Crucial Material – February 23rd, 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!
Jump to Music Genres
JAZZ
Archie Shepp & Jason Moran — Let My People Go
Legendary saxophonist, sometimes vocalist, Shepp, and pianist Moran, exhibit chemistry, love & pride. With stellar versions of “Motherless Child” and Trane’s “Wise One”. Brilliant.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
Antonio Neves — A Pegada Agora É Essa (The Sway Now)
Vibrant new jazz from Rio-based drummer/trombonist Neves, incorporating African-Brazilian rhythms, MPB, rock and even a Gershwin standard, with some of Brazil’s most promising musicians.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
The Sultan’s Swing — Matter of Urgency
Even more immediate than their last LP. Deep, melodious, grooving & cosmic jazz, à la Lonnie Liston Smith, with nods to Soft Machine and Ravi Shankar.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
SOUL
Puma Blue — In Praise of Shadows
This record is turning heads of all the soulful selectors in London and beyond. Gilles Peterson is loving it and Lexis played it on his last show too! Brilliant UK Soul x Jazz record
— Selected by Lexis
Swave Villi Us — Independent Soul 1971-84
The newest reissue project from the immaculate Backatcha Records catalogue is an amazing foray into Independant American Soul inna 70s / early 80s. Just when you think the wells have dried up, more soulful holy grails surface
— Selected by Lexis
ELECTRONIC
Om Unit — Acid Dub Studies
Jim Coles bends dub, acid & a touch of ambient into compelling analogue shapes that few others have achieved with this attention to detail.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
deoxyt — deoxyt ep
High velocity cyber techno surrounded with a dreamlike haze, by Sard and Dretraxx from Detroit
— Selected by dileta
Wheelman — Reaching For A Higher Place
Four absolute old school techno/house heaters with dub and minimal wave elements and a modern twist in the high precision complex grooves
— Selected by dileta
Despina — Data Soft
Top tier hyperreal syncopated staccato bass music zappers
— Selected by dileta
Javonntte — Abstract Love / Star Talk
Detroit House at its finest. Big love for anything Javonntte releases and this one is no different. House music of the highest order released by great bar/record label Motor City Wine Bar.
— Selected by Lexis
Norm Talley — Tracks From The Asylum
The Don of Detroit Beatdown launches his new Upstairs Asylum imprint with the reissue of one of his finest EP’s ever. Hypnotic
— Selected by Lexis
Afro Bruk Band — S/T
Brilliant fusion of Brazilian and broken beat from Ruben Estevez, who is clearly versed in both. Adding a touch of jazz, house and flamenco guitar.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
GLOBAL
Nahawa Doumbia — Kanawa
Nahawa’s powerful voice is backed by traditional Malian instrumentation alongside acoustic & electric guitars, addressing the immigration crisis from a local perspective. Utterly compelling
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
Venezonix — La Que Es
A wonderful debut EP fusing traditional Afro-Venezuelan rhythms with electronics, featuring a beautiful collaboration with Betsayda Machado
— Selected by Miguel Colmenares
CUBA: Music & Revolution Culture Clash in Havana Experiments In Latin Music 1975-85 Vol 1 (Compiled by Gilles Peterson & Stuart Baker)
Absolute Cubano fire, compiled by Gilles Peterson & Stuart Baker. Out now on Soul Jazz, this is up there with their classic ‘Nu Yorica’ comps.
— Selected by Justin Ex-Friendly
LEFTFIELD & EXPERIMENTAL
Obay Alsharani — Sandbox
Soothing ambient sounds from Syrian-migrant, Alsharani, now Sweden based. Lo-fi orchestral samples unfold into gentle melodies, inspired by his new surroundings & C418’s Minecraft soundtrack
— Selected by Oli Brunetti
Pauline Anna Strom — Angel Tears in Sunlight
The sadly departed new age composer’s first new album in over thirty years. Mind-Expanding. Rest in piece Pauline.
— Selected by Lexis
We also invite you to check out our main five playlists where you’ll find our current favorites across Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
