This week’s guide is by contributors Arifur Rahman, Irfan Ayaan and Imran Mirza.
It’s Friday so it’s time for another edition of Between The Cracks packed with must-hear releases. Check out our latest picks and if something strikes a chord with you, show your love by clicking the buy or share link. Remember, your support helps artists and labels keep the music coming!
Albums
Agile Experiments – Loukoumades
Loukoumades is the latest album from the international improvisation project Agile Experiments, led by Dave De Rose. Regular followers will know that De Rose is an Anglo-Italian drummer, bass player, producer, composer, and educator based in Rome, London, and Athens. He has stated that he finds inspiration in the power of sound and its meditative nature, and this album also inherits these sentiments. The raw material on the album came from four open recording sessions without any prior discussion of their intended music style. What they actually breathed into these sessions was their own character. ‘Got Something’ showcases that with its low-slung grooves, crispy beat, and deep bass line; as for their tendency to experiment, ‘Bubble Smoke’, ‘Dark Agogo’ and ‘Gang Swerve are great examples. Possibly their most crucial album yet. – AR
Błoto – Grzybnia (Mycelium)
Błoto has been dropping one scorching album after another, and the latest is no exception to the heatwave. On Grzybnia (Mycelium), the Polish experimentalists are flowing with innovative ideas on every track. ‘Grzybnia’ is the Polish word for mycelium – a root-like structure of a fungus. Błoto draws inspiration from the world around them, which is uncanny and poetic if you know what mycelia do for fungi. Across nine tracks Latarnik, Cancer G, Wuja HZG, and OlafSaxx blend fat beats, house, spiritual jazz, improvised music, organic techno, and genre-defying electronics. Like the chaotic “Podostroma” and the hypnotic “Kozak,” this album is a cornucopia filled with poisonous mushrooms. You know what to do…– AR
Gus la tempête – 1969
As beautifully recounted on the album’s Bandcamp page, ‘1969’ is a project created by the producer and beatmaker, Gus la tempête, in the wake of his mother’s passing. By spending countless hours delving through her record collection, each cherished album and song would serve as another puzzle piece to consider when compiling her musical make-up. ‘1969’ will undoubtedly serve as Gus la tempête’s masterpiece. A project that not only helps the producer in his grief but one that can serve as a source of inspiration for others who have endured the same harsh realities of watching a loved one succomb to illness. That level of truth is absolutely art in its purest sense – the ability to confront thoughts and feelings head on in a manner that can be unbearable but necessary in its own way as well. There’s a poignant quote attributed to Ernest Hemingway which suggests a person has two deaths – the first being when their soul leaves their body and the second being the last time their name is spoken. For posterity, as this album does beautifully, we honour the memory of Isabelle Marie Louise Hamard. – IM
ganavya – Daughter Of A Temple
Daughter Of A Temple by ganavya is a transcendent trip that blurs the lines between spiritual jazz and South Asian devotional music. This ambitious follow-up to her acclaimed Like The Sky I’ve Been Too Quiet showcases the extraordinary talent and vision of the New York-born, Tamil Nadu-raised vocalist. Recorded over a week in Houston, the album features over 30 artists, including luminaries like Esperanza Spalding, Shabaka Hutchings, and Vijay Iyer. ganavya’s approach to collaboration is as much ritual as musical, resulting in a deep and innovative soundscape. The album’s centrepiece is a reimagining of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, split into four parts and featuring contributions from various artists. Om Supreme, featuring Vijay Iyer and Immanuel Wilkins, is also a highlight with a lovely blend of jazz improvisation and Carnatic traditions. ganavya’s vocals, described by The Guardian as having delicate, emotive heft, are the guiding force throughout the album. This is a record that lingers, encouraging repeated listening and deeper reflection. – IA
Maurizio Ravalico – A Thousand Rawhide Diaphragms
A Thousand Rawhide Diaphragms finds Maurizio Ravalico turning his attention to his first instrument, the conga drum. As a percussionist, congas are the single instrument he has spent the most time playing. Now, his unique way of making music with an unconventional instrument has brought forth an eloquent and well-articulated album, ‘A Thousand Rawhide Diaphragms’. Despite being the only player on the album, Maurizio’s versatility in orchestration and exploration of Conga’s sound palette give the songs the widest and least restrictive form. The album’s opening track, “A Cheaper Love Letter”, “Drag Spin Swing Read Pluck Clash Read” and the title track break out from the expected structure of a percussion-focused album. -AR
Tomin – A Willed and Conscious Balance
Brooklyn-based poet and self-taught multi-instrumentalist Tomin present’s his first full-length work, ‘A Willed and Conscious Balance,’ and his debut as an ensemble leader. Trumpeter Linton Smith II, plus cellists Clérida Eltimé and Lester St. Louis, join Tomin alongside Teiana Davis on keys, with bassist Luke Stewart and drummer Tcheser Holmes holding down the rhythm section. Apart from two exquisite covers of songs by Booker Little and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Tomin has included six originals. But all the tracks bear his discerning and emotionally weighty perspective, from tracks like “Untitled Dirge,” a fantastic large-scale funeral march, the vibrant “Life,” and “Love,” a gorgeous spiritual jazz piece. In our book, Tomin is the epitome of musical perfection. If your ears haven’t had the pleasure of his music yet, it’s high time they did—you’re definitely missing out! – AR
