This week’s guide is by CF Smith and contributors Arifur Rahman, and Irfan Ayaan.
We are excited to share the latest edition of Between The Cracks. This week, we have six new releases to add to your collection, featuring everything from avant-garde jazz to deep, dubby dancefloor heat. We hope you’ll find some music you love and feel excited to hit the buy button. Check out our latest picks below.
Albums
Ambrose Akinmusire – honey from a winter stone
California-based brilliant trumpeter and ambitious composer Ambrose Akinmusire has released his album “Honey from Winter Stone.” He is a distinguished artist in the jazz scene who is also well-versed in hip-hop and contemporary classical music. The cohesive structure and mature sound describe the album’s entirety. The lyrics are based on conversations on issues faced by many Black men, such as “colourism, erasure, and the question of who gets to speak for my community, and why.” This emotional depth outshines his previous projects for sure. This album only has five tracks; however, “muffled screams” and “s-/Kinfolks” are way longer than typical songs. How the songs open, develop and reach climax justifies the necessity of such long runtimes. This album is like a treasure chest that reveals more riches with every careful, repeated listen. – AR
Fadi Tabbal – I recognize you from my sketches
Fadi Tabbal’s I recognize you from my sketches, is a haunting exploration of inner turmoil and urban isolation, rendered through minimalist soundscapes. The Lebanese multi-instrumentalist, known for his genre-defying collaborations and solo work, delivers a deeply personal album oscillating between clarity and distortion. Tabbal’s sixth solo outing weaves electric guitars, synthesisers, and cassette tapes into an introspective tapestry. Standout tracks like When we swam together! and All those nights offer moments of crystalline beauty, with glassy synth tones and delicate piano impressions providing respite from more anxious compositions. The album’s ten instrumental pieces form a meditation on the gap between aspiration and reality, crafting what Tabbal calls a breakup album with an idealised self. Contributions from frequent collaborators add depth to the solitary reflections, while Tabbal’s masterful production creates a cohesive, immersive experience. I recognize you from my sketches, is a raw and resonant work that showcases Tabbal’s evolution as an artist. While not strictly jazz, its improvisational spirit and emotional depth will appeal to listeners who appreciate boundary-pushing instrumental music. This album cements Tabbal’s reputation as a vital voice in contemporary experimental music. – IA
Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes – Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes
The debut album by Los Angeles music makers Gregory Uhlmann (electric guitarist), Josh Johnson (saxophonist), and Sam Wilkes (bassist) presents an original take on modern jazz music. Throughout the album, the trio’s collective strength becomes clear because each uniquely contributes to a single universal musical identity that extends conventional genre limits. The trio successfully merge free-spirited improvisation with arranged music to produce songs that linger long in the mind. Their experimental approach reaches peak performance in “Frica” through the usage of space, which creates an acoustic chamber experience that expands into the realm of progressive electro-acoustic jazz music. Their cover of ‘The Fool On The Hill’, is also stunning. Conceived during two live shows at ETA and followed by studio sessions at Uhlmann’s house, the trio emphasise beauty, rhythm, and soulful melodies throughout each musical phase. Impressive stuff. – CFS
Nicole McCabe – A Song to Sing
A Song to Sing by Nicole McCabe is an innovative alternative to typical saxophone music. With her main focus on sax performance, McCabe creates A Song to Sing by building it from improvised work on synth piano, percussion, bass, and clarinet. Over eleven tracks, McCabe transforms conventional structures into fluid musical landscapes through experimentation. The album develops a textured sound design that balances between organic and electronic musical forms as McCabe uses her melodies to connect improvised saxophone and synth sounds. The musical experience of Running Backwards and Ballon Race creates a floating sensation where deep bass lines and synth pops interact with wandering sax notes that dance through complex rhythm patterns. The combination of acoustic instruments with electronic music delivers both cosmic and vulnerable emotional connections to listeners. Note this one for your top albums of the year list. – CFS
Alex Koo – Blame It on My Chromosomes
“Blame It on My Chromosomes” is an ostentatiously bold fusion of jazz, minimalism, and neoclassical influences under one single cover by Alex Koo. Young Belgian-Japanese pianist Alex has been compared to the legendary Keith Jarrett; it speaks of the level of Alex’s playing. With Lennart Heyndels on double bass and Dré Pallemaerts on drums, Alex was on a hunt for a never-before-seen versatility of music. The album is the fruit that his quest bore. Through a fearless interplay, this long-standing trio brought the narrative of each track to life. For example, the track “Jonass” is a homage to Alex’s childhood friend who tragically passed away. – AR
EP’s
Tibshelf – None More Rollers Vol. 2
The second instalment of the “None More Rollers” series by Tibshelf, aka Lee Etherington, is finally out. Tibshelf is well known for its dancefloor focus and weirdness. Vol. 2 brings all that to the table once again for us to devour aurally. The conspicuous mismatch of songs with the titles adds more to the quirkiness of Tibshelf. Like the track entitled ‘Cruncher,’ which is anything but crunchy, or ‘Have Your Fun,’ which deceivingly leads to a dark place devoid of a single ray of light. Tibshelf has been heavily involved in the experimental music scene in Newcastle for many years, and this record is the result of that. – AR
