This week’s guide is by CF Smith and contributors, Words By Shoaib and Irfan Ayaan.
Welcome to our latest Between the Cracks. Six releases that you really need to hear. We have everything from spiritual jazz, dub, ambient, cosmic soul and more. Dive into our latest selection, and if something tickles your eardrums, follow the buy link to make it yours! Enjoy the music, and have a great weekend!
Albums
Organic Pulse Ensemble – Ad Hoc
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Gustav Horneij, aka Organic Pulse Ensemble, embraces the beauty of imperfection and spontaneity on his latest offering, ‘Ad Hoc’. Horneij’s use of a Tascam four-track tape recorder is a brilliant nod to the DIY ethos of music-making, creating a rich texture and authentic sound. The one-person ensemble flexes his multi-instrumental prowess as he seamlessly transitions between saxophone, flute, keyboard, and percussion, each layer adding depth and complexity to the overall sound. The opening cut, ‘Running Out,’ sets the stage for 46 minutes of music that feels less like a meticulously planned performance and more like a jam session captured in the heat of the moment. Tracks like ‘Rings on the Surface’, ‘Forest Fire’ and ‘The Day to Day’ feature some of the album’s best moments, revelling in the unpolished and unexpected. So press play, lean back, and enjoy the delightful chaos of ‘Ad Hoc’. – CFS
Nat Birchall – Drums In Dub
Nat Birchall trades his saxophone for a journey into reggae’s hypnotic heartbeat on Drums in Dub, creating a mesmerising bridge between spiritual jazz and Jamaica’s sonic landscapes. The Manchester-based multi-instrumentalist, long respected in UK jazz circles for his saxophone prowess, continues his fascinating detour into dub territory with confident authority. This instrumental collection pulses with authentic reggae rhythms while maintaining the meditative qualities that have defined Birchall’s jazz output. Jungle Trek opens the proceedings with echoing percussion and spacious production that immediately transports listeners to dub’s golden era, while Bongo Man Dub showcases Birchall’s gift for creating trance-like states through minimal, perfectly placed instrumentation. The aptly named Eastern Dub reveals the surprising common ground between reggae’s spirituality and modal jazz exploration. Birchall proves himself a genuine musical explorer rather than a tourist, crafting an album honouring dub tradition while infusing it with his distinctive, contemplative sensibility. – IA
Sheldon Agwu – Kintsugi
Sheldon Agwu’s debut Kintsugi embraces imperfection as artistic philosophy, creating a sonic tapestry where flaws become features rather than bugs. The London-based guitarist/producer has emerged as a thoughtful voice, drawing inspiration from disparate influences like Jon Hassell, Thelonious Monk, and Madlib. Agwu crafts a mesmerising soundscape where hip-hop rhythms intertwine with electric guitar loops, manipulated through tape machines into something familiar and alien. Archean stands as the album’s centrepiece, an eight-minute odyssey that unfolds with patient, meditative purpose. Meanwhile, Meditation Ribbon Dance featuring Ylenia Tilli demonstrates Agwu’s collaborative instincts, allowing spoken word to dance gracefully with his instrumental textures. What makes Kintsugi remarkable is its vulnerable authenticity – Agwu isn’t afraid to showcase bare solo guitar compositions alongside more produced tracks. The result is a deeply personal statement honouring its influences while carving out its own territory. – IA
Reissues
Tsuki No Wa – Moon Beams
Ah, “Moon Beams,” the sonic tapestry woven by Tokyo’s own Tsuki No Wa, has returned to the limelight with a deluxe reissue that is nothing short of a celestial celebration. Initially released in 2003, this album is a masterclass in genre-blending that marries jazz, Latin rhythms, folk sensibilities, and electroacoustic experimentation, all while showcasing the haunting, spectral vocals of bandleader Fuminosuke. If you thought you’d heard it all, think again—this reissue is a reminder that the moon has more than one beam. – CFS
Luc-Hubert Séjor – Mizik Filamonik – Spiritual Sound
Originally released in 1979, Luc-Hubert Séjor’s “Spiritual Sound” is a timeless gem. Press play and Séjor’s music will instantly heal and uplift you as he takes you to the centre of Guadeloupe’s cultural heartbeat. This album is legendary for its voices: In his dazzling youth, singer Lukuber Séjor was among the first gwoka artists to incorporate more female voices into the chorus, complementing his strong delivery. Kudos to Heavenly Sweetness for reissuing this six-track odyssey, on which the boundaries of music and spirituality blur. ‘Spiritual Sound’ more than lives up to its name. – CFS
EP’s
Steve Spacek – Blue Room
From the vaults of producer Steve Spacek comes Blue Room. The EP features four songs, which were first recorded at Raphael Saadiq’s Blakeslee Studios in Los Angeles, while Spacek worked with various artists who dropped by the studio from 2003 through 2004. The recording sessions connected Spacek with Saadiq, rap legends Common, and Q-Tip. For twenty years, the unfinished recordings only appeared in DJ sets. The development of stem separation technology allowed Spacek to finish these previously unfinished songs. The EP begins with ‘They Don’t Know You’ through the combination of Common, Ledisi, and Saadiq. The song merges futuristic beats, soulful vocals and rap with lyrical depth. Spacek and Saadiq team up on ‘Hey’ and ‘Something Tells Me’, creating a delightful musical pairing. More, please! Blue Room is a musical time capsule capturing the essence of raw early 2000s soul production. The EP showcases how the musicians collaborated during the original recording sessions and highlights the music’s enduring appeal over the past twenty years. – WBS
