Chip Wickham - Love & Life

“Life is nothing without love. Love is the force that drives our journey in life. Life is love and love is life.”

UK jazz master Chip Wickham follows last year’s brilliant soulful long-player Cloud 10 with a deftly crafted, reflective EP of beautiful spiritual jazz influenced by the soulful sounds of Yusef Lateef. Chip’s music has always drawn on a broad world of influences: from hip-hop to Roland Kirk, and from classic funk to the ‘60s Brit-Jazz of Tubby Hayes. But Love & Life finds him foregrounding his wonderful flute playing, producing a perfect four-tracker of reflective, peaceful jazz that elevates and inspires as well as a trademark slice of boppish soul jazz – the jaunty Space Walk.

Elsewhere lead single Love & Life is a joyous jazz waltz with an uplifting, bouncing groove and Slow Down Look Around is introspective and intimate, featuring Chip’s signature flute with a beautiful solo from UK trumpeter Malcolm Strachan. Chip explains that the track presents “a big lesson for us to learn as the world changes around us with such speed. The technology changes but our human needs remain the same: peace, tranquillity and time to think.”

Tracklist:
1. Space Walk
2. Love & Life
3. Seven Worlds
4. Slow Down Look Around

Ta-Ku - Songs To Come Home To

Tracklist:
1. The End (feat. Thrupence, Will Paquin, rum.gold)

2. Home (Kenny's Interlude) (feat. Joekenneth)
3. Smile (feat. Xavier Omär, Daisy World, ROMderful)
4. Way Out (feat. Milan Ring, matt mcwaters, ?uestlove)
5. Cry (feat. Becca Hatch)
6. Inner Soul (feat. matt mcwaters & Chanel Loren)
7. Better (feat. Jay Prince & Billy Davis)
8. Call My Name (feat. JMSN)
9. Hard2say (feat. 1300 & Sango)
10. Two of Us (feat. alayna)
11. Through and Falling (feat. matt mcwaters & kerri)
12. We Got (feat. Louis Baker & Repeat Pattern)
13. Know Me (feat. NOÉ, James Poyser, KAINA)
14. The Score (feat. Panama)
15. Lightning (feat. Wafia & Young Franco)
16. Runaway (feat. RINI & Touch Sensitive)
17. Dawn (feat. NOÉ, Cabu, TRŪ SAALI)
18. Hopes & Dreams (feat. Hopes & Dreams Club)
19. Thinking of You
20. Take on Me (Bonus Cover) (feat. NOÉ)

Terrace Martin x James Fauntleroy - Nova

Tracklist:
1. Online Shopping
2. Witchcraft (feat. Robert Glasper)
3. Butterfly Effect
4. Like It Like That (feat. Chief Adjuah)
5. Chocolate For Dinner (feat. Chief Adjuah)
6. Sir Fauntleroy

VA - Groove Diggin': Groove Music Gems from Vinyl Diggers

Tracklist:
1. John Fitch and Associates - Romantic Attitude
2. Charles Johnson - Good Good Lovin'
3. Cortex - Pauvre star
4. Carlo Maria Cordio, Franco Vinciguerra - Quips and Cranks
5. Calvin Davis - Train Ride to Nowhere
6. Ultra Funk - Sting Your Jaws, Pt. 1
7. Maxayn - Gimme Shelter
8. Barbara Mason - You Better Stop It
9. The Heads Of Family - Ninety-Nine and One Half
10. Mr. Perculator - I Got a Thing for You Baby
11. Almon Memela - The Things We Do in Soweto
12. Pražský big band Milana Svobody - Počkej Na Mne

VA - 10/10

Celebrating 10 years pushing real 140, Sector 7 Sounds presents an eight-deep compilation which shouts for where Boofy’s label has been, where it’s at and where it’s heading in the future. Split between original tracks from close-quarters crew and up and comers, and remixes of classics from the label’s archives, 10/10 distils the label’s fundamentals in a double 12” drop loaded with system-ready weight and invention in every bar.

Rather than a vanity vehicle for his own output, Boofy set up Sector 7 in 2013 with artwork and some early beats provided by long-time sparring partner Lemzly Dale. The mission was to build out a label which pushed the sounds Boofy was drawn to in the club, pivoting around 140 and dubstep-influences but crucially always shot through with flair and spark rather than trying to retread old ground. That mission holds true 10 years in, with frequent flyers like Jook and Drone flanked by memorable, ear-snagging turns from the likes of Hi5 Ghost, Kahn & Neek and Commodo.

The distinctive qualities of all the tracks on 10/10 is the result of a purposeful drive by Boofy to present standout moments. As 140 has matured over time, Sector 7 remains committed to offering more than just faithful genre studies. Every selection, assembled with care over a two-year period, is a reflection of Boofy’s impassioned approach as a DJ. In widening the scope for the remix disc, he’s making clear he wants the label to grow without losing touch with the sonic foundations they first started building on. Sharp-eared heads already knew Sector 7 was a must-check for the freshest 140 styles, and their faith has been justified ten-fold on this expertly executed collection. 

Tracklist:
1. Boofy – More Or Less
2. Invader Spade – Midori
3. jook & Lemzly Dale – Beloved
4. Leon P – Baile Grime
5. Commodo – Guah (Ikonika Remix)
6. Drone – No Future (Giant Swan Remix)
7. Kahn & Neek – Random Lab (Josi Devil Remix)
8. jook – Gold Rush (EVA808 Diamond Version)

VA - If Music Presents: You Need This: If Music Is 20 compiled by Jean​-​Claude

Celebrating two decades of IF Music's scrupulous curation through its record shop, a thriving website, album reissues and compilations in collaboration with BBE Music, parties and radio shows, “IF Music Presents You Need This: 20 years” is a 9 track, double vinyl LP beautifully put together by Jean-Claude.

Coming, as it does, as the 9th release in the “You Need This” series of compilations curated by Jean-Claude, this album features music that ranges from 1980 (Christine Schaller's spectacular “Fidji”) to exclusive tracks from the likes of Emanative & Liz Elensky (‘Fall Into Me’) and Tenderlonious (‘Dennison Point’) which both bring us up to the present day.

It is Jean-Claude's remarkable ear for music that, as with all the previous “You Need This” releases, creates a wonderfully coherent journey through the decades across the four sides of this masterpiece of a compilation album.

As mentioned earlier “You Need This: 20 Years” will be released as a double LP pressed on 180 gramme heavy vinyl, cut at 45rpm and on digital. Whether this starts, adds or completes your collection of Jean-Claude's “You Need This” series of compilations, “20 Years” is a must-have and indeed, you really do need this!

Tracklist:
1. Tamar Osborn - Sunday Sea Improvisation
2. Christine Schaller - Fidji
3. Emanative;Liz Elensky - Fall In To Me
4. Atilla Engin Group - Turkish Showbiz
5. Tenderlonious - Dennison Point
6. Sylvain Kassap - Adelie (For Lady D.)
7. Ola Szmidt - We Are Not Invisible
8. Greetje Bijma Kwintet - Big Kalimba
9. Sarathy Korwar - At the Speed of Light

VA - Hospital Mixtape: Anaïs

Hospital Records’ newest signed artist, and former Women In Drum & Bass mentee, Anaïs has been taking the world of dance music by storm with her futuristic production and energetic DJ sets. A true trailblazer of the new-gen drum & bass circuit, she has stepped up to the plate to curate the next edition of the ‘Hospital Mixtape’ series, featuring 17 fresh cuts highlighting an impeccable array of future talent across the D&B spectrum. Following on from the successes of Lens’ Hospital Mixtape which dropped in 2022 and was home to heaters including Watch The Ride’s ‘READY4DEM’ featuring Emz and the Fade Black remix of Camo & Krooked’s ‘Loa’, the levels have been upped once again.

Dive in to the jungle-infused sounds of Anaïs x DRIIA’s ‘Round To Ya Speaker’ where you’ll find sizzling basslines, crisp breaks, and DRIIA’s sensual toplines. Boasting a back catalogue revelled by the heads of the underground, DRIIA is a frequent name on the airwaves with consistent support from the likes of Radio 1’s Danny Howard, Jess Iszatt and Jaguar, as well as hosting her very own weekly Reprezent show.

Hoax and PVC set the levels on ‘Sekkle’, a rough and ready low-end rumbler with earth-shattering basslines and infectious vocal flows. Bristol-based Hoax with a history of releases on imprints including Onyx and Pick ‘N’ Mix teams up with PVC who has an impressive slew of collaborations under his belt alongside dance music legends including Flava D, Royal T, DJ Q, Dirty Palm & more…

Dutch D&B duo NCT come through with a grade A 174BPM dancefloor energiser on ‘Don’t Need U’. Having released on Hospital before with ‘Closure (feat. Anna-Eva)’ on the ‘Future Sound of Holland’ VA EP in 2016, NCT have been keeping more than busy since then with a steady stream of big-hitters across labels such as Liquicity, Elevate and NCS to name a few.

Anaïs boasts recent successes following collaborations with the likes of Flowdan, Champion DI, Sudley and more. Her highly sought-after debut standalone single on Hospital ‘want u’ is landed 23rd of June, and has been taking dancefloors and airwaves alike by storm. This is just the beginning for Anaïs - keep your eyes and ears peeled! 

Tracklist:
1. Round To Ya Speaker (feat. DRIIA)
2. Anaïs x Emz – My Story
3. Blooom – Beside You
4. Formula – Tales Of The Times
5. Zoro x Logan – Higher Pressure
6. NCT – Don’t Need U
7. Anaïs x Hugh Hardie – Headshot (feat. Slay & T-Man)
8. Oppidan – Bloop!
9. Crossy x Diagnostix – Mike Selekta
10. Hoax – Sekkle (feat. Purple Velvet Curtains)
11. Nautika – Back 2 Love
12. DJ Limited – We Ain’t Ever Coming Down (feat. Lizzy Stringer)
13. Aries x Nicky Blackmarket x DJ GAW – Hold On
14. T-Lex – None Like Me (feat. Foxx)
15. Bennie – Laser Party
16. Missing – Travesty
17. Refracta – Widow

Homeboy Sandman - Therapy (Official Video)

Jules Brennan - Egretia

Hot on the heels of his Wamono vinyl LP, Jules bursts back with this impressionistic collection of oriental, surrealistic jazzy grooves inspired by the progression from deep winter into a lush green spring then through the stifling rainy season, culminating in the frenzied heat of Kyoto’s Gion Festival. One constant through all this is the egrets and herons which hang and glide along the Kamogawa river, representing both day and night ('the ghostly whites that fly by night') - elegance, purity and longevity, yet also greed; being gregarious, the visceral. Balance is the key. A wide palette of moods and grooves, both cerebral and danceable. Explore theses strata melded as a musical realm-a colourful dimension known named here as 'Egretia'.

Tracklist:
1. Eekstro (theme in green)
2. Archipelago
3. Myoushin Planets
4. Zoomalala (Biosphere Mix)
5. Eeko
6. Jarmangarden
7. Back to Canaan
8. Hana Voodoo (Extended Version)

Palm Skin Productions - A Swarm In July

Palm Skin Productions – AKA versatile musician and producer Simon Richmond (whose CV includes Mo’ Wax, Depeche Mode, REM, Pulp, Neneh Cherry, and The Bays) – announces a new album ‘A Swarm In July’ a proverbial inspired record.

‘A Swarm In July' is a concept record that offers an alternative set of hacked proverbs to mirror the movement of the music and its path from ambience to rhythm, from harmony to noise, from its closed-in intimacies to its soaring expansions. The album looks at what happens when you choose to shift the crop - when you find the story within the story. As Simon eloquently puts it:

“A proverb. A phrase. A saying. A Say-ing - the performance of that which has been said. A maxim. A truism. True-ism - the ideology or the myth of truth? Whose truth? Who puts you in the picture? What is the crop, the edit? When can you trust a truism in the world of deep fake? If every story is dependent on its beginning and end, how many stories are there, dormant, within the prescribed boundaries? Pre-Scribed - already written - typeset for us.”

‘A Swarm In July’ is a masterclass on how to frame and evolve stories and sound, created and recorded far and wide, while static and on the move. The title itself is taken from the proverbial bee-keepers saying, “A swarm in July is not worth a fly”, meaning that the later in the year it is, the less time there will be for bees to collect pollen from the flowers in blossom. Simon instead recontextualises this within the framework of the politically manufactured UK migrant crisis, dissecting the language used to dehumanise refugees: “When does a group become a swarm? When is a swarm valuable, and to whom? A swarm of bees to the beekeeper? A swarm of people to the forces of repression and hate?”

Lead-single ‘Them That Help’, an orchestral, almost neo-classical, texturised soundscape featuring the transcendent viola of John Metcalfe (Duke Quartet/The Durutti Column), is taken from the false proverb “the Lord helps them that help themselves”, a phrase that originated in ancient Greece as “the Gods help those who help themselves” but has since been weaponised to accelerate neo-liberal agendas. Palm Skin Productions subverts the fictitious biblical reference, turning heresy into class critique:

“Take a set of scales. At one end put the gold-plated pomp of high religion. The acquisition of wealth and people. The colonising forces that helped themselves to vast swathes of the world. At the other end of the scale are the carers, the helpers, the friends. The people. The heavyweights.”

Elsewhere on the record, ‘Need Is A Friend’, partially recorded on headphones in Ralph Lawson’s (20/20 Vision label boss) front room in Leeds, hanging out before a gig, is a play on “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Simon adds: “How often do we tell a story of obligation to make us feel better? Are these needs, or are they choices? Are these needs the friends we rely on as our alibis? With friends like needs, who needs enemies?”. For ‘We Stand, Divided’, a take on “Together we stand, divided we fall”, Simon contextualises again through the prism of the toxic UK immigration debate, fuelled by the fires of the Brexit referendum: “So many are taught to fear difference, to harden community into a dividing wall, but our strength is in our beautiful variation. Puppets stand in homogenous herds, moulded to a single malleable unit. We stand in celebratory disarray.”

‘I Say Not As I’ harnesses the language of the great British playwright Harold Pinter, a personal hero to Simon: “He can make the most mundane phrase bristle with menace. Ordinary objects and actions become sinister in his hands, just as the forces of oppression and torture get portrayed within the familiarity of cliché and monotony.” Album closer ‘Far From The Tree’ is in memory of Simon’s father who passed away while he was making this record: “It was important for me to finish the record with a piece of music for him that also has something of him in it. I’m so glad the finished piece - ‘Far From The Tree’ - is something that I think adequately fills the space I had in my mind but also makes sense in terms of the rest of the record.” 

Tracklist:
1. We Stand, Divided
2. Himself and The Devil
3. The Sword Will Die
4. Them That Help
5. I Say, Not As I
6. My Bones, But Words
7. Need Is A Friend
8. Far From The Tree

Cautious Clay - KARPEH

Throughout the album, Cautious Clay is equating his life's journey to an amalgamation of his family's past life experiences, an exploration of the present, and a universal truth that will help define his future choices.

He broke it out into 3 parts in the order of the tracklist: 

THE PAST EXPLAINED: My early life going up in Ohio + my family's past experiences being the cornerstone of what shaped me for better + worse. Themes of unwavering self-reliance, the "tides" of family/work-life balance, race, + cultural identity are throughout this section.

1. 102 years of comedy
2. Fishtown
3. Ohio (1st single)
4. Karpehs don't flinch
5. The Tide is my Witness
6. Take a Half (skit on taking psychedelic mushrooms)

THE HONEYMOON OF EXPLORATION: branching out from my past/family members before me embracing vices,

personal gratification, and deep self-reflection - different forms of intimacy, psychedelic drugs, + togetherness are a crucial part of this section.

7. Another Half (rolls into form skit)
8. Repeat Myself
9. Glass Face
10. Walls & a Roof
11. Unfinished House 

A BITTER & SWEET SOLITUDE: Learning how to be alone with my "thoughts" in order to be the healthiest version of myself when I am around friends, family, etc. No matter where I go in life, being alone is a beautiful + eternal truth.

There are themes of greed, death, + speaking for myself/my own needs. While this section lacks alot of lyrical content, sonically it is oscillating between heavier/aggressive and more soft/mellow sonic components.

12. Blue Lips
13. Tears of Fate
14. Yesterday's Price (very instrumental)
15. Moment's Stolen

Tracklist:
1. 102 years of comedy
2. Fishtown
3. Ohio (1st single)
4. Karpehs don't flinch
5. The Tide is my Witness
6. Take a Half (skit on taking psychedelic mushrooms)
7. Another Half (rolls into form skit)
8. Repeat Myself
9. Glass Face
10. Walls & a Roof
11. Unfinished House
12. Blue Lips
13. Tears of Fate
14. Yesterday's Price (very instrumental)
15. Moment's Stolen
16. Daring Is Caring (Bonus Track)

Werkha - Beat Tapestry

First Word is pleased to bring you more music from Werkha!

'Beat Tapestry' is a 14-track affair, previously released only on a very limited cassette, and comprised of various beats and bobs from Werkha's harddrive, ranging from slow synthy grooves, to wonky astral house vibes, up to funky 140bpm territory.

This follows recent acclaimed releases for First Word, the 2022 sophomore album 'All Werk Is Play', and 2020 EP 'The Rigour', additionally to a 10 year anniversary version of Werkha's debut 'Cube & Puzzle'.

Werkha recently toured the UK supporting Manchester legends A Certain Ratio, who he's also just provided a remix for, as well as performing live shows recently at Glastonbury, Love Supreme, Kelburn Garden Party, Jazz In The Park, Brick Lane Festival and Dour Festival, to name a few.

In the past, Werkha has toured with artists like Mr Scruff and Bonobo, and previous radio support comes from BBC's Jamz Supernova, Tom Ravenscroft, Afrodeutsche & Huey Morgan, as well as selectors such as DJ Paulette, Scratcha DVA, Zakia Sewell, Harvey Sutherland & Jyoty.

Tracklist:
1. FAH 23
2. Nu Junior
3. Low Art
4. Head Rush
5. Now Flux
6. Time Between
7. Ego State
8. The Common
9. Wooden Truck In The Sky
10. Battered Mars Bar (Beat Tapestry Edit)
11. Daft O'Clock
12. The Bee
13. Phase 9 Fnk
14. Hold The Rail

King Khan - The Invaders: Original Score

There are plenty of famous examples of film soundtrack artists improvising their score while screening the source material for the first time, such as Neil Young’s angst-ridden coat of reverb that pairs eerily well with Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man. Yet King Khan took the opposite approach while penning what would become the musical accompaniment to Prichard Smith’s new documentary spotlighting the rise of the Memphis Black power group the Invaders during the civil rights movement.

“The Mighty Hannibal taught me an amazing lesson about blindness,” Khan shares, referring to the late R&B legend. “[He] sent me a gospel song he wrote about how lucky he was to have gone blind because he could never judge anyone based on what they looked like—rather it was now by their actions. When he told this to me I decided to do the entire soundtrack ‘blind.’ This meant I made the music without seeing the images.”

The film’s soundtrack is slated to be released August 18 via Ernest Jenning Recording Co. and Khannibalism, with the first sample arriving today in the form of “John B’s Lament”—referring to Invaders leader John B. Smith. It’s a crunchy bit of guitar-focused improv that recalls the mischievous rock sounds of the period the doc spotlights, while hewing close to much of the garage-rock icon’s two decades of consistent output under various guises.

Continuing on about the film itself, Khan adds: “The Invaders film is not just a documentary, it’s a hardcore lesson to all activists to put in the work and find out what every community needs, addressing these individual needs and simply caring for the wounds that rot when ignored. Before you wallow in self-pity and misery, take a deep breath and learn to breathe. Just a simple act of inhalation and exhalation is what brings us back to reality and calms our nerves and prepares us for the task at hand.”

Tracklist:
1. John B's Lament
2. Hot Dog for Melvin
3. Hurtin Class (Dub)
4. J Edgar Hoovers Knickers
5. America Goddamn
6. Do You Wanna Ride
7. A Tree Not A Leaf Am I
8. Heart of Trash
9. Gone Are The Times (instro)
10. 400th Overture
11. A Man Don't Stand A Chance (pt1n2)
12. John C Invades
13. Memphis is Burning
14. Redemption at Last
15. Badalamemphis
16. Darkness (Instro)
17. Never Hold On (instro)
18. Children of the World

Doctor Bionic - Sacrifice

For Fans Of... El Michels Affair, Adrian Younge, Roy Ayers, Karriem Riggins, The Roots, Khruangbin. Producer "Grimez" has been making music for 20 years deep. Grimez has ghost produced tracks for 50 cent, Hi-Tek, Kool Keith, Stick man (DEAD PREZ), Killah Priest, Sadat X, MOOD & Talib Kweli, and Mighty Diamonds to name a few. Gritty & raw analog instrumentals Deep, Hard Hitting Soul-Jazz Meets Dub Instrumental Analog Grooves For Your Psyche. In few words, Doctor Bionic can be described as Instrumental b-movie psych-hop. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Doctor Bionic is the brainchild of Cincinnati's Jason Grimes, formerly the producer of the hip-hop group MOOD (with emcees Main Flow & Donte). Having grown up in the Scribble Jam scene here in Cincy, and running in circles that included artists like Hi-Tek & Talib Kweli, Grimes' music has continued to evolve from sample-based loops, to live instrumentation with deep layering; provided by a revolving door of local musicians. The common thread in most Doctor Bionic tracks are the neck snapping drum breaks, but the tempo adjustments and varying instrumentation lends itself to a collection of non-genre specific songs - held together in unity by the flawless drums, often provided by Josiah Wolf (of indie-rock band Why?). The result of these recording sessions are a masterclass in musical juxtaposition. Spacious yet clustered. Futuristic nostalgia. Ideal for long car rides or setting the vibe during a laid back gathering of friends.

Tracklist:
1. The Thin Veil
2. Man-Kind
3. Something Higher
4. Wolves Learned
5. Self Imposed
6. What Do You See?
7. White Fire
8. Original Seed
9. Agreeable Elders
10. Missing Companions
11. Last Minute

Brian Jackson - Mami Wata - Joaquin Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm and Cosmic Arts Remixes

"Mami Wata" - A Captivating Journey through West African Rhythms.

Experience the mesmerizing fusion of traditional African sounds and modern Latin house in Brian Jackson's latest single package, "Mami Wata." Drawing inspiration from the depths of West African mythology, this track takes you on a captivating sonic adventure that spans vast regions of the continent.

Brian Jackson's rendition of a traditional African song resonates with the richness and abundance symbolized by the mythical figure of Mami Wata. From the sacred lands of the Dogon in Mali to the vibrant rhythms of Ghana, and even reaching into the heart of Central and Southern Africa, this composition pays homage to the diverse tapestry of African cultures.

To further elevate this masterpiece, Brian has collaborated with the masterful Joe Claussell, who lends his expert touch to craft a remix that intertwines a modern Latin house thread with the African fabric of the original composition. The result is the Sacred Arts Mix, a true testament to the power of music as it effortlessly merges genres and weaves an enchanting spell over the dancefloor.

This single package boasts not just one, but six distinct versions of "Mami Wata," each carefully crafted with its own unique tempo and subtle seasoning. Whether you prefer the rhythmic intensity of the Sacred Rhythm version, the deep dub vibes of the Deep Dub edition, or the extended album version that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the magic of the composition, this release offers a diverse range of musical experiences.

The remix package brings to life Brian’s immersive vocals, flute, kalimba, and organ playing. And for those seeking a slower, introspective groove, the Cosmic Arts Future Instrumental Slow version provides a celestial atmosphere that will make you feel as though you're floating among the stars. 

Tracklist:
1. Mami Wata (Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm Version)
2. Mami Wata (Joaquin's Extended Album Version)
3. Mami Wata (Joaquin's House Dance Dub Reprise)
4. Mami Wata (Joaquin's Sacred Arts Story Mix)
5. Mami Wata (Joaquin's Deep Dub)
6. Mami Wata (Joaquin's Cosmic Arts Future Instrumental Slow Dub)
7. Mami Wata

Bonobo - Dial 'M' for Monkey (20th Anniversary)

Ninja Tune blows the dust off an early classic with an enhanced reissue of Bonobo’s second LP Dial ‘M’ For Monkey, featuring all new 20th anniversary artwork and sleeve with rotating view mechanism to boot. Dial ‘M’ For Monkey from 2003 folds in jazz, electronica, soul, and folk for a beguiling sonic fusion that begs for deeper listening while setting the stage for a fruitful partnership between label and artist that continues two whole decades later. While Bonobo would go on to make records that leaned further into either outright dance music or vibes first downtempo from here, Dial ‘M’ is the moment that truly broke the project into the indiesphere. There’s still no denying the power of folktronica mini-epics like ‘Change Down’ and ‘Pick Up’.

Tracklist:
1. Noctuary
2. Flutter
3. D Song
4. Change Down
5. Wayward Bob
6. Pick Up
7. Something For Windy
8. Nothing Owed
9. Light Pattern

Dea Galore x The Melodiks - The Flow

Tracklist:
1. The Flow
2. Let Me In
3. Soft Inside (feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow)
4. Petals
5. Million

VA - Swing on Low

‘Swing on Low’ is the latest compilation from La Sape Records. The collection offers a panoramic view of the vibrant underground bubbling below the Australian music landscape.

Part spiritual jazz, avant-garde with neo-classical stylings; the sounds within are untethered to specific genre or scenes. Rather, solo experimenters (for the most part) carving contemporary spaces for themselves to explore where they balance tradition and innovation in composition.

Presented as a 10-track album, titled after La Sape’s bi-monthly radio show. Mirroring the radio show, the album stitches together movements running in parallel that may otherwise never meet. Most importantly it offers us an outlet to highlight the exceptional music submitted to La Sape, which ultimately is often turned away due to DIY resources or scheduling conflicts.

Swing on Low features label stays Erica Tuccceri, David Versace & Youfez. Close collaborators; George Sheridan, Elle Shimada & Hekka. And some of our favourite Australian artists Grievous Bodily Calm, NIGHTMUSIC, The Person and closed by the incomparable Olive Knight.

After six years of La Sape Records, ’Swing on Low’ acts as a manifesto for the label’s next six. A broadening of sounds and celebration of the diverse and innovative humans experimenting in a dense aural ecosystem at the bottom of the earth.

Tracklist:
1. George Sheridan – Otta!
2. Grievous Bodily Calm – Cloutbusting
3. Youfez – DK
4. Elle Shimada – Solitude
5. Erica Tucceri – Iliamna (extended mix)
6. David Versace – Forever With Me
7. The Person – Photo Album
8. NIGHTMUSIC – Hects, Lies & Videotape
9. Hekka – Close To The Chest (And Between The Ribs)
10. Olive Knight – Three Children Standing

Pale Jay - Bewilderment

Bewilderment - the feeling of being perplexed and confused - is the inspiration behind Pale Jay's new album. It's a soulful exploration of a family's gradual disintegration due to years of avoidance and miscommunication. During this difficult time, Pale Jay began to question the stories he had always lived with and re-examined his identity. The resulting work, Bewilderment, is his first full-length album, which strives to find answers to these questions and more. The album is set to release on 8/18/2023 on Karma Chief Records, a subsidiary of Colemine.

Pale Jay is a trained jazz vocalist and pianist, and he wrote, recorded, and produced all songs on the album, except for 'By The Lake', which is a collaboration with labelmates Okonski - Steve Okonski, Aaron Frazer, and Michael Montgomery. Pale Jay's music is influenced by a wide range of songwriters, including Labi Siffre, Carole King, and William Onyeabor. 'Bewilderment' is a seamless blend of Pale Jay’s trademark dusty soul, slow disco, and Afrobeat, with string arrangements by Raven Bush adding an extra layer of magic to the beat-heavy productions.

Preface: the platform

In the early stages of recording, Pale Jay met Terry Cole, the owner of Colemine and Karma Chief Records, and the two decided to work together on Pale Jay's first full-length LP. Inspired by this connection, Pale Jay wrote the song 'Preface', which expresses his gratitude for finding a platform for his music.

In Your Corner: the antagonist

At its core, the Afrobeat inspired song is a conversation with the self. An uplifting tune at first glance, the lyrics lay bare the internal struggle for self-acceptance. The song explores the push and pull between self-love and self-judgement that can often leave us feeling lost and uncertain.

My Dirty Desire: the introvert

Another standout track on the album is a warbling slow-disco tribute to the introvert. Pale Jay acknowledges that society rewards extroverts, but he embraces his introverted nature and the benefits of solitude.

Pale Jay's debut LP is a captivating journey of self-discovery. Each song on Bewilderment tells a unique story, but they all share a common theme of personal growth and self-understanding. Grab a copy on 8/18/2023 to dive in and experience the new album. 

Tracklist:
1. Preface
2. In Your Corner
3. Dreaming In Slow Motion
4. By The Lake (feat. OkoNski)
5. Bewilderment
6. My Dirty Desire
7. Vladimir
8. Don't Forget That I Love You

Suff Daddy - Hair Of The Dog

Berlin based beat powerhouse Suff Daddy is finally back. With "Hair Of The Dog" he has created what may be his best album ever, arriving via Berlin’s notorious Jakarta Records. Suff Daddy (578k monthly listeners on Spotify), is one of the legendary beatmakers who shaped a whole era of bedroom producers. His unique approach and musical understanding sets him apart from all the other fish in the pond. He has released countless genre-defining albums and EP’s over the past 15 years building a loyal fanbase. Suff Daddy's songs have previously been featured in many editorial playlists including Spotify's "Jazz Vibes", "BUTTER", "Sweet Soul Chillout" and many more. Introducing "Hair Of The Dog," Suff Daddys musical journey that blends instrumental hip-hop, electronic, and dance genres. This captivating album, produced with his own Suff Style invites listeners to unwind From start to finish. Once again a Suff Daddy album thrives on the pure brilliance of his own way to create music. The album's cover art, masterfully crafted by the renowned painter Mitch, adds an intriguing visual dimension to the experience. Both artists have known each other for a long time and are currently preparing their audiovisual release- event for August 18th in Berlin. Bringing their art together as a unique experience for their audience. The phrase "Hair of the dog that bit you" commonly denotes consuming alcohol as a remedy for a hangover, aiming to alleviate its effects. Suff Daddy plans to introduce his own hangover solution, which will be plant-based and devoid of alcohol. Through all of his career he frequently played with alcohol references and now it's the perfect timing to release his own hangover cure. Additionally, this endeavor will serve as a social media catalyst for the entire project.

Tracklist:
1. Daddy 4 Eva
2. El Pimpi In Palermo
3. Gang Sign
4. Psycho Mantis
5. Donte Sip
6. Bootsy Call
7. Actually Definitely Yeah
8. Bonatti Syndrome
9. First Aid Beat
10. Clam Guy
11. Palazzo de Hachazo
12. The Bitter End

Phez - Supermonk

Phez are a 5 piece instrumental outfit drawing on shades of jazz-funk & cinematic soul, toeing the line between structured arrangements & improvised passages.

Tracklist:
1. Supermonk
2. Contemplation
3. Corduroy
4. Carl
5. Ceramic Panther
6. Inpheztigation

STR4TA - STR4TASFEAR Remixes

Gilles Peterson hand picks a number of producers close to his heart to rework tracks from STR4TA’s sophomore LP STR4TASFEAR. The compilation features brand new reworks from the likes of up-and-coming London producer Wallace, who has been setting the city alight recently with a string of releases and appearances with the formidable Rhythm Section, and old heads like STR4TA’s very own Bluey. Also included are some previously released remixes from Demus and Ruf Dug to make the package complete.

While STR4TA is fundamentally a live music project it has always had one foot firmly in the club. The history of Brit-Funk and Rare Groove has always evolved in tandem with the way electronic dance music has developed in the UK. It is woven into the DNA of the band - through Gilles Peterson’s early work with Acid Jazz and Talkin’ Loud and Bluey’s forays into club culture with Incognito. These remixes display that DNA front and centre, turning STR4TA’s songs into bass heavy club cuts while retaining that quintessential Brit-Funk flavour.

Tracklist:
1. Lazy Days (Wallace Remix)
2. To Be As One (Venom Remix)
3. Lazy Days (Bluey Remix)
4. City Sounds (Demus Dub)
5. Why Must You Fly (Demus Dub)
6. Turn Me Around (Demus Dub)
7. To Be As One (Classical Re Edit)
8. Lazy Days (Ruf Dug Rework)

Johnathan Blake - Passage

Drummer, composer, and bandleader Johnathan Blake follows up his acclaimed 2021 Blue Note debut Homeward Bound with Passage, an uplifting sequel that once again features his band Pentad with Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, Joel Ross on vibraphone, David Virelles on piano, and Dezron Douglas on bass. Dedicated to the memory of his father John Blake Jr., a jazz violinist whose stirring composition “Passage” gives the album its title, the 10-track set also features five new originals by Blake, as well as pieces by Douglas, Virelles, and Blake’s drum teacher and mentor Ralph Peterson Jr.

Tracklist:
1. Lament For Lo
2. Passage
3. Muna & Johna’s Playtime
4. Tiempos
5. Groundhog Day
6. Tears I Cannot Hide
7. A Slight Taste (Dez Intro)
8. A Slight Taste
9. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
10. West Berkely St.

Nenor & Eyal Rob - What Are You Waiting For?

Journeying to Accra, Ghana, where they were asked to lecture and DJ, Nenor & Eyal Rob (a.k.a Rabo & Snob) brought some recording equipment and some basic beats and asked around for some local talent; ELi A Free was highly recommended by a mutual friend and was invited to the hotel room, where they set up a makeshift studio and recorded the foundations of ‘What Are You Waiting For?’

ELi's soulful vocals and conscious lyrics perfectly matched the duo’s raw and organic productions. Once returning home, Nenor & Eyal started working on the music, adding percussion they brought from Ghana, live drums and more from Nenor’s vast collection of analogue and quirky gear.

The outcome is ‘What Are You Waiting For?, a four-track EP featuring two originals and two remixes. “It is a call to all who live under the sun to participate in bringing forth the change this old world so badly needs.“ ELi A Free adds about the lyrical content.

The Rabo & Snob remix of the title track sees the production duo return with a remix that strips the original to a hypnotic, dubby and raw club tune – with a faster tempo and heavy bass.

LTJ X-perience is a veteran Italian producer who is played regularly by essential tastemakers all over the globe. His solid, steady-pace style perfectly complements ‘Pick & Choose’.

Tracklist:
1. What Are You Waiting For?
2. Pick & Choose
3. What Are You Waiting For? (Rabo & Snob Remix)
4. Pick & Choose (LTJ X-Perience Remix)

Eparapo - Take To The Streets

Wah Wah 45s are proud to present the full debut album from Afrobeat supergroup Eparapo. Having come together during the unprecedented events of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, and despite being a project born from the privations of lockdown, their music is ultimately an expression of hope, resilience & resurgence.

The word “eparapo” means “join forces” in Yoruba, the language of Afrobeat. It’s also the title of a track by the late, great Tony Allen - drummer for Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and lifelong friend and mentor of our very own “Afrobeat Ambassador”, Dele Sosimi. Not only did Tony help to invent Afrobeat, he always looked for ways to push the boundaries, never content with recreating what had gone before but constantly expanding and developing the genre. This project hopes to pay homage to his legacy, and that of Fela Kuti himself. Its aim is to innovate, fuse and diversify while still retaining the essence of the music.

The force behind Eparapo is bassist, composer & producer Suman Joshi. He has been a member of Dele Sosimi’s Afrobeat Orchestra for nearly a decade and has performed on stage with the likes of Tony Allen, Seun Kuti, Ginger Baker & Laura Mvula. He is also bassist with UK jazz ensemble Collocutor and fusion project Cubafrobeat.

“The Eparapo project was conceived during a time of lockdowns & government scandals. The music that makes up this album was written and recorded against a backdrop of societal upheaval, culture wars and rising wealth inequality. With little scrutiny or resistance from the mainstream media, our human and democratic rights were being eroded and our institutions debased. Even our right to protest is now under threat. This is a call to action, an expression of frustration & anger at what our nation has become. It’s saying that enough is enough, it’s time to join forces and make our voices heard. It’s time to take to the streets.” Suman Joshi

The title track is an epic eleven minute musical representation of this frustration and anger, where the musicians really let loose and allow their voices to be heard. As the only instrumental track on the album it acts as a call to action that is central to this body of work. Featured vocalists on the album are Fela Kuti disciple and Wah Wah 45s artist Dele Sosimi, who appears on the singles Black Lives Matter, From London To Lagos and Who Invented Back & White? as well as a more recent recording, Follow The Money; and London based, Ghanaian born master percussionist and vocalist Afla Sackey, who takes lead vocals on the mournful yet somehow hopeful Beautiful City.

The rest of the group comprises of highly rated UK jazz vocalist Sahra Gure; saxophonist, composer, producer and bandleader of the renowned forward thinking jazz outfit Collocutor, Tamar Osborn; keyboard player, producer and front man for Lokkhi Terra and Cubafrobeat, Kishon Khan; one of the UK’s finest and most in demand trumpeters, Graeme Flowers, who has played with Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter and many more; trombonist for Bellowhead and mainstay of Dele’s Afrobeat Orchestra, Justin Thurgur; and finally drummer for Steamdown and Sons of Kemet, as well as the man behind the Nache project, Eddie Wakili Hick.

Tracklist:
1. Follow the Money (feat. Dele Sosimi)
2. Who Invented Black and White? (feat. Dele Sosimi)
3. My Beautiful City (feat. Afla Sackey)
4. From London to Lagos (feat. Dele Sosimi)
5. Take to the Streets
6. Black Lives Matter (feat. Dele Sosimi)

Jungle - Volcano

‘VOLCANO’ follows Jungle’s previous album ‘Loving In Stereo’, which proved to be a landmark moment for the acclaimed UK duo. It achieved their highest domestic UK chart position to date debuting at #3, while also achieving their best ever album chart positions in key international territories such as Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands; and in the US it catapulted to #1 on the Billboard Dance Albums chart which led to major Arena shows as guests to Billie Eilish.

The free-spirited energy that runs right through ‘VOLCANO’ reflects how organically it came together. J and T had written most of the record on tour before starting the recording process while staying in an Airbnb in Los Angeles. It was later completed back home in London at their favourite location, Studio B at Metropolis Studios. This time around, the duo wanted to include a wider variety of voices within the album. In addition to Erick The Architect, they reunited with Bas (who previously featured on the ‘Loving In Stereo’ single ‘Romeo’) for ‘Pretty Little Thing’, as well as calling on talents in the shape of Roots Manuva, Channel Tres and JNR Williams.

Tracklist:
1. Us Against The World
2. Holding On
3. Candle Flame
4. Dominoes
5. I've Been In Love
6. Back On 74
7. You Ain't No Celebrity
8. Coming Back
9. Don't Play
10. Every Night
11. Problemz
12. Good At Breaking Hearts
13. Palm Trees
14. Pretty Little Thing

Felipe Gordon - Errare Humanum Est

Errare Humanum Est comes from the Latin proverb “To err is human” as a musician and a human-being, you are constantly facing “mistakes” on your compositional work and your instrumental interpretation, Felipe Gordon presents his second conceptual album under this premise, you should accept and make mistakes as a crucial part of art and life.

During late 2022 and beginning of 2023, the musician and producer worked on a new long play in his home studio “El Dorado” in Bogotá, Colombia.

Trying to create a whole new concept and universe he re-visited some forgotten musical sketches, going from breakbeats, synthesis, boom bap, deep acid and house music Felipe presents us his new album, a melting pot of musical ideas, again not trying to achieve a club track filled long play but a whole listening experience, not focusing only on dancing matters but also on every day musical enjoyment.

With the forward-thinking distribution and collaboration from the Rotterdam based power house, Clone Records and looking for a way to create a more independent environment for his releases, Felipe is creating his own “Wide Awake”, a new record label focused only on sharing and creating a platform for his constant output.

Tracklist:
1. Errare Humanum Est
2. Departing
3. Authentic Feeling (feat. Bob The Egoist)
4. New Beginning
5. Para Jos?
6. Take It, Acid Comes
7. Treat You Gently
8. What We Gonna Do?
9. I Don't Know (feat. Bob The Egoist)
10. Easel Of Suave

Christine Corvisier - Chansons de Cologne

Never flat, never random, never strained: the French saxophonist Christine Corvisier, who has been living in Cologne for some time, has recorded an album with the Chansons de Cologne collection that is perfect for relaxed autumn evenings.

Already the introduction with the old catchy tune "C'est si bon" draws you into this audiophile recorded silver disc. A CD with autobiographical coloring, on which melancholy never drifts into mockery, and intellectual demands never into intellectualism.

Together with Sebastian Scobel (piano), Martin Schulte (electric guitar), David Andres (double bass) and Alex Parzhuber (drums), Christine Corvisier not only traces French sensitivities and ritualized US jazz customs, but also poses the question between the staves , what influence their adopted home in the Rhineland has on the musical-emotional constitution. Don't worry, the result is not an ethno experiment in the jazz idiom, but rather a promising attempt to condense inner and outer movement into a globally understood musical aesthetic.

A light-footed wandering between (at least) three worlds, in which other dimensions are also touched upon without any fear of contact. For fractions of a second, people listen to what is foreign, unknown, never heard of, snippets are taken away, quotes are reduced to the size of the atom or scaled up to the dimensions of the universe - always striving to capture their own (musician) identity as sharply contoured as possible, to find themselves.

Not least because of Martin Schulte's obviously tube-amplified guitar sound, chanson classics such as "Lumière s.v.p." or "La belle vie" are given a pastel nostalgic robe. It's like watching one of those Technicolor flicks that are set in bustling Paris in the 1950s, but whose colors have faded a lot in the decades since it was made.

Other things are reminiscent of the coolness of the black and white Nouvelle Vague, of the era when Miles Davis wrote crime soundtracks (L'Ascenseur pour l'echafaud) and jazz musicians earned about as well as today's pop stars.

In addition, Christine Corvisier and Co. have not the slightest hesitation in kneading icons of chanson literature so vigorously that something completely new emerges. Edith Piaf's "Non, je ne regrette rien" oscillates between free improvisation and passages that are finely crafted to the point of recognition, far removed from the original and yet very close.

A recording quality that is reminiscent of the heyday of the Blue Note label and focuses entirely on spatiality, transparency and tonal balance goes with one of the most remarkable, because most exciting new releases of this autumn. When David Andres takes up the bow for the Valse d'Amélie, you can literally see the rosin dusting, and the atmospheric film reminiscence exudes endless charm. Tres bien, Madame!

Tracklist:
1. C’est si bon
2. Emmenez-moi
3. Lumière s.v.p
4. La belle vie
5. Non, je ne regrette rien
6. La valse d’Amélie
7. Tous les visages de l’amour
8. Le sud
9. La bohème
10. Lunaire
11. The modern Cinderella
12. Les feuilles morte

J-Zone - Intoxicated Skull

The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series was created by Madlib and Egon over the course of the Pandemic, and was a chance to give their creative friends the ability to stretch out and indulge in whatever type of music they wanted for release on the label.

The music had to be great and able to be presented as a stand alone album – like the best “Music Library” releases of the past, on labels like Italy’s Sermi, Germany’s Bruton, France’s MP2000 and the UK’s DeWolfe. And, like those albums, it had to work as easy, one-stop clearance for background cues in film and television production and, as producers have been indulging since the 1990s, for sampling.

The series contains 12 releases by DJ Muggs, Karriem Riggins, J-Zone, the Heliocentrics’ Malcolm Catto and Jake Ferguson, JJ Whitefield of Karl Hector/Whitefield Brothers/Poets of Rhythm, Motif Alumni and Music Research Library, Mario Luciano of Polyphonic Music Library, Henkel, Gabriel Rowland of Los Yesterdays, Dan Hastie and Terin Ector of Orgone, Dan Ubick and Joe Harrison

The albums will be released on the Madlib Invazion Bandcamp on the first Friday of each month over the course of one year. Listen, ponder, repeat.

Tracklist:
1. Shiva Strut
2. Shirley Got Bigger
3. Orange Forever
4. Nasty Popcorn Ceiling
5. Side Eye
6. Calgon
7. Truck Stop
8. Gangsta Boogie
9. Mr. Mean
10. Seebourg
11. Nitro
12. Du Jazz March
13. Intoxicated Skull
14. Lil' Mallet
15. Oyster Sammich
16. The Bastard Tambourine

Knxwledge. - VGM​.​26

Tracklist:
1. Begud
2. Dreams_
3. Onegame
4. Hills
5. Skyskrapr
6. Icy_
7. Tilt
8. Chudooin