Once again, diving headfirst into a new edition of Between The Cracks, showcasing an array of noteworthy releases from a range of genres. This week, we’re featuring meditative jazz, alternative R&B, psychedelic pop, tropicália, classical ambient and more. Discover some new releases you’ll love—and get that clicking finger ready for the buy button! Enjoy the music, and more importantly, support the artist.
Albums
Bunn Debrett Quintet – Six Weeks In June
Great, inventive jazz keeps flowing from BDQ Records, serving up a brand new album straight from their own musical masterminds. The Bunn Debrett Quintet is back at it, gifting us another sumptuous jazz masterpiece. This time, they’ve roped in stellar talents like Amanda Whiting, Roger Beaujolais, and Nathan Haines. Each track unfolds like a secluded sanctuary for the soul, a refuge where burdens are lifted and minds roam freely. Ideal for late-night musings, quiet afternoons, or whenever you need a chilled and tranquil backdrop. Highly recommended for your listening pleasure.
Sharada Shashidhar – Soft Echoes
Soft Echoes is the second release from Sharada Shashidhar, the Los Angeles-based vocalist, composer, and producer. This album emerged from Shashidhar’s practice of forsaking and unlearning the rigid structures of music and rediscovering the joy of creating for her own. She leads an ensemble that includes Anna Butterss on bass, Julian Rodriguez on keys, and Devin Daniels on saxophone on her first album as a bandleader. Indeed, Soft Echoes takes on a grander musical journey than her debut. The songs are filled with richer melodies, more intricate arrangements, and sprawling soundscapes that showcase her evolution as an artist. An intrinsic polarity pervades this album. From the whimsical and bouncy opening title track to the darker “New Echoes,” Shashidhar’s ethereal voice and timeless composition take her listeners through a gradient of colours and emotions.
Rosie Lowe – Lover, Other
Rosie Lowe has sat happily on her little musical planet over the years, transitioning from an indie artist to major label and back again. Lover, Other is the third solo album by Lowe. She showcased her voice’s dazzling range in her previous two albums, but on this album, she’s brought out her voice’s immaculate precision and rich timbre at its finest, surpassing her early solo albums. Lowe juxtaposes several layers of vocal melodies in songs such as “Lay Me” and “Gratitude,” creating a contrasting push and pull. This album is Lowe’s most ambitious project, with her voice taking the lead in every song, accompanied by a clever mix of styles. Her vocals on “Mood to Make Love” are worth the price alone.
Kit Sebastian – New Internationale
Sonic explorers Kit Sebastian has released their musically riveting and emotionally sophisticated third album, New Internationale. Most of the songs were written on the road, embellished by the sounds of an eclectic collection of instruments—Turkish clarinet, santour, oud, gangsa, zither, and Harpsichord. Composed of Kit Martin and Merve Erdem, the duo recorded the album with drummer Theo Guttenplan and double bassist David Richardson. Modernity — its problems and the very nature— finds itself as the recurring theme with multilingual lyrics and the duo’s characteristic international musical style. From the sparkling opener “Faust” to the Azerbaijani music-influenced “Metropolis,” this album is a roaring declaration of Kit Sebastian’s identity.
EP’s
Juha Mäki-Patola – Holding Patterns
The newest chill and classical, ambient vibes from the maestro of serene soundscapes have arrived. There is nothing earth-shattering here from Juha Mäki-Patola, but hop on if you need some soul-soothing music. This 5-track EP is tailor-made for anyone who enjoys savouring textures as they unfold leisurely, all with a slight cinematic flair.
Demae – Deliver Me
Demae, the multidisciplinary artist, makes a welcome return with her “Deliver Me” EP, a soulful dive into love, introspection, and self-discovery. The North-West London artist’s musical journey is a rich tapestry woven with threads of golden-age hip-hop, contemporary soul, and alt-R&B. Her sound is an eloquent fusion, delicately crafted to resonate with old-school heads and modern-day soul seekers.
