John Carroll Kirby - The Luckiest Man in America OST

John Carroll Kirby is a Los Angeles-based artist known for blending jazz with a variety of genres to create his distinctive sound. He composed the official soundtrack for The Luckiest Man in America, a new film by Samir Oliveros starring Paul Walter Hauser, Johnny Knoxville, Patti Harrison, Maisie Williams, and Walton Goggins. The movie, inspired by Michael Larson’s legendary game show run on Press Your Luck, opens in over 600 theaters this weekend.

Tracklist:
1. The Luckiest Man
2. Sewing a Button
3. Board of Desire
4. Lot Tour
5. Meeting Peter
6. Michael Winning
7. Michael Losing
8. Detective Chuck
9. Chuck Sad
10. Michael Giving Up
11. Bill’s Bargain
12. Patricia’s Theme
13. Patricia’s Theme Reprise
14. The Whammy

Baobab - Baobab

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED JAZZ / JAZZ-ROCK from Germany!

BAOBAB was once described as "one of the most interesting rock-jazz groups on the Stuttgart scene". These recordings from the late '70s have remained in the can for more than 45 years.

Now available for the first time on deluxe LP-gatefold, CD and digital download!

Tracklist:
1. Keine Nummer
2. Elfer Raus
3. Malta
4. Just Now
5. Seven Up
6. Keine Nummer (Take One) (2022)

Kannaste4 - Out Of Self and Into Others

Helsinki tenor saxophonist Jussi Kannaste's debut album as a band leader has been a long time coming. A top musician in the local scene revered by his contemporaries and sought after as a band member,  Kannaste now presents his new work Out Of Self and Into Others on We Jazz Records. His quartet, Kannaste4, brings together Finnish musicians Tomi Nikku (of Bowman Trio) and Joonas Riippa, plus Berlin-based Swedish bassist Petter Eldh (of Koma Saxo / Post Koma and Y-OTIS), and features an all original program penned by Kannaste. His music is highly personal contemporary jazz leaning into modes of avantgarde expression. At times quiet as a whisper, at times fiery and swinging, Out Of Self and Into Others is a product of a deep marinade, a debut album that feels like much more than "just" that.

Singles "New Life" and "No Name" fit well for showcasing the different energy levels of the album. "New Life", which has existed as a live version already during previous iterations of Kannaste's live band, invites the listener right in, and soon surprises by presenting him in a hushed solo setting, sans the rhythm section, during which the saxophonist provides a brief introduction into each of the compositions on the album. This album, full of compositional innovation that feels at the same time natural and unique, peels back and adds layers from the first moments on. "No Name", a hauntingly beautiful quiet time ballad is a captivating listen, its sparsity lending the track remarkable quiet intensity. "It's All Good", another key piece, is offered here as two versions bookending the LP edition's side B. The lax vibe of the piece delivers its message that feels soothing yet almost radical in its momentary acceptance of it all.

Jussi Kannaste (born 1976) is a saxophonist and educator based in Helsinki. Prior to launching Kannaste4, he has been a key part of the scene for 20+ years, performing in highly acclaimed bands such as Antti Lötjönen Quintet East, 3TM, Jaska Lukkarinen Trio, Ricky-Tick Big Band, and many more. As the head of the department of Jazz at Sibelius Academy, Kannaste is also a key figure in internationally admired Finnish jazz education system. 

Tracklist:
1. New Life
2. The Bridge
3. Ups and Downs
4. No Name
5. It's All Good
6. Different Worlds
7. Pause
8. Elegy
9. It’s All Good (Reprise)

Sault - 10

When you have a voice as pure as Cleo Sol’s, you can sing about nearly anything and have it sound otherworldly. Sol, however, doesn’t take lightly the responsibility of her instrument, treating each opportunity—both in and outside of her role as lead vocalist for Sault—as an opportunity to spread joy, foster hope, and offer up praise to the most high. Sault’s mission across 10—actually their 12th full-length project—lies squarely inside those ramparts, with Sol working alongside the group’s production engine, Inflo, alongside a slew of other collaborators (dancehall singjay Chronixx, legendary bassist Pino Palladino, rising pianist NIJE) to offer a balm for increasingly trying times.

The titles alone—“The Healing,” “Know That You Will Survive,” “We Are Living”—telegraph their psalmic intention. So does Sol’s voice, which sails over Ohio funk in “Power,” recalls the radiance of disco queen Donna Summer on “Real Love,” and anchors uptempo jazz on “The Sound of Healing,” breathing life into relentless optimism. Sault has been nothing if not celebrated over the course of their elusive career, but that adulation notwithstanding, 10 reminds us there’s still hope for us all.

Tracklist:
1. T.H.
2. R.L.
3. K.T.Y.W.S.
4. P.
5. I.L.T.S.
6. L.U.
7. S.I.T.L.
8. H.T.T.R.
9. W.A.L.
10. S.O.T.H.

VA - Annotations

Tracklist:
1. LSB & Etherwood – Evermade
2. Villem – Woe Be Gone
3. Zar & Whitt – Mixed Up
4. Viiah – Challenges Come
5. Tokyo Prose – Teenage Jazz
6. Bazil Mc & Noppo – New Memories
7. Alibi – With You
8. LSB – Tripped [Workforce Remix]
9. Channell – Spaced
10. Motiv & Sl8r – Lady Blue
11. Anile – Fine
12. imo-Lu – INKY
13. LSB – 175
14. Mitekiss – Blur Mistake
15. Noppo – End of Days

Thee Sinseers - Sinseerly Yours (Instrumentals)

SINSEERLY SOULFULLY SWEET

To say that Thee Sinseers play oldies would be a misnomer. Fronted by bandleader and son of East Los Angeles Joey Quinones, the group has quietly chipped away at the sounds of R&B and soul for the last half-decade. Quinones and his crew have continuously created a distinctive vibe that explores all aspects of a timeless genre, bringing together their interpretation of music through an unmistakable modern lens.

With their most recent effort, the aptly titled Sinseerly Yours (Colemine 2024), the band recorded most of the album live in the studio. With Quinones on vocals and keys, vocalist Adriana Flores, Christopher Manjarrez on bass, Francisco Flores on guitar, Bryan Ponce on guitar and vocals, Luis Carpio on drums and vocals, saxophonists Eric Johnson and Steve Surman, and Jose Luis Jimenez on trombone, Thee Sinseers achieve their most fully realized sound to date.

All of the album’s stunning tracks were recorded in a converted studio space in Rialto, California, known as Second Hand Sounds. This space, which used to be a dentist's office, allowed the group to experiment with their sound like never before—this time, the group managed to take a series of big swings, only to emerge with a fuller, more pronounced version of themselves. Despite those new strides, the band remains wholly committed to its sonic aesthetic while injecting its brand of vibrant 21st-century cool.

Of course, the group has never been the type to shy away from their influences as they expertly toggle between ‘60s pop vis-à-vie early Beatles records to obscure dancehall Jamaican tunes––all fully extrapolated and reinterpreted through modern Chicano soul sound that the group has built their everlasting repertoire on.

Quinones and bandmates have continued to apply what they’ve learned from their previous releases and their relentless touring schedule throughout the country. It’s clear here that the work is paying off, putting to practice their musical chops thoroughly with all members expertly honing their sound. The melting pot of ideas is showcased with incredibly lush orchestrations and arrangements, married with pitch-perfect harmonies, allowing the group to further solidify themselves in the pantheon of the Southern Californian songbook. 

Tracklist:
1. What's His Name (Instrumental)
2. Keep On Calling (Instrumental)
3. Can't Call Me Baby (Instrumental)
4. Give It Up You Fool (Instrumental)
5. Hold On (Instrumental)
6. It's Such A Shame (Instrumental)
7. Talking Back
8. Like I Can Give (Instrumental)
9. Can't Do That To Her (Instrumental)
10. Si Llorarás

Gilles Torrent - Buleria

Swiss saxophonist Gilles Torrent, perhaps known from our recent Spiritual Jazz collection 'A Tribute to 'Trane', leads the way with his new album 'Buleria'; a mesmerizing set of modal jazz pieces that will speak directly to any listener who has felt the other-worldly depths of John Coltrane. The album comprises of Torrent originals and explorations of Coltrane standards. It reaches for something beyond the mundane, and blends complex harmonic structures with raw, improvisational energy. The Torrent original, 'Danse Tropical', opens the set with a contemplative tone. Led by a sax that pulls the listener through a maze of scales and modes, the rhythm section remains steady, creating a grounding space for exploration.'Quannassa' drives the energy forward, and the band moves seamlessly through shifting tensions as Torrent's saxophone searches for answers within a pantheon ofharmonic structures.The standout track, “Buleria” is a daring 8-minute piece, with an evolving, meditative flamenco piece that showcases the saxophonist’s raw improvisational skill, a spiritual journey that takes us to the windswept plains of Iberia.

The quartet is a faithful tribute to classic modal jazz, with the interplay between piano, bass, and drums feeling natural and organic. They provide a harmonic foundation that encourages the saxophone to glide and soar,pushing into new emotional territory, going from tender and melodic to fiery and free. This interplay gives the album its distinctive feel - while drawing from Coltrane’s influence, it’s clear the musicians are searching for something new, something personal. 

Tracklist:
1 Danse Tropicale
2 Ouannassa
3 Bahia
4 Buleria
5 Turquoise, PT.III
6 Naima
7 Ouverture
8 Voyage De L'eau

Adrian Younge - Adrian Younge presents Something About April III

The final chapter to his psychedelic soul trilogy.

This highly anticipated album is the epitome of analog transcendence, a sonic world fueled by a 30-piece orchestra, analog synthesizers, breakbeats and Brazilian vocalists that carol psychedelic melodies in Portuguese. Something About April III (SAA III), Adrian Younge pushes the musical franchise forward with fearless conviction, surpassing its predecessors as an essential piece in today’s vinyl culture.

“Something About April III is the album I wanted to make when I created the first album in 2011. However, I didn’t have the musical knowhow and experience to create the sound that was buried deep in my soul. Essentially, SAA III is the album that has taken me fifteen years to uncover and fully realize. From a cratediggers’ perspective, it’s the album I’ve been diggin’ for in the deepest crates of my soul. A lost album I finally found. I hope this LP resonates with you as much as it has for me.”

Throughout the years, Younge has earned the title of America’s black genius: a master at reviving the lost art of analog recording in a digital world. The Emmy-award winning composer, multi-instrumentalist and orchestrator has received comparisons to the finest works of Ennio Morricone as well as The Beatles relentless pursuit for sonic innovation. The Something About April collection has stood the test of time for contemporary vinyl enthusiasts and producers, being sampled by DJ Premier, Jay-Z, Common, 50 Cent and more. With so much experimentation, SAA III is Younge’s boldest journey into the unknown, drawing from the heritage of this heavily sampled collection to shape the future of his legacy.

Emboldened by the success of SAA I and II, Younge closes the trilogy with grander compositions for his uniquely inspired vinyl collecting audience. As the proceeding albums synthesize the boundaries between American and European cinematic soul, part 3 does the same, but with a bold twist: Brazilian Psychedelica!

Inspired by the great Brazilian records of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Younge records an all-Brazilian choir of vocalists, hand-picked by the Grammy-award winning Brazilian composer, Céu. Songs like “Nunca Estranhos” and “O Som Do Amor” highlight the talented vocalists over fuzzed out drum breaks and complexed orchestral arrangements akin to Arthur Verocai’s eponymously album in ’72. “Nossas Sombras” takes listeners back to a time when groups like Os Mutantes and Antonio Adolfo & A Brazuca pioneered mind-blowing sounds for Brazilian counterculture. Others such as “A Minha Fantasia” and “Esperando Por Você” evoke the essence of Brazilian soul singers Tim Maia and Cassiano, as if they were sampled by Rza for an unreleased Wu-tang album from the ‘90s. This album will surely be studied for years as a treasured gem for producers and collectors alike, surpassing its former as the holy grail in Younge’s canon.

With SAA III, Younge seals his legacy as America’s Black genius; a pioneer in modern sound and composition, challenging the sonic audacity of his Something About April collection in the most beautiful way.

Tracklist:
1. A Música Na Minha Fantasia
2. O Som do Amor
3. Poxa Meu Amor (feat. Céu)
4. Nos Somos as Estrelas
5. Ainda Preciso do Sol
6. Esperando por Voce
7. Nossas Sombras
8. Nunca Estranhos
9. Sorrir Na Chuva

Djrum - Under Tangled Silence

“We go through life. We shed our skins. We become ourselves.”

This line from Patti Smith was going round and round Felix Manuel’s head as he gradually constructed Under Tangled Silence, his first album in six years and a record of a literal creative rebirth. Felix originally began it in earnest in 2020 Covid lockdown, but a catastrophic hard-drive meltdown destroyed almost all his work and sent him close to psychic collapse himself. However, ultimately this pushed him to rebuild from scratch and in so doing to confront and reassess every part of his musical and psychological processes.

The result is utterly extraordinary. Felix was a child prodigy as an instrumentalist and his advanced musicality has always been prominent in his music, but here he has put himself front and centre as pianist, harpist and more. And this sense of exposure as a performer interweaves with an unflinching emotional openness too. Where sometimes electronic production as advanced as this can use intellect and techniques as shields from soul-baring, this is the sound of someone who can boldly say “I feel things, I cry all the time, and I'm not afraid to say it or show it in the music.”

But this doesn’t mean there’s a move away from the soundsystems and dancefloors where Felix made his name as a uniquely innovative vinyl DJ. Even just in the opening track “A Tune for Us”, minimalist piano ripples and jazz drumming flow into the breaks of vintage jungle – and as the structure of the LP unfolds, a deep ambient meditation like “Hold” can sit very naturally in between the futurist dancehall of “L’Ancienne” and the high-definition acid house mind movie of “Galaxy in Silence”. In fact, as with the hands-on musicianship, that gutsy big-speaker electronic impact is delivered with more certainty, more expertise, more personal flourishes than ever. And all of those elements are more integrated than ever too: the sound of a total musical personality emerging afresh is truly something to behold. An already remarkable talent has been refreshed, reborn and is making the music of his life.

Tracklist:
1. A Tune For Us
2. Waxcap
3. Unweaving
4. L'Ancienne
5. Hold
6. Galaxy In Silence
7. Reprise
8. Three Foxes Chasing Each Other
9. Let Me
10. Out Of Dust
11. Sycamore

Steve Spacek - Blue Room

Blue Room is a labour of love spanning a little over two decades. They were more or less unfinished songs from a few recording sessions at Raphael Saadiq’s Blakeslee studios in LA. With amazing talent the likes of Common and QTip- to name but a few- passing through Raphael's studio on a daily basis, I ended up with a bunch of unfinished gems. Not sure what happened to the sessions but I had these 2-track songs that whenever I played them, peeps would always be asking when and where they could get them. I was constantly getting requests for me to release them. I most likely would have already, if it wasn’t for the fact that- to my ear at least- they were clearly unfinished and wouldn’t do justice to the featured talent- much less the music as a whole. Fast forward to present and thanks to new technologies like stem separation, I was able to finish up and polish off the four songs featured on Blue Room. I am finally and truly happy with the finished project. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

Tracklist
1. They Dont Know You (feat. Common, Ledisi & Raphael Saadiq)
2. Hey (feat. Raphael Saadiq)
3. P.B.R (feat. Q-Tip, Steve Spacek)
4. Something Tells Me (feat. Raphael Saadiq, Steve Space)

Homeboy Sandman & Illingsworth - Dancing Tree

Tracklist:

1. I'll Show You
2. Be Curious
3. Test Drive
4. Too Deep

Web Web - Plexus Plexus

Web Web with their sixth album in seven years and with a new touch:
More psychedelic, sometimes more krauty than before.

This time, WEB WEB in their original line-up (without Max Herre) have (again) chosen a special guest: JJ Whitefield (The Poets Of Rhythm / Karl Hector & The Malcouns / Syrup), who contributes the fantastic guitar sound.

His riffs are sometimes funky as with the Poets Of Rhythm or Syrup, or more psychedelic as with Karl Hector & The Malcouns or his many live and studio recordings with Embryo. The sound color of his guitar gives the album the thrust into the wonderful atmosphere of spacey jazz-kraut bands of the seventies.

Tracklist:
1. Apotheosis
2. The Madness Of Ajax
3. Sacred Tree
4. Mysia
5. Sun-Hero
6. Bird´s Lament
7. Royal Princess
8. Morning Ritual
9. Nyx
10. Garden Of Hesperides
11. Cheiron
12. Sha-Sa-Vish-Nu-Ka-Di
13. The Argonauts Assemble
14. Infant At The Time

Hyldon & Adrian Younge - Hyldon JID023

Hyldon, Brazil’s highly revered vocalist, musician and producer, has partnered with Adrian Younge to create a new psychedelic soul album, HYLDON JID023. The duo, highly inspired by Hyldon’s seminal work in the ‘60s and ‘70s, revisits’ the spirit of this epoch while creating a modern-day classic. Hyldon’s unique voice and lyrical depth, combined with Younge’s innovative analog production, ensures this album will not be forgotten. JID023 is one of the last recordings featuring Hyldon’s long-time collaborator and friend, the late drummer Ivan “Mamao” Conti of Azymuth.

Hyldon, a musical pioneer and early contributor to the “Black Rio” movement is a genius in synthesizing the sounds of MPB, Tropicália and Black American R&B. His unique voice, coupled with his rich arrangements and laid-back grooves set him apart from the contemporaries of the time. In ’75, his remarkable debut album, Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda changed the sound of Brazil forever. Hyldon’s earnest and experimental approach in creating that album served as the inspiration for Younge’s production on the new JID023.

Months before Mamão's untimely passing, Adrian Younge and Hyldon invited the legendary drummer to join them at Younge’s Linear Labs studio in Los Angeles. Mamão and Hyldon shared a rich musical history — Azymuth, Mamão’s group, served as the rhythm section for much of Hyldon’s work, including his iconic 1975 LP, Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda. Their goal was ambitious: to craft an album that would stand alongside Hyldon’s finest achievements, one that would captivate fans who love his unique blend of psychedelic and soulful “Música Brasileira.” The result is nothing short of remarkable.

“Producing a Hyldon album was a dream come true. I’ve studied his catalog for so many years and highly respect the way he mixed the sound of The Beatles, with that of Marvin Gaye and Tim Maia. I’m still enamored by the fact that he is even a better singer now than he was, in what many deem, his prime. Also, we greatly miss our dear friend and contributor Mamão, the late drummer of Azymuth. We dedicated this album to his memory, and we wish he could have had the chance to hear the finished album.” – Adrian Younge

Songs such as “Olhos Castanhos,” which translates as “Brown Eyes,” evoke the ethereal nature of The Beatles “Strawberry Fields” as the mellotron flutes and Hyldon’s vulnerable performance captivates our hearts. Mamão’s gritty and funky drumming on “Nhanderuvucu (The Creator of God)” showcase what made him a leading pioneer in Brazil’s samba funk scene. Apart from the remarkable drumming, multi-instrumentalist Younge accomplishes the unthinkable by playing every other instrument on JID023. The experimental fusion of horns, analog synthesizers and acoustic instrumentation on songs like “Viajante de Planeta Azul,” which translates to “Traveler of the Blue Planet,” take listeners on a funky journey to the blue planet; a fictional space that Hyldon lyrically describes with passion and conviction in lines like “Flores exóticas, Ouro e prata, Sereias de além-mar (Exotic flowers, gold and silver, mermaids from across the sea).

Hyldon JID023 is an unexpected, yet remarkable addition to the canon of Brazilian Music. Hyldon’s emotional resonance, coupled with Younge’s sophisticated production and Mamao’s outstanding drumming make this a standout album within the deep catalog of Jazz Is Dead. 

Tracklist:
1. Viajante de Planeta Azul
2. O Caçador de Estrelas
3. Olhos Castanhos
4. Jenipapo Robot
5. Favela de Rio de Janeiro
6. Verão no California (Summertime in California)
7. Um Lugar Legal
8. Nhanderuvuçu (The Creator God)

Atjazz - Deep Rooted (Compiled & Mixed by Atjazz)

Foliage Records proudly presents the latest edition of our acclaimed compilation series, Deep Rooted.

Deep Rooted is all about diving deep into the essence of music, uncovering soulful and timeless treasures that resonate with the heart and soul of house music lovers.

For our ninth installment, we are thrilled to welcome the legendary Atjazz as curator. Armed with a passion for discovery and an ear for extraordinary sounds, Atjazz has handpicked an exquisite selection of tracks to take you on a journey through the depths of Deep Afro and soulful house and then a delve into Broken Beat & Nu-Jazz.

This edition features standout music from an impressive lineup of artists, including Jimpster, Reel People, Ralf GUM, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Nathan Haines, Karizma, Yoofee, Jazztronik, Incognito, Thakzin, and Sean McCabe. Of course, the signature touch of Atjazz himself adds an extra layer of magic to this collection.

Prepare to immerse yourself in this masterfully curated compilation, showcasing the finest in deep and soulful house music.

Get ready to dig deep and discover something truly special.

Enjoy the journey!

Tracklist:
1. Nathan Haines & Atjazz – U See That (feat. Vanessa Freeman/Marcus Begg - Atjazz Love Soul mix)
2. Imaani & Atjazz – Found My Light (Atjazz Galaxy Aart remix)
3. Halo & Atjazz – Glory (feat. Maiya - Atjazz Galaxy Aart dub)
4. Ralf Gum, Monica Blaire & Atjazz – AWA (Atjazz Love Soul mix)
5. Jimpster, KingCrowney & Atjazz – The Passion (Atjazz remix)
6. Karizma & Atjazz – The Power (Atjazz Floor dub)
7. Dominique Fils-Aime – Sun Rise (Atjazz remix)
8. Portia Monique – Ain't Scared Of You (feat. Reel People - Reel People vocal mix)
9. Yoofee – I Know
10. Oyobi, Vincent Sebastian & Atjazz – Crossroads (feat. Maite Inae/QVLN - Vincent Sebastian & Atjazz remix)
11. Systemfunk & Atjazz – Destiny (feat. Aqeel - Atjazz Love Soul remix)
12. Sebb Junior & Eric Roberson – Don't Stop (feat. Paula - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Kaidi Tatham remix)
13. !Sooks & Secret Souls – Imagine (feat. Lazarusman - Secret Souls remix)
14. Modaji – One And The Same (feat. Jazztronik meets Everton Nelson - Jazztronik meets Everton Nelson mix)
15. Thakzin, Ray T & Jimpster – Don't Let Me See (Jimpster remix)
16. Pat Bedeau & Atjazz – Dance Of The Inca's (Atjazz Love Soul remix)
17. Zo! – Packing For Chicago (feat. Muhsinah/Reel People - Reel People vocal mix)
18. Simbad – Time Off (feat. Ammo Moses - Roneedeep Minimal mix)
19. The Realm, Atjazz & Kelli Sae – On The Road (vocal mix)
20. Incognito – Freedom To Love (Atjazz Astro remix)
21. Deep Rooted (Mixed By Atjazz)

Bonobo - Lazarus (Adult Swim Original Series Soundtrack)

Producer and DJ Bonobo delivers a dreamy and atmospheric collection of music that blends twinkling electronic synths and warm organic instrumentation.

Tracklist:
1. Prologue
2. Northport
3. Rippling
4. Beyond the Sky
5. Babylonia
6. Dark Will Fall (from "LAZARUS" Soundtrack)
7. Prophets
8. Angeles
9. Rings
10. Landfall
11. Hapuna
12. New Prophets
13. Aerials
14. Drifting
15. Hearts

Gerardo Frisina - In Sight, Vol. 1

Firmly bound to Schema Records since the beginning (“Ad Lib”, 2001), in over twenty years of career Gerardo Frisina has released several records that have consolidated his status as a leading name in the international jazz and electronic music scene. Always unique in blending traditional elements (latin jazz, funk, soul) with modern sounds, since “Moving Ahead” (2020) in particular Gerardo has introduced new ‘cosmic’ and ‘futuristic’ elements into his style, in a constant evolution that culminates today with “In Sight”: this new double work, conceived and produced in two separate volumes - the first to be released on April 4th, 2025 -, further refines a sound that can be clearly recognized from the first notes of each track. Anticipated by the two singles “Mindoro” and “Desejar”, “In Sight Vol. 1” is finally revealed in all its glory. The artist’s care to every single detail is manifest in all of the album seven tracks, as per tradition oriented towards the clubbing context, with the exception of “O Soñho”, a slowerpaced bossa nova with a cinematic atmosphere. The album also contains track from the 2009 10” EP), a ‘great classic’ and one of Frisina’s most appreciated compositions both by listeners and Gerardo himself.

Tracklist:
1. Mindoro
2. Desejar
3. Tarab
4. Coherente
5. Some Soul
6. O Sońho
7. Samba De Skindim (Instrumental)

Mark De Clive Lowe - past present (tone poems across time)

'past present (tone poems across time)' is Mark de Clive-Lowe's exquisite new solo album and his debut for Greg Boraman's Impressive Collective label in partnership with BBE Music. Previously the pair released the Pharoah Sanders tribute album 'Freedom', and the equally lauded 'Hotel San Claudio' in collaboration with Shigeto & Melanie Charles.

A deeply personal sonic exploration by Mark, "past present" is a reflection on family, heritage, and healing which was created in tandem with retracing his late father’s journey across Japan 70 years ago. The project is a collection of ambient jazz, emotional cinematic soundscapes that weave analog synths with field recordings from Japanese sacred sites and nature locations.

'past present' partially came into existence thanks to the perseverance of producer, percussionist and Mark’s friend Carlos Niño, who after experiencing Mark's multi-layered motifs in the studio and in live contexts over many years explains, "I kept hearing him make an album like this, I kept telling him that he needed to, and that it would be his best album yet. Subtle, poetic, solo, texturally rhythmic, expressive, full of rippling layers, and arrangements representing such profound thoughts, feelings, relationships, and memories".

Mark also took on board Carlos' recommendation of recording the bulk of "past present" at Ken Barrientos’ analog synth studio, 'The Breath' in Pomona, California - where he utilized no less than 22 different keyboards to create the ethereal and engaging soundscapes across all 11 tracks, also intertwining his own field recordings made during a long, explorative stay in Japan.

Being such an individual and personal concept, it was only correct that Mark wrote the extensive album liner notes, to fully illustrate the decades-long backstory to this stunning collection. Mark completes the album's presentation using archive images from his family's private photo collection - an entire process he likens to time travel and signs off to the listener by stating that he hopes "it takes you on your own journey of imagination and reflection, leading to unexpected places, just as it has for me”.

Tracklist:
1. embrace
2. present past
3. reflection
4. revelation
5. heart
6. acceptance
7. forgiveness
8. compassion
9. past present
10. peace
11. gratitude

Amanda Whiting - The Liminality of Her (Deluxe Edition)

First Word Records is very proud to present a deluxe edition of Amanda Whiting's 'The Liminality of Her' album, featuring three brand new tracks along with a remix from label-mate, Quiet Dawn.

Amanda Whiting is a highly-acclaimed Welsh harpist & composer. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician quickly established herself as an essential player in the UK jazz scene, carving her own unique sound, following on from the paths forged by Ashby and Coltrane.

Following the release of 'The Liminality of Her' a year ago, the album featured in Spotify's 'Best UK Jazz of 2024' and received glowing reviews in Mojo, Jazzwise, Somewhere Soul, Bandcamp, Clash, AllMusic, Harp Column, Apple Music and HHV, to name a few, along with numerous 'Album of the Year' nods and various other accolades, garnering praise critically and publicly.

Over the past few years, she's had the support of radio stations & tastemakers such as BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum), BBC 6 Music (Cerys Matthews, New Music Fix). BBC Radio 3 (Soweto Kinch, Breakfast Show), BBC Wales (Adam Walton), Selector Radio (Sian Eleri), NTS Radio (Patrick Forge), FiP (Laurent Garnier), Soho Radio (Tina Edwards) and Jazz FM (Tony Minvielle, Chris Phillips, Robbie Vincent, Dom Servini), who also nominated her for 'Instrumentalist of the Year'.

This album exemplifies Amanda's talents as a performer and composer, taking in an array of hypnotising sonics from the worlds of jazz; from fusion to spiritual and beyond. A confident display of purposefully blissful compositions that saunter as much as they soothe, whilst being unafraid to lean into some deep uptempo grooves.

Amanda describes the theme of this project as "liminality... that place in between, the transition from one place to another. No longer what it was, yet not what it's going to be.

The harp always presents itself at these moments. It's a sound that causes an emotion. My instrument chose me. It's been with me through every chapter of life. It's how I speak, especially when there are no words.

This album is a rite of passage for "her". A feeling of alchemy, a feeling of liberation. Moments of inner searching, intertwined, waiting but moving forward. Never looking back.

'The Liminality of Her' encompasses the highs and the lows. The nomadic love of freedom and spirituality. It's all so much bigger than you or I…"

For this special deluxe edition, Amanda takes on Hammerstein & Rodgers's classic 'My Favorite Things', presents two new compositions ('Mary Over There' and 'At Ease') and French multi-instrumentalist Quiet Dawn provides a dancefloor friendly remix of the single 'Intertwined', featuring the vocals of Brighton-based singer PEACH.

Amanda joined the First Word label roster via a collaborative project with Don Leisure, 'Beyond The Midnight Sun', as well as a feature on his Welsh Music Prize nominated project 'Shaboo Strikes Back'.

She's previously performed, toured and collaborated with a wildly eclectic set of artists, including Matthew Halsall, Rebecca Vasmant, DJ Yoda, Gizmo Varillas and Chip Wickham (who also features on this project), whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for Scrimshire's Albert's Favourites imprint, ending 2024 with a divine seasonal album 'A Christmas Cwtch', also on First Word.

She's performed with her own trio at numerous festivals across Europe, including We Out Here, and had headline shows at The Jazz Cafe and Hootananny in London, with an upcoming show at the legendary Ronnie Scott's in June 2025.

Tracklist:
1. Finding the Way
2. Facing the Sun
3. Intertwined (feat. PEACH.)
4. Liminal
5. Nomad
6. Alchemy
7. Waiting to Go (feat. Chip Wickham)
8. No Turning Back
9. Rite of Passage (feat. PEACH.)
10. Feels so Far Away
11. Mary Over There
12. My Favorite Things
13. At Ease
14. Intertwined (Quiet Dawn Remix) [feat. PEACH.]

Flying Lotus - Spirit Box

"Steven Ellison, who has performed under the Flying Lotus moniker for nearly 20 years, emerged from a Twin Peaks binge inspired to explore the outer reaches of his imagination, returning to the studio to work as a solo recording artist for the first time in a half decade. Letting David Lynch's murky netherworld spill out his subconscious, Ellison conjured “Garmonbozia,” a single that creeps forward on waves of chilly synths and tense bass—a sound that threatens to veer into darkness yet never quite does. Flying Lotus chooses the light throughout Spirit Box, populating the EP with playful excursions into house and neo-R&B, teaming with Dawn Richard on the shimmering “Let Me Cook” and Indian singer Sid Sriram on “The Lost Girls.” The bustling nocturnal vibe of the latter teams nicely with the subdued crawl of “Ajhussi” and the insistent pulse of “Ingo Swann,” each lending Spirit Box a sweep that feels vivid and cinematic.

Tracklist:
1. Ajhussi
2. Garmonbozia
3. Let Me Cook (feat. Dawn Richard)
4. The Lost Girls (feat Sid Sriram)
5. Ingo Swann
6. Garmonbozia (Instrumental)
7. Let Me Cook (Instrumental)
8. The Lost Girls (Instrumental)
9. Garmonbozia (Cesco Remix)

Kamasi Washington - Lazarus (Adult Swim Original Series Soundtrack)

Kamasi Washington infuses the series with expansive ensemble jazz numbers punctuated by his virtuosic saxophone solos.

Tracklist:
1. Lazarus
2. Vortex (from "LAZARUS" Soundtrack)
3. Magical Distance
4. Relativity
5. Lie in Memory
6. Follower's Dream
7. Sageness
8. Cold Slaw
9. Hard Way to Wonder
10. Discovery
11. Rumor Has It

Smoove - Heavy Goods

Smoove is one of the most prolific and consistent producers in the UK, whether writing and producing for his Geordie soul outfit Smoove & Turrell, as the producer behind the highly prized multi track vinyl re-edits series or indeed the remixer de jour for a whole host of hip hop, soul and funk artists.

Apart from Smoove & Turrell, his first solo outing on Jalapeno Records was a compilation of some of his finest remixes all collated together in one very DJ friendly package entitled ‘First Class’. The postal theme continued to the second collection – 2019’s ‘Recorded Delivery’ and through some miracle of continuity, lo and behold it continues into a third collection titled ‘Heavy Goods’.

This time round there’s some truly killer cuts from the likes of Betty Black & the Family Fortune, Emma Noble, Kraak & Smaak, Izo FitzRoy, The High & Mighty and Bahama Soul Club. All of which get a healthy sprinkle of the Smoove production magic.

Tracklist:
1. Betty Black & The Family Fortune - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
2. Whirlwind D - Labels
3. Max Sedgley - I Want Your Soul (feat. Tasita D'Mour)
4. King Bee - Bee to the Flower
5. Emma Noble - Table Dancer
6. The Bahama Soul Club - Never Roam No More (feat. John Lee Hooker)
7. Vice Beats - That Love (feat. Greg Blackman & Audessey)
8. TGH Collective - Higher Level (feat. Lee "Scratch" Perry )
9. Carmy Love - I Just Came to Dance
10. Nautilus - Georgy Porgy (feat. John Turrell)
11. The High & Mighty - Funk-O-Mart (feat. Chubb Rock)
12. United Disco Organisation - Feel It for Yourself
13. The Jazz Defenders - Rolling on a High (feat. Doc Brown)
14. Izo FitzRoy - Blind Faith
15. Smoove & Turrell - It's You
16. Kraak & Smaak - Never Too Late (feat. Janne Schra)
17. The High & Mighty - Sixers & Squires (feat. Mad Skillz)
18. Nick Corbin - Sunshine In

Big Crown Vaults Vol. 4 - Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, the mysterious steel pan outfit hailing from Hamburg, Germany made significant noise in 2024 when French film Anatomy of a Fall won an Academy Award for best original screenplay. Bacao’s cover of 50 Cent’s “PIMP” was featured so heavily in the film and plays such a huge role in the storyline that it became synonymous with its success. Subsequently, they ushered in the first appearance of steel pans in the orchestra pit at the Academy Awards so they could play the tune as director Justine Triet walked on stage to accept the award. All of this brought a lot of new fans to Bacao and pushed the streaming numbers of “PIMP” well past 40 million. For those in the know, this tune made its way into underground fame back in 2008 when it was first pressed on band leader Bjorn Wagner’s own Mocambo imprint and was often mistaken for the original sample source from which 50 made his hit.

All accolades and international fame aside, “PIMP” is literally just the tip of the Bacao iceberg. With four full length albums and a tall stack of 7” singles that have become staples to DJs around the world, they have been prolific since signing with Big Crown in 2014. Despite the constant releases and elaborate catalog, every recording session has borne more fruit than could fit on an album, leaving a handful of tunes in the recording vault. Here on Big Crown Vaults Vol. 4 we open up that vault and give all (well, most of) those tunes a proper pressing and release. 

The album opens up with their cover of the Bob James uber-classic breakbeat “Nautilus” and they put a spin on the original that puts it directly in the must have category for all hip hop and breakbeat enthusiasts. Keeping their foot on the gas, they give the BRSB treatment to the Khruangbin classic “Maria También” with their signature bottom heavy drums taking the energy of the tune to a whole new place. Infamous for digging deep in the crates when picking material to reinterpret, they next take on Royce the 5’9”'s J Dilla produced “Let’s Grow”. Originally the B side to the first pressing of “PIMP” (and making an appearance on the very limited first 2LP pressing of their debut album 55) we put the “PIMP (Version)” on here where they give their original recording the proper dub treatment with melodica and tape echo galore. They turn up the tempo and the funk covering the Jackson 5’s “Great To Be Here” and again dive deep into obscurity with the Billy Jones dancefloor burner “Lookout Baby (Here I Come)”. While part of the allure of a new Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band album is finding out what covers they are going to take on, it is equally intriguing to see what original tunes they’ve cooked up. While BCR Vaults Vol. 4 only has one original, “Kaiso Noir”, it’s an uptempo crowd-pleaser that sounds like a mix between a b-boy break and a James Bond score. 

This collection of songs spans from 2008 to 2023 and runs a variety of genres from hip hop to jazz to soul and pop through the Bacao lens. The band is already at work on their 5th full length studio album and this compilation should be the perfect thing to hold fans over until it arrives.

Tracklist:
1. Nautilus
2. Maria También
3. Let’s Grow
4. PIMP (Version)
5. Look Out (Here I Come)
6. Great To Be Here
7. Juicy Fruit
8. 8th Wonder
9. Murkit Gem
10. All For The Cash
11. Kaiso Noir
12. Guess Who’s Back
13. Giana Sisters

A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (35th Anniversary)

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, Hip-Hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest are releasing the original album remastered from the original tapes by Grammy-Award winning engineer Bob Power, and re-released with exclusive new remixes by a few of today's biggest hip-hop artists who have credited A Tribe Called Quest as a major creative influence. Featuring remastered versions of classic cuts like "Bonita Applebum", "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo", "Can I Kick It?" and more.

Tracklist:
1. Push It Along
2. Luck of Lucien
3. After Hours
4. Footprints
5. I Left My Wallet in El Segundo
6. Pubic Enemy
7. Bonita Applebum
8. Can I Kick It
9. Youthful Expression
10. Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)
11. Mr. Muhammad
12. Ham N Eggs
13. Go Ahead in the Rain
14. Description of a Fool

Bonus Tracks:
15. Footprints (Remix) feat. CeeLo Green
16. Bonita Applebum (Pharrell Williams Remix)
17. Can I Kick It? (J. Cole Remix)
18. Footprints (Remix Instrumental)
19. Bonita Applebum (Pharrell Williams Remix Instrumental)
20. Can I Kick It? (J. Cole Remix Instrumental)

Adjà - Golden Retrieve Her

Brussels-based artist Adja Fassa releases her debut album, two years after her well-received EP IRONEYE - and it is promising to be quite a ride.

This contemporary body of work showcases 11 stories, each telling their story of the impact our capitalistic society has on our most intimate moments: from dystopian neo-soul tales of Deliveroo-drivers being stalked by telemarketers (both of them selling/delivering literal ‘hope and dreams’), to re-imagined jazz standards and classical songs about conditional friendships, based on time and money. We even get her take on the ‘stick-it-to-the-man-sing-along-rock-song’, which she called ‘Sucking on my Emphatitties’. And then we have the title song ‘Golden Retrieve Her’ which is as much an accumulation of feelings as of musical curiosities.

“ ‘Golden Retrieve Her’ is a wordplay on wanting to retrieve my kindness in a violent social system. Simultaneously, it is criticizing the fact that we, the masses, are often asked to either be naive or pretend we are. All of this accumulated in a visual image of what our social system considers ‘the perfect, obedient nuclear family’: a kind couple with 2.4 children, a house in the suburbs and… a Golden Retriever.” ~ Adja

Serious and concrete topics, wrapped up in a symbolic package, as Adja values both straightforwardness, critical thinking and, paradoxically, a bit of mysticism. For her visual artwork, she created four, self-made tarot cards, that represent the four themes on the album:

‘The Wheel Of Fortune’, embodies the desire to get the upper hand in a system that doesn’t align with your values. ‘The Mirror’, represents projection and likeness within lost connections (whether with strangers or with friends), ‘The Dark Wheel’ embodies the turning point of the wheel of fortune, where one is completely surrendered to their own moral demise and ‘The Cave’ stands for the - sometimes painful, sometimes blissful - return to one's own mind and heart.

Musically, this album contains as much variety as song titles, as Adja continues to explore her own depths as an artist and musician, together with her partner-in-crime, guitarist, composer and jazz-arranger Alexis Nootens. She collaborated with music producer Adam Scrimshire, who was featured in the Guardian as UK’s one of three most significant soul music producers alongside Swindle and Inflo, and renowned Belgian producer, mixer and musician Koen Gisen, who both mentored her into deepening her own productional skills. Last but not least, she gathered 13 musicians to deliver the sound she brings to her album, among them her 5 steady band members and 8 studio musicians from all over Europe. As we said: it promises to be quite a ride.

Tracklist:
1. Happiness and Butterflies
2. Package Delivered by Tomorrow
3. A Moment
4. Unfriend
5. Better Bitter
6. The Sound of a Mother (interlude)
7. Sucking on my Emphatitties
8. Golden Retrieve Her
9. Be Patient (outro)
10. Nook
11. Rest our Hearts