This week’s guide is by CF Smith and contributors Imran Mirza and Words By Shoaib.
Yet another Friday rolls around, bringing with it a fresh edition of Between The Cracks, packed with must-hear releases. We’ve loved these albums recently, and we think you’ll love them too! If you find a release you adore, consider snagging a copy. Supporting artists and labels never goes out of style!
Albums
Brain Damage, Emiko Ota, and Mad Professor – Oide Oide おいで おいで
Looking for a culturally diverse album? Then look no further than this collaboration between French dub innovator Martin Nathan (Brain Damage), Japanese artist Emiko Ota and British-Guyanese dub pioneer Mad Professor. The ten songs on this album combine dubby and freaked-out sounds with traditional Japanese folklore focused on supernatural yōkai entities. The first track, “Katsura Otoko”, starts Oide Oide おいで おいで by introducing layered percussion instruments alongside haunting melodies which mirror the strange spirit bearing its name. Emiko Ota’s singing voice adds a mystical tone which perfectly matches Brain Damage’s complex instrumental sound. Through poetic storytelling, Ota tells the myth of “Tenome,” and her emotional voice delivers the story, which is supported by dub rhythms and textured arrangements. Also, make sure you check out the eccentric “Baku.” The musical creations in the album’s second part transform the original tracks into dub versions under the direction of Mad Professor. Through his characteristic audio approach, Mad Professor gives the remixed songs deep bass notes while adding echoes and reverbs to deliver new interpretations of the original music. The album transcends its musical status by creating an artistic passage that joins different musical identities. The blend of traditional Japanese elements and modern dub techniques produces a one-of-a-kind album that enthrals and mesmerises. – WBS
Judith Hamann – Aunes
Judith Hamann’s ‘Aunes’ doesn’t clamour for your attention, it just pulls you in with a gentle whisper, inviting you to pause and reflect. The peripatetic Australian cellist-composer crafts an intimate collage that intertwines memory, environment, and emotion into a tapestry that feels both personal and universal—a rare feat in today’s sonic landscape. Hamann’s cello, the album’s heart, sings with a tender vulnerability, its tones gliding effortlessly through co-conspirators of synths, voice, and organ. The album opens with ‘by the line’, a track that seems to exist in a liminal space between the audible and the almost imperceptible. Moving to ‘Casa Di Riposo, Gesu’ Redentore’, the album takes a more grounded turn. Here, Hamann’s diaristic recordings transport us to a hillside in Tuscany. A place where the chatter of passersby, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of crickets all weave together, creating a vivid soundscape that feels alive and breathing. Standout track ‘schloss, night’, finds Hamann transforming her voice into another instrument rather than a vessel for lyrical storytelling. I’ve had his album on repeat all week, and it looks like it’ll stay that way. – CFS
Park Jiha – All Living Things
It’s hard to believe three years have passed since Park Jiha dropped The Gleam. Time sure knows how to sprint! Now she’s back with her exquisite fourth album, All Living Things, a tender and profound meditation on the wondrous miracle that is life. For Jiha, the ebbs and flows of existence are not just a backdrop but an endless source of inspiration. “Life, as a beautiful voyage, is what always brings me to compose at some point,” says Jiha. The album finds the Korean multi-instrumentalist and composer returning to her roots once again, using traditional instruments like the piri, yanggeum, and saenghwang to craft pure, post-minimalist soundscapes you’ll be delighted to lose yourself in. Tracks like “First Buds” and “Growth Ring” stand out with their poignant mix of otherworldly textures and ethereal ambient soundscapes. The first single, ‘Brown Leaves’, features a seductive saenghwang melody doubled by shimmering and escalating electronics. The closing track, “Water Moon,” with its gentle glockenspiel chime, evokes a childhood music box, hinting at fresh starts and coming full circle. Highly recommended! – CFS
Matt Carmichael – Dancing With Embers
With a diverse array of artists waving the flag for Scottish artistry, Matt Carmichael – now having released his third full-length effort – enlists an array of top-tier talent for his impassioned ‘Dancing With Embers’. Having rocketed to success following the release of his first two albums, the saxophonist has become a pre-eminent face for the UK’s contemporary jazz scene, and for an album which sounds as enchanting as the cover would suggest, Carmichael looks set to see even greater rewards with this go-round. Embracing strong elements of Scottish folk music as an integral part of his compositions, Carmichael’s sublime and spirited project ushers in a mish-mash of contemporary styles that are as imaginative as they are respectful of its past lineage. The revered pianist Fergus McCreadie features as part of Carmichael’s core ensemble as does double-bassist Ali Watson (who is currently riding high following the recent release of his own project, ‘Terrarium’). While singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni dazzles with a sublime performance over ‘Mangata’, Carmichael’s vision is very much the star here. With compositions that play beautifully towards an affectionate and warm-hearted nostalgia – elegantly captured through the album’s title track – the album proves to be as joyous as it is introspective. – IM
Juha Mäki-Patola – Solar Nights
Juha Mäki-Patola presents Solar Nights as a collection of ten tracks exploring American minimalism through its core elements. The album’s shape progresses with digital synth sequences, arpeggiated piano platters, and rising background sounds to form an atmospheric musical tapestry that stays unhurried. Solar Nights brings its listeners a series of compositions with dynamic freshness, which showcase an energising tone. The beginning piece, ‘Voices’, establishes the album’s mood through synth complexities and soft musical melodies, which lead the audience toward meditation. In the following track, ‘Trails’, the piano creates musical tones which combine harmoniously with atmospheric elements to generate an exploration-like atmosphere. Mäki-Patola achieves a brilliant equilibrium between repetition and variation structures across the album, making each piece naturally grow throughout. The track “Solar Nights” within the album utilises minimalistic components as well as soft synth swells, which bring together the album’s central theme of serenity and self-reflection. Mäki-Patola demonstrates his ability to create deep, immersive soundscapes that combine clarity and depth through Solar Nights, thus giving listeners a contemplative audio experience. – WBS
Lonnie Holley – Tonky
American folk artist and educator Lonnie Holley creates his most extensive and emotionally deep work to this point with Tonky. Holley delivers his life reflections through poetic clarity, blending blues, hip-hop, R&B and spoken word into a multi-layered audio life story while in his seventies. The album starts with ‘Seeds’, which extends to nine minutes as Holley tells his story about the traumatic experiences from his childhood at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children. The production design that uses synths and rhythmic percussion accurately expresses the seriousness of Holley’s narrative. Through Holley’s distinct vocal rhythms and Angel Bat Dawid’s passionate clarinet performance, listeners can experience pain and struggle in this song. Holley expresses his peaceful resistance through gospel and soul music with passionate conviction on the standout track, ‘Protest With Love’. Jacknife Lee produced Tonky, while Holley successfully combined blues with hip-hop alongside R&B and spoken word artistry in one album. Personal and community difficulties transform into a powerful collection of empowerment and hope, demonstrating resilience throughout the album. – WBS
