four tracks symbolise the four fundamental elements, and collectively, on a constant search for the fifth element, accentuating the primordial sensation that this album aims to capture through spontaneity and experimentation.
Natascha Rogers – Onaida
A distinguished percussionist and vocalist, Natascha Rogers, with her latest album ‘Onaida,’ has set about to mark her rebirth. Natascha’s return to the piano, her first instrument, symbolises this rebirth. Staying truly sensitive to the ancestral call, ‘Onaida’ has been enchanted with magical and liberating folk music by drawing inspiration from Yoruba spirits, Afro-Latin rhythms and her Native American ancestry. The eclectic soundscapes of the tracks are nothing less than brilliantly composed works of art. Her genius lies in her immaculate ability to bring out unprecedented harmony among seemingly different styles of music. Take, for example, the song ‘Sacred Night’ that features twinkling piano over Afro-Latin percussion and Indian classical-inspired vocal works and symbolises her metamorphosis into a more well-rounded artist among her contemporaries. One not to miss.
Ëda Diaz – Suave Bruta
‘Suave Bruta’ is the debut album from French-Colombian bassist Ëda Diaz. This album is the materialisation of her desire to bridge the gap between the cultures, languages, and rhythms of two continents, which have immeasurable significance in her life. Despite being classically trained in singing and piano, the spirit of South American and Afro-Cuban music has encouraged her to step beyond the classical and into the realm of psychedelia and electronica. Taking up the double bass as her instrument of choice, she has found her never-ending barrage of Innovative ideas, which is palpable from ‘The love song Lo Dudo (I Doubt It)’ that features undulating piano patterns and the percussion beats, paving the way for Ëda’s sultry, sensual vocals. This album is incredibly appealing with its cool pop vibes and subtle grooves. It’s brimming with fantastic musical ideas and delightful melodies.
Charles Lloyd – The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow
Legendary octogenarian saxophonist Charles Lloyd shows no signs of slowing down and released ‘The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow’, exhibiting his enduring creativity and the power of a well-honed quartet of pianist Jason Moran, bassist Larry Grenadier, and drummer Brian Blade. The album features a collection of old and new tracks, with a tinge of autobiographical wistfulness present in titles like ‘The Lonely One’ and ‘When the Sun Comes Up’. Lloyd’s saxophone soars over the foundation laid by the rhythm section, with Moran’s inventive piano work adding a layer of harmonic complexity, showcasing the band’s improvisational prowess in songs such as ‘Monk’s Dance’.
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit
Prominent avant-garde jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer Kahil El’Zabar, with his The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, recently unveiled ‘Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit’ to commemorate the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble’s 50th anniversary. Needless to say, this is more than just an album; it is a proclamation of the group’s enduring legacy and joyous venture into new artistic territory. ‘Open Me…’ blends El’Zabar’s original compositions, including some El’Zabar evergreens such as ‘Barundi,’ ‘Hang Tuff,’ and ‘Ornette,’ with revered classics by jazz giants like Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, and Eugene McDaniels. The whole ensemble breathes new life into established works.
EP’s
An Alien Called Harmony – An Alien Called Harmony
This self-titled EP is from a London-based duo consisting of poet, rapper, and visual artist Nadeem Din-Gabisi and drummer, composer, and singer MettaShiba. The EP is built on the foundation of spontaneity and improvisation. Nadeem’s fusion of rap and poetry bursts with creativity, while Mettashiba’s voice and drumming prowess effortlessly weave through elements of jazz and hip-hop. Together, they create a tapestry of psychedelic harmonies – a beautiful symphony of poetry wrapped in rhythm. A dreamlike sonic tapestry is laid out throughout the project, and the recent single ‘Rumination’ is a quintessential example of that.
Valentina Magaletti – LUCHA LIBRE
After releases with Better Corners, Zongamin, and Holy Tongue, the talented Valentina Magaletti is back on her own, and once again, she’s not playing around. This time, she’s offering four unique pieces, each marked by her signature percussive brilliance. Known for her ability to seamlessly blend genres and create groundbreaking sounds, Valentina immerses herself in the realms of post-punk, dub, and no-wave music to concoct these beautifully mind-bending compositions. Kudos for the EP’s distinctive artwork. Bloody marvellous!
