Crucial Material – Best Releases Of The Week (April 6th, 2019)

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Our haul this week, includes stunning contemporary Jazz, Polish modern Classical, vintage Afro-funk, folk-y Synth-pop, downtempo Balearic, tribal rhythms and more. As always, if you like something you hear, buy it. Your purchase supports the artists and labels whose work you enjoy.

Wolf Muller meets the Nile Project “S/T”

Genres: Afro Electronics / Tribal / Afrobeat
Label: Nouvelle Ambiance
Buy: Vinyl / Digital

Jan Schulte (aka Wolf Muller) teamed up with the Nile Project back in 2016 for a series of collaborative recordings. The sessions included Kasiva Mutua, Adel Mehka, and Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno. Filling the A side, ‘Moomba Dance’ leads off the EP with nearly fifteen minutes of brooding, foot-stomping, afro-cosmic rhythms that deserve the listeners undivided attention. On the flip, we’re treated to the most experimental pieces of the bunch, yet, not for a second will you find yourself distracted.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Frank Harris & Maria Marquez “Echoes”

Genres: Folk / World / Synth-pop
Label: Strangelove
Buy: Vinyl

‘Echoes’ is a lush, compelling collection of experimental leftfield-pop recordings from musician/composer Frank Harris ,and Venezuelan vocalist Maria Marquez. Lifted from releases dating back to the mid-80’s, the LP compiles the very best of otherwise hard-to-find tracks that fit beautifully in today’s crowded landscape of predictable music.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Prins Thomas “Ambitions”

Genres: Balearic / Downtempo / Electronic
Label: Smalltown Supersound
Buy: Vinyl / CD / Digital
Stream: Spotify

Prins Thomas has delivered his sixth studio album. His second for Norwegian label, Smalltown Supersound. ‘Ambitions’ is an album comprised of ideas captured over a two-year period while Prins was travelling extensively. Laptop sketches and melodies hummed into a handheld recorder, the album was conceived in San Francisco, Osaka, and during a plan ride from Miami to Chicago. The listening experience is superb; Balearic, meditative, hypnotizing, and spiritual. Highly recommended.
-Selected by Jake Stellarwell

African Vibration “Hinde”

Genres: Afro-funk / Downtempo / Synth
Label: Soundway
Buy: Vinyl / Digital

Soundway has secured the master tapes to African Vibration’s ‘Hinde’, and delivers a gorgeously re-mastered version, including an of-the-moment remix by Julien Dyne. ‘Hinde’ was originally pressed to a 7-inch in ’87; it was also included on a Soundway complilation in 2016. That release wasn’t produced from the master tapes, this 12-inch is, and that’s what makes it quite special. Add to that Julien Dyne’s slowed, drug-chuggy version that’s perfectly suited for the mid-section of a warm-up slot.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Peter Yamson / Tala Am “Afro Funk & Disco Gems Vol. 10”

Genres: Afro-funk / Boogie / Disco
Label: Mukatsuku
Buy: Vinyl 

Nik Weston’s Mukatsuku imprint rarely disappoints; Volume 10 of the ‘Afro Funk & Disco Gems’ series is a standout. Not only are the recordings clear and crisp, the musicianship and groove on both selections are jaw-dropping. ‘Everybody Dance’ from Peter Yamson’s “Sun Of Africa” LP is the embodiment of optimistic, celebratory Jazzdance boogie; while Tala Am’s cut on the B side is a sultry, funk-laden late night disco groove with a bass line that hits where it counts.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Mark de Clive-Lowe “Heritage II”

Genre: Jazz / Electronic
Label: Ropeadope
Buy: Digital Download
Stream: Spotify

Los Angeles-based pianist, composer, producer, and live remixer Mark de Clive-Lowe releases the second of his two-part ‘Heriatge’ recordings, which are dedicated to the Japanese side of his ancestry. This brilliant new eight-song recording continues where the first volume left off, fusing together spiritual jazz melodies with broken-beat grooves, cosmic atmospheric tones, and hip-hop-influenced beats.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Hania Rani “Esja”

Genre: Jazz / Minimalism
Label: Gondwana Records
Buy: Digital Download
Stream: Spotify

Manchester’s Gondwana Records has just released the eagerly-awaited solo debut from Polish pianist, composer, and arranger Hania Rani. Often splitting her time between Warsaw and Berlin, Rani’s creates beautiful piano-based compositions that are influenced by modern classical minimalism, ambient sounds, and atmospheric tones. This certainly might be the best solo piano recording of 2019.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Ruby Rushton “Ironside”

Genre: Jazz
Label: 22a
Buy: Vinyl / Digital
Stream: Spotify

Led by flautist, saxophonist, producer and 22a label boss Tenderlonious, the quartet releases it’s fourth album following the group’s three previous breakthrough full-length releases, ‘Two For Joy’(2015), and ‘Trudi’s SongbookPart 1 & 2’. The new recording is heavily influenced by the spiritual jazz concepts from iconic artists John Coltrane and Yusef Lateef, while also paying homage to groundbreaking fusion bands Weather Report and The Headhunters. The music brilliantly blends jazz melodies and improvisation with elements of Afrobeat, hip-hop rhythms, cosmic electronic grooves, and UK-influenced underground culture.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Potatohead People feat. Trailer Limon “Stop The Games”

Genre: Modern Funk
Label: Star Creature Universal Vibrations
Buy: Digital Download / Vinyl

Probably an early contender for dancefloor boogie 7″ of the year. High Quality Boogie featuring production by top-shelf duo The Potatohead People featuring The Pendleton’s own Trailer Limon on vocals. Sexy, classy, niceness in pure Star Creature fashion. Nicky Wisdom laces up a tasty dub journey for the flip so doubles recommended.
– Selected by Walla P

Kolida Babo “Kolida Babo”

Genre: Jazz/Electronic/Experimental/Folk/Greek/Armenian
Label: MIC
Buy: Vinyl / Digital
Stream: Spotify / Apple

Brilliant work here this Greek woodwind duo & friends. Beautiful, haunting jazz, influenced heavily by northern Greek folk and research of Armenian music. Somber, modal-like melodies from Armenian duduk (woodwind) and clarinet are set against droning moog basslines that betray an interest in experimental electronic music, but also remind this writer of Bernie Worrell at times. Check out “Exodus” for a perfect snapshot of this unique sound.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Jouis “Mind Bahn”

Genre: Rock / Psychedelic / Folk / AOR
Label: None More Records
Buy: Vinyl / Digital
Stream: Spotify / Apple

Brighton psych folk prog (!) rock trio, with a few toes in that classic Westcoast / AOR sound, deliver an extremely convincing sophomore album for None More Records. Smooth melodies over infectious grooves really win out on tracks such as”Sinking Statues”, “Turtle” and “Cloud Plough”. Psych (or prog?) rock for soul fans, for sure.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti