Menagerie - The Shores of Infinity

Australian 9-piece Spiritual Jazz group Menagerie announce their highly anticipated fourth album 'The Shores Of Infinity' - representing the 3rd LP to be released by Freestyle Records from the Melbourne-based Jazz ensemble, founded by producer, songwriter, guitarist, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Lanu, Rare Groove Spectrum, Machines Always Win).

Menagerie released their debut album They Shall Inherit in 2012 via Tru Thoughts, before releasing The Arrow Of Time on Freestyle in 2018 followed by the critically acclaimed 'Many Worlds in 2021. Inspired by both the post-Coltrane generation of the 70's and the current "New Wave Of Jazz", Menagerie have made serious waves internationally, being championed on Worldwide FM, Jazz FM and Jazzwise. They were nominated in the Best Jazz Act category of the 2021 Music Victoria Awards, and in 2022 performed as part of the esteemed Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Now, two years on from their last full length album, Menagerie are back with The Shores Of Infinity, further expanding their sound out into the music universe - a forward-looking, rhythm-heavy expression of contemporary Jazz that is steeped in the tradition but somehow also defies genre pigeonholing.

"So well - and lovingly - executed that it's ultimately impossible to ignore.." Jazzwise

"There is an overarching sense of profound amazement throughout it all…" Blues & Soul

"A stunning work, full of integrity and class… Essential." Echoes

"Wonderful record, full of some great Kamasi/Donald Byrd/even Art Blakey moments!" The Guardian

Tracklist:
1. The Shores of Infinity
2. Kingdom
3. Earthrise
4. Arrival
5. Of
6. Danieda's Dance

Ambiance II Fusion - Come Touch Tomorrow

Freestyle Records are proud to reissue Ambiance II Fusion's mid-80s fusion rarity "Come Touch Tomorrow" - originally recorded in Hollywood CA October/November 1984 and released in 1985.

Following a yearly run of 4 albums self-released between 1979 and 1982, Nigerian-born saxophonist, flutist, and clarinettist Daoud Abubakar Balewa then took a few years off before returning with 1985's "Come Touch Tomorrow", the first of two albums issued under the updated name of Ambiance II Fusion. Combining the afro-spiritual jazz & be-bop inflected fusion of his earlier work as Ambiance, this record took the project into more modern & distinctly cosmic planes with the introduction of spacey pads and drum machines working alongside somewhat tighter arrangements and solid rhythm sections. Of particular note here is the B1 track "Boy What a Joy" on which a sublimely funky synth & drum machine throwdown is presented in prophetically lo-fi fashion - recalling recent stylistic approaches from the likes of Dâm-Funk among others.

Tracklist:
1. I Dream Too Much
2. Come Touch Tomorrow
3. Don't You Ever Take Your Love
4. Samba Para Mi
5. Boy What a Joy
6. The Camouflage
7. Naima

The Shaolin Afronauts - The Fundamental Nature of Being

The mysterious afro-­soul of The Shaolin Afronauts first echoed across the dance floors of Australia in early 2008, captivating audiences with a highly evolved and unique approach to avant-garde soul music matched with an improvisational pedigree that immediately setthem apart from their peers. In the almost fifteen years since the ensemble's debut they have released three albums on Freestyle Records and toured across Australia and around the world.

After an extended hiatus punctuated by rare live performances, The Shaolin Afronauts return with The Fundamental Nature of Being, an epic five album release that expands the sonic vision of the ensemble to towering new heights of burning afro-funk alongside esoteric and ethereal new sonic excursions. This expanded musical journey further explores the wide spectrum of the band's musical identity – with each of the five parts designed as both standalone records, while also offering a singular listening journey across the band's expansive musical world.

The 5-part project was recorded over just five days, drawing upon the band's rich influence of 1970s West and South African music, jazz, psych-rock & soul, while also exploring the transatlantic sonic intersection between the 1960s electronic avant-garde & spiritual jazz. Free and partially directed improvisation is employed as a central component of the compositions, with the musical works acting as frameworks for the collective musical enterprise that has developed over the ensemble's near fifteen years together.

The vast project is available as a strictly limited 5 LP box-set, with a deluxe booklet of extended liner notes, due for release September 16th 2022. Each individual album also being made available for singular purchase, and on CD & digital formats, over the month following.

The Fundamental Nature of Being firmly re-establishes Shaolin Afronauts as one of the most interesting and innovative collectives of creative improvising musicians operating in the world today.

Part One:
1. Broken Flowers
2. Abyssinian Suite, Pt. 4
3. Dust
4. Valley of the Crucible
5. Shakedown
6. Way of the Long Death
7. Rumba Cyclique
8. Sands of Time

Part Two:
1. The Simien Fox
2. High Noises
3. Bebe & Lorraine
4. Inside The Flame Burns Brightly Still
5. Salt Flat Muscle
6. Recollection
7. Sugar John
8. Hall Of Bright Carvings

Part Three:
1. Morning Song
2. Sun Spiral
3. Inner Working Outer Being, Pt. 1
4. Inner Working Outer Being, Pt. 2
5. Inner Working Outer Being, Pt. 3

Part Four:
1. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 1
2. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 2
3. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 3
4. The Fundamental Nature Of Being, Pt. 4

Part Five:
1. Reflections 1
2. Reflections 2
3. Reflections 3
4. Reflections 4

Deep Street Soul – Come Alive!

Deep Street Soul, since signing to Freestyle Records in 2008, have earned a reputation as being right at the grittiest end of the hard funk scene. From their debut self titled instrumental long player to the 2011 follow up ‘Look Out, Watch Out’ (spotlighting the addition of vocalist Mighty May Johnston) earned the group accolades from everyone who heard their music, and the audiences who saw them in concert during two spectacular live tours of Europe – the crowning moment being their appearance at 2013’s Saint Paul Soul Jazz Festival in France – which brought home to everyone just how confidently the band had moved up to the next level.

2016 sees them return with this quite spectacular new collection. Whilst the diamond hard, driving grooves remain undiminished, the albums opening track Out Of The Gates should banish any thoughts that this incredible collective could ever slow up or go soft! There is also no doubt that the bands song writing has developed to an equally assured level. Case in point is Souls Come Alive – from Monique Boggia’s Wurlitzer electric piano intro, the blistering horns and May Johnson’s simply exemplary singing – the songs’ instant appeal will be lost on no one with an ear for genuine organic soul music.

Joshua Tavares, from Melbourne, adds further weight to the idea that Australia is the current hyper fertile nursery for 21st century soul talent. The Hardest Part Is Knowing is a dynamic & sultry ballad that encapsulates precisely what is required when delivering an authentic song of heartbreak just like the way it used to be done.

Guesting on the amazingly catchy Love On Tap is another renowned Australian songbird Kylie Auldist, who as well as being a successful solo artist in her own right, supplies her gilt edged voice to both Cookin’ On 3 Burners & The Bamboos. Two special mentions must also be made; firstly to the Deep Street Soul rhythm section – Warren ‘Waz’ Hunter’s bass lines are always the perfect partner to Agostino Soldati’s tighter than Lycra drumming – between them, these two don’t let the pressure drop for a second! And secondly to the new boys – whilst being in the band for 4 years are only just getting their first taste of the action. The ultra catchy horn hooks of Dorian Broomhall & Will Cassell along with the in-the-funk-pocket guitar playing of Mitch Power have done so much to round out the bands sound to what you are now about to aurally enjoy.

Come Alive is Deep Street Souls finest work – no if’s, but’s or maybe’s. It’s a done deal.

Tracklist:
1. Out Of The Gates
2. Done Me Wrong
3. Sweet Sugar Man
4. Soul's Come Alive
5. Messin With Me
6. The Hardest Part Is Knowing (feat. Joshua Tavares)
7. Love On Tap (feat. Kylie Auldist)
8. Little Ray
9. Big C
10. Deux Freres





Deep Street Soul: Official | Twitter | YouTube 
Freestyle Records: Facebook | Official | SoundCloud | Twitter | YouTube