Crucial Material – Best Releases Of The Week (November 27th, 2019)

You know we don’t follow or obey categories here. We just follow our ears and hearts and present you strictly with the crucial picks!

As always we hope you make some nice discoveries and feel free to encourage these artists/labels if you do! Enjoy and have a great week.

Junius Paul “Ism”

Label: International Anthem
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

Superb debut album of “free form funk flight & Great Black Music” from Chicago bassist Junius Paul. Known for his work in Makaya McCraven’s group AND The Art Ensemble of Chicago, thus bridging generations of leading Chicago artists, his incredible talents come to the fore throughout, whether the music is in free flight, or chopped and recut by drummer & producer McCraven. Essential.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

El Khat “Saadia Jefferson”

Label: Batov Records
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

Tel Aviv based El Khat, led by Eyal El Wahab, reconstruct the traditional Yemini folk music Eyal was introduced to by his grandparents, incorporating a host of influences, everything from Omar Souleyman & Mulatu Astatke, to Western pop & garage rock, and maybe a hint of his past tenure studying and playing Andalusian music; playing repurposed objects, even bicycle wheels, alongside guitars, trumpets, etc. The overall effect is one of the most refreshing and engaging albums I’ve heard this year, that consistently rocks & grooves from beginning to end. A late contender for any albums-of-the-year list.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Shay Lia “Dangerous”

Label: Independent
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Amazon)
Stream: Spotify

Shay Lia has truly arrived with her Dangerous album that has benefited from a pertinent Deluxe edition. With sultry vocals, clever lyrics and collaborations including Kaytranada, Dam-Funk and BADBADNOTGOOD. Shay’s intimate style draws us in her ephemeral universe and the young singer finds a way to standout amongst the saturated RnB space with a unique project whose vocal quality is only matched by stellar production and solid songwriting.
– Selected by ASMA

Alchemist & Action Bronson “Lamb Over Rice”

Label: ALC
Stream: Spotify

Clearly Alchemist and Action Bronson are a combo as ubiquitous as chablis and oysters. However, they have managed to push each other further on this EP with Alc’s beats being subtly more intricate and Bronsollini riding the extended samples with renewed energy. The resulting project is a rich bouillabaise of rap goodness.
– Selected by ASMA

Alaclair Ensemble “America Vol.2”

Label: Disques 7ieme Ciel
Buy: Vinyl & Digital
Stream: Spotify

A surprise release from the Quebec rap supergroup whose parts are equal to its sums may be the most accessible yet. As its name states, these are the elite QC spitters over a collection of American beats that make this followup project something that fans of all linguistic backgrounds can truly embrace.
– Selected by: ASMA

Sefi Zisling “Expanse”

Label: Tru Thoughts
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

Beautiful new album from prolific trumpeter, Tel Aviv’s Sefi Zisling, boiling down all his influences into and wonderful odyssey of “afro-jazz, psychedelic funk and spiritual jazz” over the course of 67 min, recorded straight from a live session with some of his closest friends and collaborators.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Carlos Niño & Friends “Bliss On Dear Oneness”

Label: Leaving Records
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

We don’t have space to describe producer, arranger, composer, musicia, etc. Carlos Niño’s vast discography and significant impact, not least of all on the so-called “beat scene”. But suffice to say, he continues to draw connections between people and musical worlds that are too rarely scene together until encouraged & documented by Carlos himself. On “Bliss On Dear Oneness” Niño invites the likes of Laraaji, Luis Perez Ixoneztli & Iasos, pioneers of mystic and trance-inducing music, both loved and derided as “new age”, into his sphere, to share space with musicians pushing the possibilities of not only jazz but the avant-garde today, such as Sam Gendel, Jamire Williams, Jamael Dean, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Jamael Dean, Deantoni Paris, Mark de Clive-Lo, Kamasi Washington and Dexer Story. Whilst these voices can often be distinguished, Carlos weaves them brilliantly into his own beautiful, transcendental journey.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Birdbone Unlimited “Fancy Free/That Funky Stuff”

Label: Star Creature Universal Vibrations
Genre: Modern Funk
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

Birdbone Unlimited are back with their 3rd 7’Vinyl release, and this one slaps. The chemistry between Brian Ellis and Tim Tucker is undeniable, and they deliver with “Fancy Free” and smooth dance floor stepper, while “That Funky Stuff” has just the right amount of stank. Friendly advice to always cop 2 copies from BU.
– Selected by Walla P

Jake Milliner “Bernie Say”

Label: Melting Pot Music
Genre: Hip-Hop/Jazz
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

Absolute gem by Jake Milliner, a London based producer who worked with Slum Village, Musiq Soulchild and Hawk House. Perfect blend of boom bap hip-hop, spacey jazz–infused piano chords. Top to bottom fire album.
– Selected by Walla P

Paradis Articiel “Paradis Artificiel”

Label: Self-Released
Buy: Vinyl & Digital (via Bandcamp)

Montreal supergrounp featuring Ourielle Auvé (Ouri), Odile Myrtil and Victor Bongiovanni formed in 2016 and finally release their debut self-titled album. They have been close collaborators for quite some time but now we can finally see this atmospheric and texture chemistry come to light. A record that should be listened in one play. Perfect for the moody months ahead.
– Selected by Bruno Destombes