So with another week under our belt. It’s time to look at some of the new and notable releases that have caught our attention and need yours. Have fun exploring new releases from LeFtO Early Bird, Shay Hazan, Taylor Eigsti, Kelpe, Matthew Halsall and more. As always, we’ve arranged these fresh discoveries into a handy mini guide for your enjoyment. If the music resonates with you, go ahead and show the artists and labels some love by clicking on the links.
Albums
LeFtO Early Bird – Motherless Father
Brussels-based DJ and radio host LeFtO releases his 10-track first full-length album ‘Motherless Father’. ‘LeFtO ‘calls this record a deep pre-club record that will give listeners the energy to go out there and party but with a feeling of letting go of everything. In this introspective album, drawing inspiration from jazz and electronic music, the veteran DJ has conjured up a melting pot of genre, which is evident from the poetic spoken word and smooth jazz textures of ‘Love Supreme’ to dance-oriented ‘The Elegance of a Dancing Body’. Motherless Father features several collaborators, including vocalist Iman Houssein, German duo Aint About Me and DJ/multi-instrumentalist Simbad. One not to miss.
Shay Hazan – Wusul وصول
Tel Aviv bassist, band leader, composer and producer Shay Hazan expands his sonic palette on his new album ‘Wusul وصول’. Uplifting, groovy and expressive, Hazan’s hypnotic aural creations beautifully weave together the magical tones of Gnawa music, the soulful rhythms of spiritual jazz, and the energy of hip-hop grooves, not to mention a sprinkle of electronic production. This is all seamlessly interlaced with a vibrant array of Middle Eastern and African inspirations, creating a truly unique sound. ‘A Walk in Dir El-Assad’ and ‘Street Souls’, and ‘Vibe Jadid’ are instant faves, vibrantly superb and joyously groovy; ‘Sunflowers’ is a standout – displaying the breadth of Hazan’s impressive musical tapestry. Go ahead and hit the play button; you’ll relish digging deeper into the captivating world of the exceptional Shay Hazan through this mesmerising release.
Taylor Eigsti – Plot Armor
Taylor Eigsti released his ninth album, ‘Plot Armor’ as the follow-up to his Grammy-winning recording ‘Tree Falls’. Taylor draws from classical and jazz influences in this “fusion music masterpiece”. The album features a pantheon of masters: vocalists Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens, saxophonists Ben Wendel and Dayna Stephens, guitarists Charles Altura and Julian Lage, keyboardists Maya Kronfeld and Eigsti himself; bassists David “DJ” Ginyard and Harish Raghavan; drummers Oscar Seaton, Jr., and Kendrick Scott. The album’s title track, ‘Plot Armor’, draws inspiration from the concept of a character’s protection in storytelling and uses this metaphor to explore the idea of trusting in one’s own purpose.
Empirical – Wonder is the Beginning
‘Wonder is the Beginning’ is the latest and sixth full-length album from the quartet Empirical. It’s their first full-length album since 2016. The quartet consisted of alto saxophonist Nathaniel Facey, double bass player Tom Farmer, vibraphonist Lewis Wright and drummer Shaney Forbes. Compositions are written by bassist Tom Farmer who drew and melded the aesthetics of classical music as well as a broad net of 1960s jazz modernism. This album features guest appearances of ex-Wayne Shorter/Sting sideman Jason Rebello and site fave saxophonist Alex Hitchcock. Such a powerful line-up paves the way for group improvisation, as seen in the track ‘True Cost,’ and more angular and darker tunes like ‘As The Eagle.’
AyGeeTee & The Actress Pets – About You
In collaboration with the ever-curious Kit Records, sonic adventurer and prolific outsider artist Andrew G. Thomson, a.k.a. AyGeeTee, unveils ‘Above You’, an album that glimpses into his vast archive filled with previously unreleased pieces, demonstrating his unparalleled audial syntax. From the repurposed instrumental fragments of ‘Today’s W’, to the mantric pop irreverence of ‘Troubled Dinghy’, and the burnished orbits of guitar on ‘Sweetness One’, each composition transcends genre expectations and reveals hidden intricacies on repeat listens.
Kelpe – LP10
London producer Kel McKeown, also known as Kelpe, has prepared a veritable feast of percussive-led vibes for us in his final full-length LP10. Featuring ten tracks, this record is an impressive collection that treads the line between gauzy melancholia and bustling, dancefloor-ready energy. There are so many good tracks in here, such as ‘Schlesinger’, which echoes the bouncing unpredictability of the sleeve, or ‘The Palace Guard Loop’, pouring neon fertiliser over Fender Rhodes jazz keys. We adore ‘Events Proved Me Wrong’, where Kelpe shines with his knack for crafting homespun drum and bass. Give LP10 a full listen below and discover your favourite track.
Reissues
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru – Souvenirs
‘Souvenirs’ is the first vocal album by Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, the late Ethiopian vocalist, composer and pianist. She studied classical music in Cairo, and as an elderly nun living in Jerusalem, she has witnessed her music earn her global reverence. Emahoy’s music has its roots in the Western classical tradition, paired with her background in Ethiopian traditional and Orthodox music. Songs featured on this record revolve around themes of wisdom, loss, mourning, and exile, sung directly into a boombox and accompanied by Emahoy’s masterful piano playing. Emahoy’s lyrics are poetic and heavy with the weight of exile, and titles like ‘Ethiopia My Motherland’ bear proof of these sentiments. A MUST listen!
EP’s
Matthew Halsall – Bright Sparkling Light
Conceived initially as a tour-only exclusive, Bright Sparkling Light was recorded alongside 2023’s expansive beguiling long-player An Ever Changing View and draws on the same trademark blend of jazz, electronica, global and spiritual jazz influences. Each track transitions effortlessly into the next, creating a seamless symphony of sound that takes listeners on an unforgettable, ouroboros-like journey from start to finish. And just as the album title suggests, this beautiful creation promises to shine a bright, sparkling light onto the limitless landscape of music through its divine diversity and melding of sounds, all while transporting its listeners to a novel realm of sonic delight.
