Crucial Material – Best Releases of the Week (September 29th, 2018)

No time to rest, the new releases keep coming in! Whoever said “they don’t make em like they used to” should stop complaining about the state of music, stop looking backwards and realize: there is a shit ton of amazing music being put out every single week!

As always, you can trust us to distill the hundred of weekly new releases and boil it down to the best. So here you go, another serving of Crucial Material. Open your ears, your heart and maybe your wallet!

NEW ALBUMS & EPs

Fatima “And Yet It’s All Love”

Genre: Soul / R&B
Label: Eglo Records
Purchase Link

It’s been four years since Swedish-born / London-based Fatima’s debut “Yellow Memories” now considered a certified modern classic by worldwide soulful heads. She’s back on Eglo Records and has enlisted a fantastic array of producers including MNDSGN, J.D Reid, Purist, Taz Arnold, Swarvy and regular collaborator, Natureboy Flako.
– Selected by Lexis

Tony Allen & Jeff Mills “Tomorrow Comes The Harvest”

Genres: Electronic / Afrobeat / Broken Beat
Label: Blue Note
Purchase Link

Detroit Techno meets Afrobeat as drummer and longtime Fela Kuti collaborator Tony Allen teams up with legendary DJ/producer Jeff Mills on this great new 10” EP featuring four wildly cosmic tracks that blend African rhythms, swelling modular keys, and plenty of electric drum beats.
– Selected by TJ Gorton (Beat Caffeine)

Moses Boyd “Displaced Diaspora”

Label: Exodus
Purchase Link

London drummer Moses Boyd perfectly captures the diasporic melting pot of his hometown. Jazz is the vehicle for influences ancient to future, from African chants to drum machines, afrobeat & hip hop.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti (Colectivo Futuro)

Medline “Solstice”

Genres: Funk/ Library/ Breaks
Label: My Bags
Purchase Link

French multi-instrumentalist, and producer Medline’s new ‘Solstice’ record features brand new renditions of legendary original soundtrack, library, and jazz funk music. This album includes covers from some of the most rare and sought-after records including tracks from Alain Goraguer’s holy grail ‘La Planète Sauvage’ soundtrack, Lee Mason & His Orchestra’s “Shady Blue,” René Costy’s “Scrabble,” and more!
– Selected by TJ Gorton (Beat Caffeine)

79.5 “Predictions”

Genre: Soul
Label: Big Crown Records
Purchase Link

Makings its bones on detailing AM Radio Gold stylistic cues, the six-member New York City band called 79.5 offer up straightaway on their debut release Predictions, that this, in fact, IS a record made by people who adore records.
– Selected by Channel Subtext

Mansur Brown “Shiroi”

Genre: Jazz
Label: Black Focus
Purchase Link

“It’s not often we mention Jimi Hendrix and Trap music in the same sentence. Or Brixton and George Benson. In this case Mansur Brown embodies all of these. An integral part of the groundbreaking Yussef Kamaal album, he now releases his debut album on Black Focus Records. As Thundercat claims the Bass Guitar, Robert Glasper the keys, the 21 year old prodigy from south east London claims the Guitar.”

Tim Hecker “Konoyo”

Genres: Experimental / Modern Classical
Label: Kranky
Purchase Link

Leaning a little more towards the digital side of sound this time around, Mr. Hecker delivers his signature style of pensive collages in science fiction fashion. Will forever support this man.
-Selected by Mike Jones

Shigeto “Weighted EP”

Genre: Electronic
Label: Ghostly
Purchase Link

“One year after Michigan-based artist Zach Saginaw released his third album as Shigeto, a genre-blending Detroit love letter called The New Monday, he returns with another eclectic display of affection for the musical community that makes Motor City music tick. The four new tracks on his Weighted EP, including a sumptuous remix from Detroit house luminary Andrés, continue to refine and augment the patchwork of jazz, hip-hop, and electronics that Shigeto has built his catalog with.”

Illingsworth “You’re No Fun”

Genre: Beats / Hip-Hop
Label: Mello Music Group
Purchase Link

“Innovative Detroit producer Illingsworth makes his Mello Music Group debut with the new album You’re No Fun. Mostly instrumental, the album finds clever ways to be new and exciting. The instrumentals range from contemplative to effervescent, creating a direct connection to the artist. Featuring Open Mike Eagle, Denmark Vessey and Illingsworth himself rapping, the album moves naturally in and out of lush instrumentals and alternative musicianship.”

Moontribe “Moontribe”

Genre: Worldwide / Pysch / Free
Label: Fortuna
Purchase Link

“Fortuna Records return with a mysterious album by the anonymous artist known only as Moontribe. A deep-space journey between tribal percussion, hypnotizing organs and long echo ripples, all joining in for a snake-charming voodoo ritual of which Moontribe is the Shaman. Expect African drums, hints of cumbia, and distant galaxy exploration in unmeasured doses. An absolute must-have For fans of Sun Ra, Moondog and Idris Ackamoor.”

Alaclair Ensemble “Le Sens Des Paroles”

Genre: Hip-Hop
Label: 7e Ciel
Purchase Link

Another absolutely incredible outing from Alaclair Ensemble aka the best rap group to ever come out of the province of Quebec (Canada). The title of kings of Quebec hip-hop is now unquestionable when considering the originality, skills and impressive body of work and countless side projects since the group’s formation in 2010.
– Selected by Lexis

REISSUES & ARCHIVAL RELEASES

Atmosfear “En Trance”

Genres: Jazz-Funk / Brit-Funk
Label: Mr. Bongo
Purchase Link

The Mr. Bongo label has just reissued Atmosfear’s 1981 Jazz-Funk album “En Trance”, a recording that was a pinnacle release during the height of the early eighties Brit-Funk scene. The album features the classic dancefloor gem ‘Dancing in Outer Space’, championed back in the day by Paradise Garage’s Larry Levan, The Loft’s David Mancuso, and many of the most notable British pirate radio stations.
– Selected by TJ Gorton (Beat Caffeine)

Takeo Moriyama “East Plants”

Genres: Jazz
Label: BBE
Purchase Link

As a part of BBE Music’s “J Jazz Masterclass series”, spawning from the brilliant “J Jazz” compilation that came out earlier in the year, the label has just released Takeo Moriyama’s 1983 album “East Plants”. This is the first time this rare Japanese Jazz album has been released on vinyl, which goes from raga-like Eastern influenced melodies to heavy rhythmic Hard-Bop and Spiritual Jazz grooves.
– Selected by TJ Gorton (Beat Caffeine)

BONUS MATERIAL: MIXES

Kode9 & Burial “FABRICLIVE 100”

Genres: Electronic / Experimental / Jungle / Bass / Footwork
Label: Fabric Worldwide
Purchase Link

Two behemoths “let the mecha-gimp out if its cage” with possibly the last (?) instalment of this legendary mix series. For the culture!
-Selected by Mike Jones