Crucial Material – July 27th, 2020

Too much incredible music and way too little time!

That’s what our weekly record rundown is all about. We comb through the hundreds of new EP’s and Albums every week and share nothing but the crucial releases. In our humble opinion of course!

As always we hope you make some nice discoveries and feel free to encourage these artists/labels if you do! Enjoy and have a great week.

JAZZ

Kamaal Williams — Wu Hen

London-based keyboardist and producer Kamaal Williams, aka Henry Wu, returns with another brilliant album off of his Black Focus label, fusing together jazz-funk and broken beat grooves, with spacey cinematic atmospheric tones and soulful horn melodies that all seem to have a very London-rooted vibe and sound.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Otis Sandsjö – Y​-​OTIS

Forward-looking and experimental “liquid jazz” from Berlin-based Swedish saxophonist Otis Sandsjö on Helsinki’s consistently ahead-of-the-curve We Jazz Records. A good example of how groove and melody can share a page with out-there, experimental jazz.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Laraaji – Sun Piano

New age meets jazz & ambient legend Laraaji, returns with a brand new album of solo piano pieces, recorded in a Brooklyn Church. The effect is almost spiritual. Listening to these beautiful pieces you may feel an unconscious burden being lifted. Perfect for an hour of gentle reflection.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

SOUL – FUNK

Koolade – The Hop

Montréal label Voyage Funktastique is proud to present their first full-length offering, by way of Koolade’s “The Hop,” a 7-track project that takes an eclectic approach to dance music. Soulful chords, gospel-like progressions, and thumpy bass lines are held together over 4×4 beats.
– Selected by Walla P

Psycho’n’Odds – Radiated Universe

Been a huge fan of La Base, Switzerland finest Boom-Bap Hip-Hop Duo (Buds Penseur & T-Sow), and Buds’ newest project with  Nativ definitely demonstrates that they are the King of Europe. German & French rap, produced by Tru Comers.
– Selected by Walla P

EXPERIMENTAL – LEFTFIELD

Veslemes – I Know Where You Live Vangelis!

Four tracks of haunting but grooving, Vangelis-inspired techno from multi-disciplinary artist Veslemes, backed with five remixes, including a mesmerising “anti-disco” rework from Spook-J,  that push the experimental nature of the release out even further. Released by London-based record label Byrd Out, digitally and on a highly limited black cassette.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Roberto Carlos Lange – Kite Symphony, Four Variations

Roberto Carlos Lange (better known as Helado Negro) has produced a beautiful collection of sound works with the assistance of Rob Mazurek, on Piccolo Trumpet, Electronics, and Jeanann Dara on viola, based on graphic scores created in collaboration with visual artist Kristi Sword. A fascinating project and a worthy recording to immerse yourself in. 
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

BEATS

Kara – Colors

Another winner from the Leaving Records camp who introduce Kara, the brainchild of Californian musician Devin Daniels. In keeping with the beat tape tradition it does have that bedroom production feel but really showcases some great musicianship as well. Get this one on cassette for sure!
– Selected by Lexis

Cookin Soul – Carribean Bites

I’m a big fan of anything Valencia-based Cookin Soul exports from his MPC. Apparently the inspiration behind this one is that he went on a vacation in the Caribbean and brought along said MPC. Hope he didn’t get any sand in there.
– Selected by Lexis

CLUB-ISMS

Anunaku & DJ Plead – 032

Forward-thinking cutting edge dance-floor music from Anunaku & DJ Plead, two of the leading producers in the hard bass / UK Funky / global-minded rave music who co. Super Frais!
– Selected by Lexis

Jessy Lanza – All the time

The uber-talented Jessy Lanza returns for her third full length album on Hyperdub which has really proved to be a great artist-label match. Speaking of good matches; the production of the album is once again led by Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys fame. Great summer road trip record.
– Selected by Lexis

Hanna – All The Love

Hanna has been enjoying a bit of a revival these past few years with a lot of younger deep house heads discovering his work which since the early releases in the late 90’s has been bringing nothing but heat. This EP is no different! Check the last track for a sweet revision of the ‘you know that deep house classic with the strings!?’
– Selected by Lexis

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