Want to give your music library a little boost? Dive into our latest batch of under the radar releases. Spanning an array of genres from Groit to improvised jazz, roots reggae to soul, funk and beyond! Our Between The Cracks covers it all. If something catches your ear, click the links to show some love. Enjoy the music!
Albums
Ekuka Morris Sirikiti – TE-KWARO ALANGO-EKUKA
TE-KWARO ALANGO-EKUKA by Ekuka Morris Sirikiti is an exhilarating album brimming with creativity, surprises, and—dare I say—fun. Griot competes with electronic and folk across a captivating array of styles and moods. This could be your next obsession if you groove to Disco Vumbi, jam to Metal Prayers, or vibe with Bamba Pana. Well worth checking out this weekend!
Krononaut – Krononaut II
In a world where perfection is often the product of endless tweaks and digital wizardry, London jazz duo Krononaut refuses to hide behind any form of studio sorcery. Krononaut II is music in its rawest form, with no overdubs to mask imperfections or post-processing to polish the sound. What you hear from Martin France and Leo Abrahams across four tracks is what was played, unfiltered, unaltered, and unvarnished. Perfect music for sitting back and soaking in every note.
137 – Strangeness Oscillation
Beth Gibbons got the ball rolling, Geoff Barrows rocked on with BEAK>, and now Adrian Utley, the third amigo from Portishead, is hitting us with a brand-new album. “Strangeness Oscillation” by 137 finds the quartet flaunting their passion for spontaneous improvisation. It’s like they’ve stitched the very essence of jazz, chaos, rawness and creativity straight into their sleeves, where every unexpected turn and twist in the music feels like an uncharted journey. The album doesn’t just play – it converses, argues, jokes, and occasionally takes a wild leap into the unknown, leaving you in delightful suspense. Absolutely worth a listen!
Deron Johnson – Free To Dance
“Free to Dance” is the latest release by Los Angeles-based piano virtuoso Deron Johnson, who has composed music for films, television, and podcasts over the last decade. Deron has a formidable career and has played with legends like Paula Abdul, Alanis Morrissette, Miles Davis, and Stanley Clarke, among others. In “Free To Dance”, he showcases what freedom of musical expression is, hence the title. Each track on this album has its own personality, and each portrays a unique soundscape. Cuts, such as “Can A Song Save Your Life“, “I Don’t Have To Wait For A Clear Day,” “Apocryphal,” and the title track are testaments to his flare of indomitable creativity.
Nat Birchall – DIMENSION OF THE DRUMS – Roots Reggae Instrumentals
Travel to mid-70s Jamaica with ‘Dimension of the Drums: Roots Reggae Instrumentals’ by Nat Birchall. Sporting a finely tuned ear for riddim and bass, Birchall dishes out a feast of roots reggae delights that channel the spirit of Lee Perry, Ernest Ranglin, Jackie Mittoo, and Count Ossie—all served with an impeccable touch. As a self-confessed Birchall fan, indulge my biased babble, but do yourself a favour and give it a listen.
Jimetta Rose and The Voices of Creation – Things Are Getting Better
Yes lawd, we need this harmonious comfort food for our frazzled souls. Jimetta Rose and The Voices of Creation unveil their uplifting album, ‘Things Are Getting Better,’ via Day Dreamer. Blending house, funk, soul, R&B, and hip-hop, the LA-based vocal group spreads a message of faith and unity in challenging times.
