This week’s guide is by contributors Arifur Rahman, and Irfan Ayaan.
Greetings, lovely folks, and welcome to your latest edition of Between The Cracks! The never-ending quest to find, unearth, listen to, and share new and noteworthy underground releases that should be on your radar presses on. So, without further ado, dive in for audio goodness from Jabu, boycalledcrow, Dawuna, Djrum and more. As always, enjoy the music, and support artists and labels.
Albums
Jabu – A Soft and Gatherable Star
Bristol trio Jabu is back with their third album, ‘A Soft and Gatherable Star,’ which perfectly paints a vivid sensation of something beyond words. Their sui generis style has already earned them a cult following. The band consists of Amos Childs, Alex Rendall, and Jasmine Butt, and the album takes its name from a poem written by Childs’ father. Singer and guitarist Jasmine Butt’s sublime voice and shimmering guitar climbs and falls like a treacherous rollercoaster with Rendall’s pulsating keys, while Childs’ reverberating bass provides the soundbed on every track of this record. Tracks like ‘Sea Mills’ and ‘Temporary’ encapsulate the Bristolian vibe through fragile instrumentation, poetic lyricism, and immaculate production. The brilliant ‘Oceanside Spider House’ sounds like a lost Cocteau Twins track. Over ten tracks, the trio plunges listeners into a shadowy, contemplative soundscape. The music ebbs and flows, drawing you deeper into its atmospheric embrace as if whispering secrets only the night knows. It’s a world waiting to be explored, one shadow at a time. – AR
boycalledcrow – eyetrees
‘eyetrees’ is the latest release from Chester-based artist Carl M Knott Knott under the alias of boycalledcrow. His compositions are experimental yet uncannily familiar and comforting, making it an arduous task to categorise his music. Knott uses a wide range of influences to compose, creating a hazy sensation of uncertainty through his songs. The countryside and its impact on his state of mind is the central theme of this album. From “worlds” to “cutie pie loves churp”, all the songs reflect the wonderful times spent at home and in nature. Even the chilliest days will feel much cosier with this album as your soundtrack. – AR
Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – Ventre Unique
Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp’s sixth album, Ventre Unique, is a genre-hopping delight. This Geneva-based ensemble, led by Vincent Bertholet, continues to push boundaries with its eclectic blend of folk, krautrock, post-punk, and African rhythms. Building on the acclaim of their 2021 release, We’re Ok But We’re Lost Anyway, the 12-piece orchestra has crafted a beautifully organic album that balances simplicity with intricate arrangements. Recorded over ten days near Paris, Ventre Unique showcases an international cast of musicians weaving together marimba, horns, strings, and angular guitars. Standout tracks like Tout Cassé and Ils Disent exemplify the group’s ability to create emotionally charged yet exuberant compositions. The former opens the album with a burst of energy. At the same time, the latter’s five-minute runtime allows for a more expansive exploration of their unique sound. While their previous work reflected pandemic-era disarray, Ventre Unique focuses on shared human experiences. The result is an invitation to find common ground through music, delivered with the orchestra’s signature blend of avant-garde sensibilities and African music traditions. – IA
Dawuna – Naya
Dawuna’s second album Naya envelops the listener in the warm embrace of slick psychedelic soul and gritty experimental R&B. Brooklyn-based Ian Mugerwa, the mastermind behind Dawuna, follows up his impressive 2020 debut with a collection that solidifies his position as a rising star in the genre. Mugerwa’s sound is a captivating blend of influences, evoking comparisons to icons like Prince and D’Angelo while maintaining a distinctly modern edge reminiscent of Jai Paul and Tirzah. Naya strikes a delicate balance between accessibility and raw emotion, creating an immersive listening experience. ‘Poppin’, ‘Diaspora’ and ‘Govinda P’ are undeniable highlights. For us, Eddie’s Song is the standout, featuring Brian Davenport’s guitar work, which adds a layer of texture to Dawuna’s soulful vocals. The title track showcases Mugerwa’s ability to craft a hypnotic atmosphere, weaving together intricate production and emotive performances. With its brief yet impactful tracks, Naya demands repeated listens to fully appreciate its nuances. Dawuna’s attention to detail in composition and mixing, coupled with Rashad Becker’s masterful mastering, results in a sonically rich album that pushes the boundaries of contemporary soul music. – IA
Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn – Quiet in a World Full of Noise
We may be a tad late with this one, but it’s just too good to keep to ourselves! Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn’s Quiet in a World Full of Noise is a wonderful collaborative creation that finds them stepping into the avant-garde realm of progressive R&B. This sophomore collaboration between the genre-defying duo pushes boundaries even further than their 2022 debut, Pigments. Richard, known for her innovative approach to R&B, and Zahn, a multi-instrumentalist with a penchant for atmospheric soundscapes, have crafted an album that defies easy categorisation. The 12-track offering seamlessly blends orchestral elements with soul, jazz, and electronic textures, creating an intimate and expansive sonic tapestry. Standout tracks like Life in Numbers and Try showcase the duo’s ability to balance Richard’s raw, confessional lyricism with Zahn’s lush instrumental arrangements. The inclusion of the Budapest Film Orchestra on select tracks adds a cinematic quality to the album’s already rich soundscape. Its fearless exploration of the spaces between genres sets Quiet in a World Full of Noise apart. Richard’s vocals, alternating between soulful crooning and spoken-word poetry, float effortlessly over Zahn’s meticulously crafted sonic landscapes. – IA
EP
Djrum – Meaning’s Edge
Djrum’s Meaning’s Edge EP marks a triumphant return after a four-year hiatus, offering a tantalising glimpse into the artist’s evolving sonic landscape. Felix Manuel, the mastermind behind Djrum, emerges from a transformative period with a fresh perspective and a new weapon in his arsenal: his own flute playing. This five-track journey blends various flute styles – Bansuri, Shakuhatchi, Western Classical, and synthesised – creating an airy cohesion that ties the diverse rhythmic elements together. The EP showcases Djrum’s eclectic influences, from dubstep and IDM to post-classical and world music, all seamlessly woven into a tapestry of sound. The standout opener Codex exemplifies this fusion, marrying Aphex Twin-esque beats with cinematic themes and gentle melodies. It establishes the EP’s recurring motif of tranquillity amidst the chaos, a protective sonic bubble navigating life’s turbulent waters. Throughout the EP, Djrum maintains a delicate balance between unpredictability and control, from ambient-like percussion to frenetic patterns inspired by Tanzanian singeli. The result is a profound and joyous listening experience that rewards repeated plays. Meaning’s Edge heralds the return of a master craftsman, more focused than ever and poised to captivate listeners anew. – IA
