Crucial Material – January 19th, 2021

We’re back on track with our weekly record rundown. Starting 2021 in fine style!

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

Various — Spiritual Jazz 13: Now! Vol 1 & 2

For over a decade, London’s Jazzman Records’ incredible Spiritual Jazz compilation series has been shedding light on some of most essential deep jazz tracks of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, highlighting different regions and labels. Now with the 13th release, the focus now shifts to the brilliant modern-day spiritual gems of today, featuring music by artists like Makaya McCraven, Shabaka & The Ancestors, Jimi Tenor, Chip Wickham, Nat Birchall, Vibration Black Finger, Angel Bat Dawid and others, as well as modern classics from legends Steve Reid and Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids. — Selected by TJ Gorton

Menagerie — Many Worlds

Vibrant new LP from the brilliant Australian ensemble led by The Bamboos’ Lance Ferguson. Leaning heavily into the post-Coltrane jazz “spiritual jazz” sound exemplified by Strata East, Tribe, etc. Full of crackers, this whole album swings, from the hard bopping “Mountain Song”, to the Last Poets style spoken word of “Free Thing”. — Selected by Oli Brunetti

Apifera — Overstand

Fantastic debut LP from a super-group of sorts, Yonatan Albalak, Amir Bresler, Rejoicer & Nitai Hershkovits. Together they weave disparate influences from jazz & psych, to hip hop, electronics, the folk music of their native Isreal, Ravel & Satie, and more besides, into dreamy, beautiful music that defies classification.  Essential listening. — Selected by Oli Brunetti

ELECTRONIC

Kode9 — The Jackpot / Rona City Blues

The king is back with his first new original productions in years, and also his most twisted and detailed material ever. Side A is heavy and dissonant DnB and drill infused footwork recalling boss levels in scary platform games, and Side B is slapping cyber juke with IDM leanings. — Selected by dileta

Black Girl / White Girl — Fire Power

Another absolute slapper from my favourite duo in the game! This one is a festival tune that grooves ferociously at a medium tempo with shiny bleeps and gigantic processed soulful vocals. — Selected by dileta

Mike Steva — Earth Mother

Mike Steva’s LP is out under Osunlade’s label ‘Yoruba Records’. The australian is dropping a solid 12 tracks album. A blend of electronic-tribal-latin & soulful music that is already in rotation on Djs and radios playlists. — Selected by Akpossoul

Sabine Blaizin & Okai Musik feat. Mia Luxana, Jean Mary Brignol — Tonight We Fly (Aswe a Na Vole)

Brooklyn based Dj/producer Sabine Baizin & percussionist Okai Musik released their new song on Oyasound. An Afro-caribbean inspired track mixed with the electronic touch. Features Mia Luxana’s vocal interpretation of a traditional Haitian song and drummer/singer Jean Mary Brignol. The song means “…to be proud of the little that you have…” — Selected by Akpossoul

FUNK & SOUL

Stimulator Jones — La Mano

Following up the magnificent “Exotic Worlds & Masterful Treasures” LP, Stimulator Jones delivers another stellar project with “La Mano”, on the ever-so-dope Norwegian label Mutual Intentions. The album ranges from Funk, Soul, Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B, and is a definite must have.  — Selected by Walla P

Morgan — Enchanting / You’re Gonna Love Me  

Another sure-shot from Avant Garde Records, this time with B.Morgan, who rose to prominence in the 80’s, with his song “Wanna Love Ya”, and Nickee B on production. Both songs were originally written for Kashif’s 1985 album “Condition Of The Heart”, including a duet with Whitney Houston, but weren’t finished in time to be included on the LP. — Selected by Walla P

K-Maxx — Selections 

Long awaited new project from K-Maxx aka The Golden Voice of Modern Funk. All produced, written and performed by the Man himself, the EP ranges from Modern Funk, to Soul and R&B. — Selected by Walla P

HIP-HOP

R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira — R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel

R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira, fka milo, is on a roll. Following last year’s landmark ‘Purple Moonlight Pages’, Ferreira welcomed the new year with the meditative “bob’s son”, dedicated to performance artist and beat poet Bob Kaufman. Simultaneously accessible, yet avant-garde. Hazy, jazz-leaning, sample-heavy beats from Ferreira himself under his scallops hotel alias. A must listen for all fans of out-the-box hip hop.  — Selected by Oli Brunetti

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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.