Crucial Material – February 15th, 2021

Another bumper edition of Crucial Material with some killer releases across the board.

Here are our favorite EP’s, Albums and Reissues of the past week. As always we encourage you to buy digital or physical releases if you discover a release you love. Support artists and labels!

JAZZ

Roots —s/t

Frederiksberg Records has reissued the highly-obscure 1975 self-titled debut by the South African jazz ensemble Roots, led by acclaimed Johannesburg saxophonist Barney Rachabane. 
— Selected by TJ Gorton

V/A — Indaba Is

Brownswood explores the incredibly diverse & fruitful South African jazz scene. Featuring pianist/vocalist Thandi Ntuli, The Brothers Move On, The Ancestors, Bokani Dyer and more besides.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

MAST — Battle Hymns of the Republic

Politically-charged jazz, strings, samples, spoken word and electronics, by LA-based guitarist/composer/producer, Tim Conley. Featuring vocalists Dwight Trible & Jimetta Rose, and Comets drummer Betamax.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

HIP-HOP

slowthai — TYRON

Love him or hate him, you can’t dispute the energy, skill and brashness UK rap troublemker slowthai brings to every track. A two part record that manages to hit two different vibes in 35 mins. Great record.
— Selected by Lexis

Planet Giza — Don’t Throw Rocks at the Moon

Smooth raps and flowing melodies are propelled into a lush production landscape by the wildly talented trio Planet Giza. Expect forward thinking sounds with a throwback kick.
— Selected by ASMA

Khrysis — Khrysis On The Boards V.2

The North Carolina producer is back with some serious boom-bap/neck crackin’ instrumentals. 
— Selected by Walla P

SOUL

Bobby Oroza — I Got Love b​/​w Loving Body

A slow burning 45 release by Bobby Oroza whose airy vocals are backed by a sublime band that makes time sit still. Big Crown Records continue their onslaught of soulful excellence.  
— Selected by ASMA

FUNK 

Saucy Lady — Delirious

Another sure-shot from Star Creature’s Saucy Lady, 6 beautiful boogie/disco tracks, including a stellar rendition of Minnie Ripperton’s ‘Inside My Love”.
— Selected by Walla P

First Touch — You Got It Baby/Crampjuice

The prolific German duo are back with a new 7′ release, following up their last EP “Sofea” which included a remix by Dj Spinna. “You Got It Baby” is available for the 1st time on vinyl.
— Selected by Walla P

ELECTRONIC

Duke Hugh — Common Ground EP

London label Dance Regular recruited Duke Hugh to deliver a magnificent EP, all killers no fillers. 
— Selected by Walla P

Cody Currie — Moves EP

Broken beat vibes with that early 2000’s nu jazz twist, Cody’s back with another stellar EP on Toy Tonics. Fans of Dego and early Henry Wu will love this one!
— Selected by Spacewalker

3 Chairs — 3 Chairs Collection (1997​-​2013)

4 Masters, 3 Chairs. An unmissable 35-track compilation chronicling the 20+ year collaborative project from Detroit legends Kenny Dixon Jr, Theo Parrish, Marcellus Pittman and Rick Wilhite. Deeper than deep.
— Selected by Lexis

ELLLL — Housebreaker

These gargantuan cinematic postmodern junglisms will swallow you whole.
— Selected by dileta

Herron — Lowflow

Warped warehouse crushers echoing distorted memories of DnB, dubstep and hardcore.
— Selected by dileta

Carpainter — Yamanote Disko Klub

The king of contemporary cyberfunky rave music is back with 6 tough hardgroove firestarters, easily the most fun release of the year yet!
— Selected by dileta

Calibre & DRS V Mark Ernestus — Bad / Badder

Belfast’s Calibre steps in with two sublime version excursions of dub / techno legend Mark Ernestus’ “Bad”. Pays homage to the Basic Channel / Rhythm & Sound while keeping the signature moving forward. 
— Selected by Lexis

GLOBAL

Alostmen — Kologo

Addictive, highly danceable music from Ghana. Alostmen introduce the traditional kologo, a homemade one-string lute, with modern production and influences, rap, reggae, Malian music, etc. 
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

Femi Kuti & Made Kuti — Legacy +

Son and grandson of Fela, synchronise their 11th and debut releases. Femi is more urgent than ever, whilst Made exhibits a fresh take on the family legacy. 
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

RDL — Streets

INCredible bashment 7’ out now on Bristol’s heavy hitting (everytime) Bokeh Versions imprint. Vocal from Jamaica’s RDL is as serious as the riddim from Mexico’s Smurphy. You need this on wax.
— Selected by Lexis

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We also invite you to check out our main five playlists where you’ll find our current favorites across Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.