Sababa 5 - Nadir

A must-listen album for fans of The Heliocentrics, Khruangbin, The Dap Kings, and Moğollar.

Sababa 5 explore a darker and more sophisticated and cinematic blend of psychedelic soul and Middle Eastern rock on ‘Nadir’, their first full length album of new music since 2023’s ‘Aspan’. Following three acclaimed albums, a string of sought-after 45s, and collaborations with vocalists including Yurika and Sophia Solompon, championed by esteemed tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, and Jeremy Sole, ‘Nadir’ finds Sababa 5 at their enigmatic and irresistible.

​Sababa 5's latest album, ‘Nadir’, delves into a darker, more sophisticated, and cinematic fusion of psychedelic soul and Middle Eastern rock. The title, Nadir, is an astronomical term referring to the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, diametrically opposite the zenith. Metaphorically, it signifies the lowest point or a moment of adversity. This duality resonates with the band's exploration of contrasting musical themes—melding the cosmic and the terrestrial, the ethereal and the grounded. The name encapsulates the album's essence, reflecting a journey through deep, introspective soundscapes that are both otherworldly and rooted in raw, earthly grooves.​

‘Nadir’ opens with “VU” - close to four minutes of mysterious, darkly seductive, rhythm-driven funk. Swirling guitars, an Arabesque electric organ, and raga-like drones evoke the haze of a smoky Cairo bar, while the track nods to their close musical kin, vuvuvu, whose raw, noisy, and playful energy has rubbed off on the band.

The title track itself conjures the sultry ambiance of a Mediterranean night, plunging listeners into a realm of intrigue and intensity. A brooding bassline sets a suspenseful tone before a synth-led melody, laced with Italian motifs and Middle Eastern tonalities, unfolds—recalling the cinematic flair of soundtrack legends like Piero Umiliani and Stelvio Cipriani. Subtle wah-wah guitar accents add a psychedelic touch, echoing the acid rock elements of classic Poliziotteschi scores.

However, not all tracks dwell in darkness; “Tell” sports a brighter tone reminiscent of ‘Aspan’. Leaning into Turkish ballad territory - except with synths taking the lead part - it is both melodic and melancholic, buoyed by an irresistible groove that offers a refreshing counterpoint to the album’s shadowy moods.

Nadir stands as Sababa 5’s most compelling and listenable offering yet - a transcontinental journey where hypnotic grooves, cinematic arrangements, and evocative Middle Eastern scales create vivid imagery, compel movement, and touch the soul.

Tracklist:
1. Vu
2. Zenith
3. Descent
4. Nadir
5. 2025
6. Tell
7. Atom
8. Ignition
9. Sab
10. Timor
11. Into Orbit

Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi - Whispers of Rain

Internationally acclaimed harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and Ibiza-based producer Tulshi announce their collaborative album ‘Whispers of Rain’

The album delves into the architecture of memory and human emotion, using rain as a central metaphor for life’s cycles: the cleansing of loss, the blossoming of renewal and the profound inner strength cultivated in moments of serene introspection. To celebrate the release, Alina will be hosting a listening party at Brilliant Corners, London on Monday 23rd June, followed by an album launch show at The Vortex, London on Monday 7th July. The live performance will feature Tony Kofi & special guests.

With album singles “Whispers of Rain” and “Across the Sea”, this LP expands on the pair’s seamless fusion of organic and electronic elements. Alina’s expressive harp, deeply rooted in jazz and classical traditions intertwines with Tulshi’s inventive production, drawing from ambient deep tech and dub-inflected electronica.

“Journey Home”, is a poignant meditation on closure and self-discovery. It mirrors the arc of the album, bringing the listener full circle, both thematically and sonically. Reflective and expansive, the track captures the emotional weight of returning to a place that has changed, while questioning if home is truly a destination or a state of being.

Born from a shared creative vision on the tranquil side of Ibiza, ‘Whispers of Rain’ was shaped by the island's natural beauty and a deep connection to the life that surrounds us. After years of travel, both Alina and Tulshi found inspiration here, turning movement into stillness. In 2022 Alina and Tulshi were introduced by a mutual friend, their first session was entirely unplanned, an afternoon of spontaneous improvisation in Tulshi’s home studio in Ibiza. “It was a beautiful sunny day and my three-year-old was playing outside while Alina and I jammed inside,” Tulshi recalls. “Her harp was running through granular effects and large reverbs and the result was “Child’s Play”, you can even hear the children’s voices in the background if you listen closely.”

That improvisational energy became the foundation of the album. Tulshi initially experimented with house beats but ultimately stripped everything back to allow Alina’s harp to lead the way. “I always say as a producer, you have to sit back and let the music tell you what it wants to be,” he explains. Alina adds, “I loved the way Tulshi felt the music, we instantly had a strong creative connection. Our collaboration was built on trust, we each understood how to complement the other’s sound without overpowering it.” Their process was supple, allowing the compositions to evolve organically into a body of work that feels deeply personal, yet universally resonant.

The album’s narrative deepens with tracks like “Nomad’s Nocturne” which introduces darker, restless energy, reflecting themes of displacement and the uncertainty of movement, with Alina’s bold harp clusters and Tulshi’s live tabla guiding the piece. “Whispers of Rain” emerged from a moment of sunlit rain in Ibiza, where Alina and Tulshi found themselves in a state of pure flow, translating the rhythm of falling droplets into sound. “Warm Days, Cold Nights” juxtaposes earthy folk and blues tones with a brooding synth pad, expressing the emotional contrasts of a traveller’s path; “Starling” dissolves the boundaries between harp and synth, creating a soaring, immersive soundscape; “Across the Sea” explores the bittersweet experience of finding a new home while feeling the pull of what’s been left behind. Tulshi’s glitch-infused production mimics the fizz and crackle beneath ocean waves, as Alina’s fluid glissandi mirrors the movement of the tide.

Tracklist:
1. Child's Play
2. Nomad's Nocturne
3. Whispers of Rain
4. Warm Days, Cold Nights
5. Starling
6. Across the Sea
7. Journey Home
8. Whispers of Rain (Continuous Mix)

Leroi Conroy - A Tiger's Tale

Steeped in equal parts golden age hip-hop sensibilities and lost 60s and 70s film scores, the debut LP from Leroi Conroy weighs in heavy and has been years in the making. The first two tracks from the album were released in 2017 as a 45, which were sampled in the years that followed by DJ Premier, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Macklemore, Phantogram, and more. But after its release, Terry Cole aka Leroi Conroy spent much of his time growing his indie soul label Colemine Records and producing records for others (Okonski, Parlor Greens, Wesley Bright, Black Market Brass, Kendra Morris, Rudy De Anda, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Andrew Gabbard) as opposed to his own.

Now, eight years after many of the rhythm tracks were put to tape on the trusted Tascam 388, Leroi Conroy’s debut LP, A Tiger’s Tale, will be released. The album is conceptualized as a hypothetical soundtrack to an alternate telling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. The narrative here being man’s quest to tame and bend nature to his will...and nature’s response. The album is a mix of triumphant instrumental scores alongside absolutely grim, dark, and at times dissonant moody tracks. The underlying element of hip-hop’s sample culture is obvious throughout and there’s no doubt many of these tracks will be flipped in the years to come.

Sonically, the record fits right in the cut alongside many other Colemine instrumental artists: dirty lo-fi drums, blaring horns, wah guitar, Hammond organ, and plenty of cinematic sprinklings like flute, nylon guitar, and vibraphone. Drums are courtesy of Cole’s longtime collaborator Rob Houk and are truly the backbone of the record. And with a couple of features from Colemine artists Kelly Finnigan and Jimmy James, the record is truly a family affair. File under: To Be Sampled

The more humans attempt to control nature and bend her to our will, the more imbalanced our world will become. Ultimately, it’s a fight that only yields loss. This is the story of one such attempt... 

Tracklist:
1. Shere's Theme
2. Tiger Trot
3. Snowcat
4. Abiding
5. Jacqueline
6. Enter
7. Panthera Cry
8. Path Of Man
9. Exitus

Kokoroko - Tuff Times Never Last

10 APR 2025: Kokoroko, have announced the release of their forthcoming second studio album entitled ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ and unveiled its first entree ‘Sweetie’.

Set for release on July 11th via Brownswood Recordings, ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11-song suite, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss and above all perseverance.

Initially drawing inspiration from a viral social media meme, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said of the title’s origins and meaning: “It’s true! Although we’re reflecting on joy and celebration, you realize that a lot of that beauty comes out of challenges and difficulties. It felt like a natural truth that we discovered whilst writing”.

The accompanying artwork was painted by Luci Pina, the acclaimed illustrator whose work has been sought and commissioned by the likes of The Cut, Soho House, DICE, Apple Music and It’s Nice That. Embedded within the image is Kokoroko’s ode to London in the summer. Speaking on its design, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “The remit was summer in London, family and sense of everyone being in a congregation-like audience, and us being the musicians”.

The artwork’s imagery and colour was inspired by feelings of innocence and nostalgia - coming of age in London and those rare summer nights where everything felt full of hope. The cityscape also pays homage to Spike Lee’s 1994 film ‘Crookyln’ and Rick Famuyiwa’s 1999 opus ‘The Wood’. The band saw these movies as heartwarming representations of black family, community and resilience that served as a balm for them as Londoners. Speaking further on this, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said: “‘Crooklyn’ is very emotional, but also very uplifting. It felt like how I grew up. This album is us sharing our own feelings, hopes and dreams. We didn’t always have those stories in the UK”

Three years on from their debut album ‘Could We Be More’ which peaked at No.30 on the UK Albums Chart and received acclaim from The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times, Jazzwise, CRACK Magazine and Downbeat Magazine, ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ sees the London band with careless abandon expand their wide-ranging palette and influences.

While the afrobeat jazz of their previous work is still a core part of the record’s sonic design, the new album largely pulls from British R&B from the 80s, neo-soul, West African disco, bossa nova, lovers rock and funk. Sonically taking cues from the likes of Loose Ends, Don Blackman, Common, Sly & Robbie, William Onyeabor, Patrice Rushen, Ofori Amponsah and Cymande. Throughout this instinctive evolution, the septet's seasoned musicianship preserves the essence of who Kokoroko are as masterful jazz artisans.

Speaking on the band’s progression in sound, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “Innately, we’re jazz musicians but we've tried not to kind of box ourselves into one sound. So there is a level of freedom we're starting to feel. We want to continue being as creative as possible without feeling any boundaries”.

The unveiling of the new album comes alongside the LP’s lead single ‘Sweetie’, a tantalising first taste of the new record that bridges the gap between where the band has been and where they’re going. A tribute to the playful bond between lovers, ‘Sweetie’ is a horn-led and wonky-sounding tune saluting West African disco. It expands upon the band exploring more electronic sounds and toying with obscure drum machine and synth sounds.

‘Sweetie’ marks Kokoroko’s first dose of new music since their EP ‘Get The Message’. Released last November, the project spawned ‘Three Piece Suit’ featuring Azekel - their honouring of Nigerian elders contemplating home, lineage and ancestry in 1960s London.. Upon its release, the EP earned praise from Rolling Stone Africa, Bandcamp Daily, The Fader, YAMS, OkayAfrica, TRENCH, Official Charts, NOTION, CLASH, DMY, Rough Trade and The Stranger.

To coincide with the release of ‘Tuff Times Never Last’, Kokoroko will be embarking on the biggest headline show of their career when they play London’s O2 Academy Brixton on September 25th.

Tracklist:
1. Never Lost
2. Sweetie
3. Closer To Me
4. My Father in Heaven
5. Idea 5 (Call My Name) (feat. LULU. & LULU.)
6. Three Piece Suit (feat. Azekel) 
7. Time and Time (feat. Demae)
8. Da Du Dah
9. Together We Are
10. Just Can't Wait
11. Over / Reprise

PLUNKY & Oneness Of Juju - Made Through Ritual

Strut present the first international release in over 30 years by legendary Afro-jazz group Oneness Of Juju with their new album Made Through Ritual on 4th July 2025.

In 1975, the late DJ / producer and jazz distributor Jimmy Gray and James “Plunky” Branch joined a musical revolution, founding Black Fire Records and releasing the label’s debut album, the classic African Rhythms by Oneness of Juju. This July, Plunky brings this important musical relationship full circle with Made Through Ritual, produced by Plunky’s son Jamiah “Fire” Branch and Jimmy’s son Jamal Gray. The album takes a novel approach to beat culture. Working from demos created by Jamal using a selection of original jazz samples, Plunky took the tracks, replayed and re-interpreted the arrangements using live musicians. “The album explores the art of deconstruction and reconstruction in music - sampling, sequencing, and live improvisation merge with multi-track recording to craft intricate harmonies and arrangements,” explains Plunky. “The process became a ritualistic expression of creativity and transformation.” The resulting album is a fascinating listen. Opening with the meditative soul chant ‘Share This Love’ voiced by regular Oneness vocalist Charlayne “Chyp” Green, the album opens out into a series of jazz vignettes including the title track, ‘In Due Time’ and ‘Free Spirit’. The powerful album closer, ‘Children Of The Drum’ celebrates black culture and legacy through the poetry of Roscoe Burnem. Released on 1LP and 1CD with specially commissioned cover artwork by contemporary Ivorian artist Maxime Manga, Made Through Ritual represents an important new chapter in the Oneness story. The album will be supported by a selection of European tour dates during Autumn and Winter 2025.

Tracklist:
1. Share This Love
2. Made Through Ritual
3. In Due Time
4. Free Spirit
5. Shades of Light
6. Freedom's Call
7. Broad Street Strut
8. Cosmic Dust
9. Children of the Drum

Cookin Soul - Tripi Hapa Beats

The instrumentals from Cookin Soul x Bejo - Tripi Hapa album are now available on all platforms.

Tracklist:
1. STFU
2. My Way
3. WaWaWa
4. Smoke Loud
5. Pete Rocking It
6. Change the World
7. Invisible Enemies
8. 50 Michelin Stars
9. Hypocrite
10. Get on My Ship
11. Keepin It Real

VA - Soulful Deep & Dope 2025

Reel People Music Presents “Soulful Deep & Dope 2025”
– A 20-Track Odyssey of Soulful Dance Excellence

London-based label Reel People Music proudly announces the return of its acclaimed compilation series with “Soulful Deep & Dope 2025” , dropping digitally on 27th June 2025. This annual showcase of forward-thinking, soul-infused dance music delivers once again with 20 exceptional tracks from an elite roster of global artists, remixers, and tastemakers.

“Soulful Deep & Dope 2025” is a celebration of the genre’s rich emotional depth and musical craftsmanship, blending deep house grooves, jazzy textures, gospel roots, and powerful vocal performances. This year’s edition brings together a powerhouse collective of talent from across the soulful and deep house spectrum. It features brand-new and exclusive tracks and remixes from acclaimed producers including Terry Hunter, Emmaculate, Fouk, Atjazz, Zo!, Tall Black Guy, Coflo, Sean McCabe, Masaki Morii, Micky More & Andy Tee, Yukihiro Fukutomi, N.W.N., Shannon Chambers, Offshore and Coen, Ayce, Black Sonix, and Opolopo — each lending their distinctive touch to an array of original material and iconic reworks.

Vocalists featured include legends and luminaries such as Adina Howard, Marlena Shaw, Ursula Rucker, LCGC feat. Annette Bowen, Angela Johnson, Vanessa Freeman, Chantay Savage, Debórah Bond, Vanessa Haynes, Monica Blaire, Jill Rock Jones, STOUT, Geoffrey Williams, Ellis Aaron, and Ernesto & The Basement Gospel, bringing richness, warmth, and storytelling to every beat.

With soulful reinterpretations of classics and boundary-pushing original compositions, “Soulful Deep & Dope 2025” offers a rich, genre-spanning experience rooted in authenticity and musicality — a vibrant celebration of soulful dance music’s past, present, and future.

Tracklist:
1. Adina Howard & Fouk – Freak Like Me (Fouk remix)
2. Diplomats Of Soul, Incognito & Terry Hunter – Sweet Power Your Embrace (feat Vanessa Haynes/Emmaculate - Terry Hunter & Emmaculate remix)
3. Chantay Savage, Terry Hunter & Masaki Morii – Still (feat James Poyser - Masaki Morii remix)
4. Daniel Rateuke, Ursula Rucker & N.W.N. – Or Stay Alive (N.W.N. remix)
5. Nathan Haines, Marlena Shaw & Fouk – Squire For Hire (Fouk remix)
6. Zo! & Tall Black Guy – Sacrifice (feat Deborah Bond - original mix)
7. Shannon Chambers – Cheat Code (feat Fabien Myles - 1Sound main mix)
8. Ellis Aaron & Sean McCabe – Got It Bad (Sean McCabe vocal mix)
9. Offshore And Coen – Show 'em Up (feat Ernesto & The Basement Gospel - vocal mix)
10. Ralf Gum, Monica Blaire & Atjazz – AWA (Atjazz Love Soul mix)
11. Diplomats Of Soul, Incognito, Micky More & Andy Tee – Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (Like I Fell In Love With You) (feat Vanessa Haynes - Micky More & Andy Tee remix)
12. London Community Gospel Choir, Annette Bowen & Ayce – Rather Be (Ayce remix)
13. The Realm & V – One Chance (feat Yukihiro Fukutomi - Yukihiro Fukutomi remix)
14. Opolopo & Angela Johnson – Possibilities (extended mix)
15. Sean McCabe & Black Sonix – Modulate (original mix)
16. STOUT – Grateful (Terry Hunter Retouch)
17. Shannon Chambers – I Remember (original mix)
18. Nathan Haines & Atjazz – U See That (feat Vanessa Freeman/Marcus Begg - Atjazz Love Soul mix)
19. Coflo & Geoffrey Williams – Valentina (original mix)
20. Sean McCabe & Jill Rock Jones – Only You (vocal mix)
21. Soulful Deep & Dope 2025 (DJ mix) (01:32:11)

Zamali - Mirrors

Zamali makes a triumphant return to Timewarp Music with his highly anticipated full-length album, Mirrors.

In this latest release, Mirrors, the artist showcases a captivating twelve-track collection that explores a diverse range of musical styles. From smooth downtempo and hypnotic trip hop beats to infectious funk and lively disco grooves, each track is imbued with a unique and sophisticated flair. The album is a seamless blend of modern nu funk, dub, and breakbeat, all intricately woven together to create an unforgettable listening experience. Disco elements are thoughtfully integrated, ensuring that every moment is filled with rhythm and energy.

Don't miss out on this remarkable fusion of sounds—it's a perfect treat for any music lover looking to elevate their playlist!

Tracklist:
1. Me Nimoog
2. Anna Pour Moi
3. Cloud 69
4. Floating
5. Keywest
6. Master Magik
7. Strange Areas
8. Edition Party
9. Flying Saucer
10. Self Abduction
11. Mollusques
12. Santiago Step Up

Dom Salvador, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Dom Salvador JID024

A Journey Back to the Roots of Samba Funk

Jazz Is Dead continues its journey of honoring musical legends with Dom Salvador JID024, an album that revisits and revitalizes the pioneering spirit of one of Brazil’s most influential musicians. Dom Salvador, the trailblazer who fused samba with jazz, funk, and soul in the late ’60s and early ’70s, is the cornerstone of a movement that shaped the sound of Black Brazilian music. Now, in collaboration with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, he returns to that foundation in a wholly new way.

A Living Legend Returns to His Roots: Dom Salvador's influence on Brazilian music is immeasurable. As the architect behind the groundbreaking album Som, Sangue e Raça (1971) and the leader of the pioneering group Abolição, he carved out a space for Black consciousness in Brazil’s music scene, fusing American jazz and funk with Afro-Brazilian rhythms. His work set the stage for the emergence of bands like Black Rio, further bridging the sounds of Black Brazil with those of the Black American experience.
 
With JID024, Younge and Muhammad crafted a collection of compositions that continue the sonic and cultural conversations Dom Salvador began decades ago. This project serves as both an homage and a dialogue—an extension of his pioneering sound, channeled through the lens of modern analog production.
 
Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: Adrian Younge describes the album as a conscious effort to reconnect with the spirit of Salvador’s seminal works. “We wanted to go back to those records we loved so much,” Younge explains. “The ones that blended jazz, funk, and samba in a way that reflected the Black consciousness movement in Brazil.”

In many ways, JID024 is an invitation rather than a mere collaboration—an invitation extended to Salvador to join in on a project inspired by his legacy. “We wrote this album in the hopes that he’d want to record it with us,” Younge admits. “And he said yes. That’s part of what makes this so magical. Someone of his age and stature choosing to be a part of this speaks volumes.”

Bridging the Sounds of Black Brazil and Black America: One of the key themes running through JID024 is the historical and musical connection between Black Brazil and Black America. Younge emphasizes how Salvador’s early work helped inform this transcontinental dialogue. “Dom Salvador was one of the first to start mixing samba with jazz and funk in a way that resonated with the post-civil rights movement in the U.S.,” he explains. “From the way musicians dressed to the way they played, there was this undeniable synergy.”

This album, then, is a continuation of that conversation. It is a celebration of Salvador’s impact, a reaffirmation of the revolutionary spirit embedded in the music, and a demonstration of how these ideas can still be expanded upon today.

A Timeless Sound Reimagined: Each track on JID024 represents a different facet of Salvador’s journey, from the deep grooves of samba-funk to more reflective, jazz-infused compositions. While Salvador remains a figure of humility, his presence on this album is a testament to his lasting legacy. As Younge puts it, “This is about setting the foundation, about telling a story that reminds people just how important Dom Salvador is.”

Reflecting on the experience, Dom Salvador shared, “It was a wonderful experience, capturing a spontaneous moment. Entering the studio without knowing what was going to happen, creating everything right there in the moment, and doing it all in analog, without edits, was incredibly stimulating.”

With JID024, Jazz Is Dead doesn’t just celebrate a legend—it actively contributes to the evolution of the sound he helped create. This album is more than just a recording; it is a bridge between past and present, a reaffirmation of the power of Black music across continents, and a moment of recognition for a man whose influence continues to reverberate through time.

Tracklist:
1. Os Ancestrais
2. Não Podermos O Amor Parar
3. As Estaçōes
4. Música Faz Parte de Mim
5. Minha Melanina
6. Eletricidade
7. Safira

Anushka - My Mother's Mother

Taken as the third single from Anushka's forthcoming album Ancestry, My Mother's Mother comes as a two track single including the original album track accompanied by a remix from South African/Mozambiquan wunderkind, Thakzin.

With the album version of My Mother's Mother featuring Gambian Kora player Jally Kebba Susso the track's heavily embedded west African influences are tailor made for a one of Thakzin's genre bending, pan-Africanist grooved remixes and here he really brings his 'A' game to enhance the Anushka duo's excellent arrangements.

Recently named as Mixmag's Producer of the Year for 2024 Thakzin, a champion of cultural coexistence and diverse influences, is widely heralded as a game changing producer and DJ who has been showcased by influential broadcasters such as Jamz Supernova and Benji B as well as his tracks appearing in the setlists of DJs Atjazz, Osunlade, Louie Vega and Laurent Garnier.

My Mother's Mother completes the trio of singles and remixes taken from Anushka's vinyl album Ancestry and is released as a digital single.

Tracklist:
1. My Mother's Mother
2. My Mother's Mother (Thakzin Perspective)
3. My Mother's Mother (Thakzin Perspective Dub)
4. Really (Nothing is Cool)
5. Really (Nothing is Cool) (Max Wheeler Dub Edit)
6. Overwhelmed
7. Overwhelmed (DJ Die Rmx)

Casbah 73/The Jade - Love Harder

Having carved out a place in the contemporary club scene with releases on Glitterbox/Defected, Boogie Angst & Lovemonk Records amongst others, Madrid’s Casbah 73 recently shed his skin and is now ready to introduce The Jade, a live ensemble that prioritises emotion, excitement and the art of the song. Led by Oli Stewart (Casbah 73), the project brings together a remarkable group of players. At its core, this is about people: musicians in dialogue, shaping rhythms and melody, singing songs from the heart, that shared pulse based on a timeless musical vocabulary.

Opening with the exuberant ‘Let The Light In’, this is sizzling hi-jazz and sunny soul, shot through with a dose of funky Afro-Latin rhythms for good measure. Josh Hoyer leads the charge, delivering a powerhouse vocal performance, while Nia Martin and Deborah Ayo bring that gospel glow. As, indeed, they continue to do so throughout, especially on the deep, soulful standout ‘When Love Left’ or the shimmering, street soul meets Brit-funk feel of ‘Change!’ Experience the spontaneity and playful nature of tracks like ‘Si no me quieres esperar’ (with Cuban maestro Ale Gutiérrez on vocals) infused with funky Latin and Brazilian rhythms, as well as sparkling, alien disco dub in the form of ‘Space Lines’. There’s no-holds, hands-in-the-air, fluid disco club grooves on ‘What It Takes’ and driving, riotous, soul-jazz grooves on ‘Being Seen’. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the band change it up and stretch out with beautiful jazz-funk instrumentals like ‘At The Queensboro’ or lush sonic gem ‘On That Strange’, a track that feels like a long, blissful afternoon fading into evening, with things left unspoken in the air and mystery in its kinky grooves.

The Jade’s sound is post-pout, studs up, raw soul, free from modern dancefloor tyranny. It’s intimate disco, dead-selfie freedom, Afro-Latin jazz-dance and Iberian funk all rolled into one, rooted in emotion and shot through with a healthy dose of funky bad ass groovism. Genres that blend and bleed into each other following one simple idea: songs and the expressive power of live instrumentation.

Comin’ atcha from behind the Iberian Curtain (Madrid!) and spearheading the resistance, you’ll find Chavi Ontoria on keys and David Salvador on bass, forming the rhythmic foundation. They’re joined by the rousing horns of Josué García and Dani Herrera, and the vibrant voices of Deborah Ayo and Nia Martin. All the way from Montevideo, guitarist Nico Ibarburu weaves his spell-binding grooves, while top-notch artists such as Josh Hoyer, Angela Gooding, Ale Gutiérrez, jazz trumpet player Malcolm Strachan and others broaden and enrich the project’s emotional and musical range.

Tracklist:
1. Let the Light In
2. Change!
3. On That Strange
4. Space Lines
5. Promises of Tomorrow (Reprise)
6. At the Queensboro
7. Nos Vamos a Encontrar (Interlude)
8. When Love Left
9. Being Seen
10. Si No Me Quieres Esperar
11. What It Takes
12. Need to Get Back

Calibre & Chelou - Doing It For You / No Man Is An Island

These new collaborations follow the mesmerising ‘Dissolve In the Rain’ in 2022 where Calibre leaned into the blues of Chelou.

Belfast-born Dominick Martin has spent the last 30 years creating. With over 100 Singles and 25 albums, encompassing a myriad of tempos and genres. Painter, Multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer, producer and DJ.

Chelou is the moniker of London-based artist Adam Gray, a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his psychedelic blend of folk, blues, and indie electronics. Raised in Camden and influenced by a musically rich environment, Chelou developed a reverb-soaked, dreamlike sound that combines minimal vocals, distorted guitar, ambient textures, and offbeat lyricism.

Known for maintaining creative control and a low profile, he has collaborated with artists like Maya Jane Coles, Amp Fiddler & Kidnap while continuing to self-release music.

With introspective lyrics and a commitment to atmosphere, Chelou remains a singular voice in alternative music.

Tracklist:
1. Doing It For You
2. No Man Is An Island