We’re back with our Between The Cracks feature, bringing you a new collection of sonic marvels to delight your ears. This week’s selection dives deep into the hidden gems and under-the-radar releases that deserve your attention. From chilled ambient jazz to experimental electronic, we spotlight the music that probably eluded the mainstream radar.
Albums
Bremer McCoy – Kosmos
The Danish duo of bassist Jonathan Bremer and pianist Morten McCoy have released a transcendent sixth album that serves as an aural oasis amidst the noise of modern life. Kosmos envelops the listener in a gossamer-light, ethereal sound world rooted in freedom and connectedness. The duo are acclaimed veterans of the European jazz scene, but Kosmos finds them stripping their compositions down to a mesmerizing essence. This reflective, hauntingly melodic music beckons you to drift and dream. The album’s spacious, atmospheric textures conjure images of the idyllic Danish countryside from which it emerged. Pieces like the wistful “Blomsten du sår” and weightless “Vuggevise” have an effortless, pastoral quality, suffused with warm resonance. Yet there is also a cosmic expansiveness here, evoked by the exploratory title track “Kosmos” and McCoy’s sparse, ruminative piano soloing. While the album flows seamlessly as an immersive whole, standouts include the buoyant opener “Higher Road” with its hypnotic bassline and the hauntingly beautiful “Hvor du er” carried by Bremer’s arco bass melodies. By the closing of “Universal Love,” you feel you’ve been somewhere quite profound. Kosmos is an exquisite, deeply immersive album that encourages letting go of the past and embracing the present moment. Bremer McCoy’s latest is essential for those seeking transcendence through music.
Nala Sinephro – Endlessness
Nala Sinephro’s sophomore album “Endlessness” is a mesmerizing odyssey through vast sonic landscapes. The Belgian artist expands on the ambient jazz explorations of her debut, crafting a cinematic, genre-blurring experience bolstered by an impressive cast of collaborators from the UK jazz scene. Sinephro’s warm synth textures and hypnotic modular rhythms form the foundation, with sublime contributions from Nubya Garcia, Lyle Barton, and members of Black Midi, Ezra Collective, Sons of Kemet, and Kokoroko. The overall vibe is immersive and transcendental, conjuring images of deep space and inner mindscapes. Standouts include the entrancing opener “Continuum 1,” where Sinephro’s synths envelop James Mollison’s yearning sax lines. “Continuum 2” is a particular highlight, with Sheila Maurice-Grey’s flugelhorn soaring over the cosmic swells. The brief “Continuum 4” and “5” offer an introspective respite amidst the grandeur. “Endlessness” is a captivating achievement that pushes the boundaries of modern jazz while remaining grounded in emotion and groove. Sinephro’s vision coalesces into a singular, seamless journey that demands to be experienced in its whole, uninterrupted glory.
Jan Wagner – Energie Braucht Zeit
Jan Wagner’s “Energie Braucht Zeit” is a poignant sonic meditation on loss and the inexorable march of time. Concluding a trilogy centred on his mother’s passing, the Swiss composer and pianist confronts grief’s entanglement with his instrument, the piano. Initially unable to play, Wagner found solace in recording ambient room tones, distancing himself from the piano’s haunting resonance. This exploratory approach yields a delicate, spectral album oscillating between serene stillness and ecstatic, pulsating energy. Wagner sculpts a rich, tactile soundworld where gentle piano phrases commingle with field recordings and guest appearances by violinist Tobias Preisig and spoken word artist aint about me. The latter’s presence on “Oblige” feels synchronistic, his words giving voice to Wagner’s renewed zest for life. Standouts include the shimmering “Watch” and the aptly titled “Overcome,” where Wagner’s ivories swell with hard-won affirmation. But the real highlight is “Abend,” a mere 88 seconds of unvarnished beauty—a fleeting, fragile acceptance of life’s polarities. Ultimately, “Energie Braucht Zeit” courageously embraces life’s cyclical nature. By processing his loss through a new sonic lens, Wagner arrives at a transcendent realisation—that time’s erosion enables renewal and rebirth. This exquisitely crafted rumination resonates long after its final notes.
Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman – Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On
Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On’ marks the first collaborative album by Scottish composers Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman. A delightful amalgamation, the album is steeped in Perman’s ambient-acid-house concoctions and a kaleidoscope of percussion textures crafted meticulously from sampling. Meanwhile, Wasylyk infuses his cinematic mastery with his upright piano prowess, creating a lush, expansive soundscape. These two sonic alchemists meld their creative sparks deftly, braiding together drum machines, evocative piano motifs, synthesised opulence, soulful saxophone riffs, and ethereal choral harmonies. The result is a rich auditory feast, resonating with depth and innovation. Good grief, this is absolutely delightful!
Portable Aka Bodycode – Augmented Dreams
Augmented Dreams (African Ambient) is an album by South African electronic artist and producer Alan Abrahams – professionally known as Portable, aka Bodycode. Abrahams embarks on an introspective journey across the four tracks with this four-track album, reimagining some of his beloved techno-pop anthems through an ambient lens. Alan’s personalised African approach, as a South African, to ambient music, is where the term “African Ambient” comes from. In his words, “African Ambient is my interpretation of ambient music as a South African.” The very first track, also the title track, shows how much Abrahams has veered off from techno-pop.
Nuno Beats – Sai do Coração
“Sai do Coração” by Nuno Beats is an innovative release from Lisburn label Príncipe Discos, known for spotlighting local and worldwide talent from the electronic music scene. Nuno Beats’ remarkable production style is at its finest display on this album. How he blends traditional Afro-Portuguese rhythms with contemporary electronic sounds on “Sai do Coração” is a shout-out to the ever-evolving landscape of global music. This encapsulates Nuno Beats’ talent for creating genre-blurring compositions. From the pensive ‘Sai Do Coração’, to the soulful charm of ‘7 Apaixonados’ and the polyrhythmic bounce of ‘Confusão No Ghetto’, it is evident that Nuno has an uncanny knack for weaving an array of musical influences while keeping the listener enthralled.
