Drowning in a sea of tunes and barely a life preserver in sight? Fear not! Each week, we dive into fresh musical waters to rescue the latest under the radar releases that need your attention. Fingers crossed you find a gem or two to add you love to add to your collection. Let’s dive right into this week’s roundup without further ado!
Qwalia – Abbreviations
Qwalia returns with their latest release, “Abbreviation.” At the helm is the rhythm virtuoso, drummer Yusuf Ahmed, alongside Ben Reed on bass, Tal Janes on guitar, and Joseph Costi on keys and synths. Improvisational at its core, they go through their writing sessions with no prior rehearsal, genuinely immersing themselves in the process of creating music. This album is born out of one such improvisational session. Yet, while listening to songs like Omega and Majolica, it is hard to believe that these songs weren’t written and developed over weeks or even months. You won’t be able to resist playing this over and over…
Inês Loubet – Senga
Inês Loubet’s debut album “Senga” is a dazzling blend of Latin jazz and Tropicália, transporting listeners to Brazil’s sunny shores with soulful rhythms. The London-based, Portuguese-born multi-instrumentalist, known for her work on Caravela’s ‘Orla’ and performances with Gilberto Gil, infuses ‘Senga’ with her musical wanderlust from travels across Portugal, Brazil, and London. The album exudes warmth and joy, mixing romantic harmonies with Brazilian grooves. Loubet’s vocals soar over samba rhythms and jazz textures. “Guri” celebrates everyday pleasure, while “Sambo Mesmo Sem” honours samba’s revolutionary roots. Highlights include “Sapo Jacaré,” with its irresistible sway, and “Mel de Abelha,” featuring Loubet’s lyrical guitar. The standout “Sab Sabim,” a call for change, blends spiritual jazz with Brazilian beats. ‘Senga’ marks Loubet as a vibrant new talent, merging global sounds into a soulful, distinctive style. It is an auspicious debut from an artist poised for a bright future.
MRCY – Volume 1
MRCY’s debut album “Volume 1” is a soulful revelation, masterfully blending the timeless warmth of Marvin Gaye with the genre-bending modernity of Anderson .Paak and SAULT. The duo, comprised of acclaimed UK producer Barney Lister and church-raised South London vocalist Kojo Degraft-Johnson, first connected over Instagram during the pandemic before joining forces in Brixton. Their shared experiences hustling behind the scenes, Lister with the likes of Obongjayar and Joy Crookes, Degraft-Johnson with Cleo Sol and Little Simz, imbue their music with grit, abandon, and unifying spirit. Standout singles like the blissfully transportive “Lorelei” and “R.L.M.“, with its intoxicating refrain of “London rain on the window / I don’t care where we’re gonna go / I’m good with you”, exemplify MRCY’s gift for viewing classic soul through a contemporary lens. Throughout Volume 1, Lister’s artfully weighty production provides the perfect backdrop for Degraft-Johnson’s commanding, otherworldly vocals. The result is an album of songs that feel deeply personal yet profoundly universal – a soundtrack to lift us through the everyday madness with compassion and m(e)rcy. In MRCY’s world, soul is simply “good people making music that matters”, and Volume 1 more than delivers on that promise.
Forest Law – Zero
Forest Law’s debut LP “Zero” is an enthralling journey through global grooves and psychedelic soundscapes. A graduate of Gilles Peterson’s Future Bubblers Academy, Law’s impressive pedigree is evident. Yet, it’s his bold exploration and diverse influences that stand out. Fusing Balearic funk, urban Tropicalia, skilful guitar, classic sampling, and psychedelic pop, “Zero” is a dynamic mix of sounds. Law’s smooth, soulful vocals add depth, enhancing the inventive production. The album, recorded in locations from Icelandic fish net factories to a Romford garden shed, exudes a nomadic essence. Highlights like “Difficulties” and “Niceties” display Law’s ability to create enveloping sonic environments. The album’s narrative – an Essex boy’s love affair with world music, his global exploration, and the distillation of these experiences into a unique artistic expression – deeply connects. Released via Bongo Joe and Total Refreshment Centre, “Zero” signals an exhilarating new phase for this emerging artist. Its bold spirit and fusion of genres make Law’s debut a compelling listen that solidifies his place as a promising new voice.
EP’s
The Vernon Spring & Gwilym Gold – Still
“Still” is a new collaborative EP by The Vernon Spring and Gwilym Gold. It’s crafted from three and a half hours of piano improvisations made in the wake of a bereavement. These reflective and meditative pieces highlight friendship and generosity during a vulnerable period, using a prepared Upright Piano, a Grand Piano, and The Mechanical Resonator Piano (invented by Andrew McPherson). The end result is theatrical.
Greg Foat – Spider Plant Blues
“Spider Plant Blues” by Greg Foat is a lovely two-tracker. Imagine relaxing in a space filled with lush spider plants, their arched leaves creating a sense of calm. Greg Foat, known for his prolific genre-jumping output, has used the plants that fill his home as inspiration. The audio goodness we all need is the soothing melodies of Fender Rhodes and a plethora of vintage synthesisers laced with touches of live drumming by Ayo Salawu. Foat’s music paints a vivid image, blending the plants’ natural beauty with jazz’s improvisational expressions. Nature meets jazz in perfect harmony.
