Crucial Material – Best Releases Of The Week (March 9th, 2019)

Too much music too little time.

Thankfully, our Crucial Material is slowly but surely becoming one of the best weekly recaps in the world scanning the hundreds of new releases and sharing only the cream of the crop.

So here we go. Dive in!

NEW ALBUMS & EP’s

Little Simz “Grey”

Genre: Hip-Hop
Label
Stream Link

Little Simz’s new album comes out swinging out the gate with the “Offence” banger which came out last year and the delivery of the other nine tracks certainly live up to the hype. This record isn’t incredible FOR a Female MC, or FOR a British MC. This is the pinnacle of modern and progressive hip-hop, bar none.
– Selected by Lexis

Helado Negro “This Is How You Smile”

Genre: Electronic
Label: RVNG Intl
Physical: Vinyl / CD
Streaming: Spotify / Apple Music

The New York-based singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist returns with his sixth record, and second for the Brooklyn-based RVNG Intl label. Like most of his recordings, the new album is based on personal life experiences as a son of Ecuadorean immigrants, and stories from immigrants that have heavily influenced him. The music blends Helado Negro’s blend of Spanish and English vocals with electronic beats, atmospheric tones, and soulful melodies.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

KOKOROKO “s/t”

Genre: Jazz
Label: Brownswood
Purchase Link

Last year, the London-based 8-piece ensemble received high-praise globally for their “Abusey Junction” track on Brownswood’s ‘We Out Here’ compilation. Led by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, the West African influenced jazz group returns with their four-song debut EP that blends Afrobeat rhythms, soaring horn melodies, and soul-shaking grooves with West African and Ethio-jazz influences.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Star Band de Dakar – “Star Band de Dakar” LP/Digital

Genre: Afro Cuban / Salsa / Salsa Mbalax / Guajira
Label: Ostinato Records
Purchase Link

Just released a couple of weeks ago, Ostinato Records present an excellent compilation of standouts from the legendary Star Band of Dakar, formed in 1960, one of the most important Senegalese bands and certainly one of the first, if not THE first, to play afro-cuban music in Senegal, week in, week out, and naturally add their own “Senegalese touch”, eg. talking drums, singing in Wolof, etc. Restored magnificently, with excellent sleeve notes and photos. A must for fans of Orchestra Baobab (a spin-off from the Star Band) and Amara Toure (who was also a member).
– Selected by Oliver Brunetti

Maurice Louca “Elephantine” LP/CD/Digital

Genre: Avant-jazz
Label: Northern Spy / Sub Rosa
Purchase Link

Hailing from Egypt, Maurice Louca leads a 12-piece ensemble (featuring such talents as Tommaso Cappellato on drums/percussion), Natik Awayez on oud) through an incredible arc of music of his own avant-jazz compositions and arrangements, drawing on “cosmic jazz, Arabic melody, minimalism, African and Yemeni music”” and I’m sure much more besides. Deep, wonderful music, ready to dance, or unwind to.
– Selected by Oliver Brunetti

Fumaça Preta “Pepas”

Genre: Tropical / Psych / Punk / Freakout / Fê Fê Fê / Garage / Hip Hop / Afro Latin
Label: Stolen Body Records
Purchase Link

Fumaça Preta’s 3rd LP does NOT disappoint. Surely the spiciest psych/punk/garage rock you’ll hear this year, if not for a very long time. Afro latin rhythms and a love of hip hop, and fuzz, shine bright on a diverse set of songs, many of which direct their ire at the myriad failures of the Venezuelan government. Though with music this strong, you won’t need to understand a word of Spanish to be moved. Currently on tour across Europe, their live show is one you can’t miss.
– Selected by Oliver Brunetti

Em Vee “Em Vee Edits”

Genres: Disco / Fusion / Afro / Boogie
Label: Razor N Tape
Purchase Link

Mr. Lumberjack himself steps up to bat for NYC’s Razor-N-Tape… and he knocks it out of the park with 4 decidedly tantalizing edits you’re sure to hear in many a Summertime set. Em Vee, phonetic spelling of Marcel Vogel’s initials, lays down Italo-ish Disco, Latin Jazz-Funk-Fusion, break-neck Afro-beat and a sleaze-cheese Boogie number from Japan; all on a single EP. Variety being the ‘spice of life’, Mr. Vogel’s delivered a winning combo for a wide-range of record bags crossing the vast spectrum of today’s discerning selectors.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

M5K “Time 2 Jam EP”

Genre: Modern Funk
Hobo Camp
Purchase Link

M5K returns to Hobo Camp with his brand new EP “Time 2 Jam”, a sonic affair of drum machine hits and synth lines, evoking a vision of a beach-side urban studio apartment blasting out party jams and smooth tunes from sunrise to sunset and beyond
– Selected by Walla P

Gangster Doodles “Gangster Music Vol.1”

Genre: Hip-Hop / Beats
Label
Purchase Link

What a dope project right here! World famous rap doodler Gangster Doodles teams up with All City to curate and illustrate a compilation of 27 exclusive tracks of some of the finest production & vocal talents! Featuring Kaytranada, Onra, Quelle Chris, Madlib, Mndsgn and tons more!
– Selected by Lexis

Rudy’s Midnight Machine “La Cadenza”

Genre: Balearic
Label: Faze Action Records
Purchase Link

Under his Rudy’s Midnight Machine alias, Faze Action’s Robin Lee returns with a new five-track EP influenced heavily by early 80’s Brit and jazz-funk. This great new recording fuses tropical balearic grooves and electronic synths, with funky drum machine-based rhythms and electric bass lines. Definitely a soundtrack for the warmer months ahead.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Karizma “K2 Edits Vol.5”

Genre: House
Purchase Link

This is one for all the deep & soulful DJ’s in need of a few secret weapons to add to your digital crates. Karizma dons his K2 moniker for 5 secret soul remixes ready for primo dancefloor action.
– Selected by Lexis

REISSUES & ARCHIVAL & COMPILATIONS

Cool Notes “I Wanna Dance”

Genres: Soul / Synth-Funk / Boogie
Label: Omaggio
Purchase Link

British outfit, Cool Notes, license ‘I Wanna Dance’ to Italy’s Strictly Groove. The release comes from SG’s sub-label, Omaggio, which specializes in reissues of ‘overlooked’ records from the 70’s and 80’s. You may know the name Cool Notes from their once hit, ‘My Tune’ (check the Remix Version). ‘I Wanna Dance’ is miles away from the Lovers Rock styling of ‘My Tune’ though. Instead, IWD is a deep synth-funk burner with simple lyrical content and heavy production; even a brief rap cameo makes an appearance. ‘Blown It’, on the B-side, is nothing to ignore either; slap bass, lofty chords, jazz guitar and a male lead/female backing vox combo for the win.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

I Blagueur “Balla? No!”

Genres: Italo-Disco / Funk / Boogie
Label: Dualismo Sound
Purchase Link

I Blagueur’s oddball Italo-disco-meets-rap-funk track from ’84 is rescued from obscurity to live and breathe once more, thanks to Italy’s Dualismo Sound. ‘Balla? No!’, the reissue label’s fourth release, is, in my humble opinion, their best move to date. Inspired by Falco’s ‘Der Kommissar’, the boys of I.B. set out to record something unique and culturally relevant to them, and do so they did. The lyrical content, both sung and rapped, is delivered in their local dialect and is paired to great effect with a back-up chorus that gives the track an unintentional, minor Afro-disco vibe. Seems word’s not gone ‘round on this one yet, so play at will.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Various Artists “Spiritual Jazz 9: Blue Notes”

Genre: Jazz
Label: Jazzman
Purchase Link

Volume nine of Jazzman’s groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed ‘Spiritual Jazz’ series dives deep into one of the most celebrated jazz labels, Blue Note Records. This brilliant two-part compilation compiles some of the most progressive and experimental recordings from the label’s catalog, which includes groundbreaking music from jazz greats Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Hank Mobley, Jackie McLean, Duke Pearson, Andrew Hill, Wayne Shorter, and many others.
– Selected by TJ Gorton