Crucial Material – October 19th, 2020

Hope you are doing well and that some of these records will make your day!

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 — Blue Note Re:imagined

On this incredible new compilation, many of the UK’s most groundbreaking jazz, soul, and R&B artists including Shabaka Hutchings, Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Steam Down, Yazmin Lacey, Jordan Rakei, Ishmael Ensemble, Blue Lab Beats, Alfa Mist, Skinny Pelembe, Emma-Jean Thackray, Jorja Smith and others completely re-work classic material from the Blue Note vaults.
— Selected by TJ Gorton

Kirk Lightsey and Rudolph Johnson with the All Stars — Habiba (Reissue)

Outernational Sounds has reissued ‘Habiba’, a holy grail jazz LP, coveted for the deep grooves of its 20 min long title track. Recorded and first (&  last) released in South Africa in 1974 on the hallowed Gallo imprint, by an exemplary cadre of African American musicians. Lightsey, Johnson & co took advantage of some downtime whilst touring with popular Vegas-based crooner Lovelace Watkins to record an LP deeply inspired by their time in Africa. ‘Spiritual’ jazz par excellence.
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

SOUL & FUNK

Toby Glider — Novelty

New LP on Japanese based label City Baby Records, by Toby Glider aka Liquid Pegasus. Beautiful Modern Funk, Future Funk and City Pop vibes, with an exquisite aesthetic all over the album.
— Selected by Walla P  

HOUSE / TECHNO / CLUBisms

Benny iLL — ‘Who, Me? / Acre Lane Skank’

Following on a perfect streak of modern UKG-derived records, GD4YA graces us with arguably two of the Horsepower Productions legend’s best cuts ever, in which he fuses old school techno and speed garage with a jazzy swing and an unmatched ferocious drive. 
— Selected by dileta

Kudatah — Vol. 3

Edmonton’s Text Chunk and Sven K have assembled a dazzling lineup of producers for this new compilation of cybernetic rave ammunition and virtual soundscapes: PML Beatz, Thugwidow, T5UMUT5UMU, Mathis Ruffing, Hood Joplin, Konx-Om-Pax, Skee Mask and many more. You’ve got an array of 22 impressively cohesive gems to choose from, spanning across nu skool breaks, electro, digital kuduro, futuristic jungle, breakbeat techno, and multiple atmospheric inner rooms in which you can hide to feel serene, tragic or fascinated
— Selected by dileta

Shamos — Music For Broken Adverts

— Selected by Lexis

more Crucial releases

• Lithe – Nos (d)
• Simo Cell & Abdullah Miniawy – Kill Me Or Negotiate (d)
• Bonebrokk – Howl (d)
• Code Walk – Aim (d)

RAP & BEATS

Benny the Butcher — Burden of Proof

Buffalo rapper Benny the Butcher teams up with super producer Hit-Boy for a very solid sophomore album. Although chock full of samples, the album is much less minimalist and grimey and far more soulful than the regular Griselda offering. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and Freddie Gibbs shine on the 80s inspired off kilter beats and Benny’s impeccable delivery makes the record a sure shot.
— Selected by ASMA

Es.Kay — Drive 

Es.Kay is a Montreal rap veteran who has reinvented his approach and esthetic. With impeccable production, sharp delivery and profound lyrics his short EP Drive packs a punch. Throwback references meld perfectly into a modern vibe, souped up by producer Rami B (Planet Giza) for a sound that is as well crafted as a high-end automobile.
— Selected by ASMA

 The Twilite Tone — The Clearing

Brilliant and refreshing new album from veteran behind-the-scenes hip hop producer, The Twilite Tone, for Stones Throw Records. Able to reach far beyond functional beats for MCs, Tone’s beats weave electronic funk, house music and soul samples through his highly personal style. Crucial. 
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

LEFTFIELD & EXPERIMENTAL & CLASSICAL

Bastien Keb — The Killing of Eugene Peeps

On this third album, his first for Gearbox, multi-instrumentalist Bastien Keb steps up from his woozy beat- orientated sound to an ambitious imaginary soundtrack. Keb weaves his ethereal vocals with smokey jazz & Mulatu-esque funk, with orchestration &  spoken word, written by Keb but narrated in an almost Tom Waits meets Buck 65 manner by Kenneth Viota. The mood breaks once, with the Vangelis-funk of “Paprika” featuring Notts MC, Cappo
— Selected by Oli Brunetti

Oliver Coates — Skins n Slime

— Selected by Lexis

Erik K Skodvin — Anbessa

— Selected by Lexis

OUTERNATIONAL 

Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos — Bichos

Led by Venezuelan bassist Raúl Monsalve, and featuring a superb cast of musicians from Venezuela, London, and Paris, including members of Insolito UniVerso, Family Atlantica, KOKOROKO, Waaju, and others have released a brilliant and adventurous new album fusing together futuristic Latin funk and jazz with Afro-Venezuelan rooted rhythms, Afrobeat grooves, cosmic synth melodies, spacey electronics, and soulful vocals. 
— Selected by TJ Gorton