Band on the Wall’s latest 7” release is from producer, musician and DJ, Contours. Known for applying his own percussive dexterity, his sound is placed within the intersection of House, Jazz, Broken-Beat and percussive experimentation.
Double A-side ‘The Programme / Conga Quinto (Dub)’ proves Contours is an artist continually capable of blending the electronic and organic into a sound that re-invents and surprises. The Programme is a woozy mix of sunset synths, squelchy bass, crisp propulsive hi-hats and snare-led rhythms. The sound has a depth you can sink into, yet the skittering beats add levity and a club-leaning energy to the track.
This release is the latest in an ongoing sonic evolution for Contours, having released music on labels such as Tru-Thoughts, Rhythm Section and Anma Records. His music has received praise from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Mr Scruff, Alex Nut, Bradley Zero and others. In 2018 he joined up with Banana Hill party founder, DJ and producer Cervo to head to Uganda. They worked with percussion troupe Fonkodelis Arkestra out of the Nyege Nyege-affiliated Boutiq Studio on the boundary traversing 12” Kawuku Sound. Last year in lockdown he worked with instrument builder and artist Seth Sutton out of their Manchester and Cumbria homes to put together Balafon Sketches. This release retained Burford’s love of organic percussive instrumentation but channelled it through a minimalist and contemporary classical sound world.
The Programme / Conga Quinto (Dub) are part of ‘The Singles Club’ 7” releases from Manchester jazz institution Band on the Wall and their new label Band on the Wall Recordings. Based out of the iconic music venue, charity and cultural hub, the label has already released future neo-soul 7” Forgive You and is set to follow this up with material from the likes of Lovescene and Secret Night Gang, among others, building on a successful compilation released year to raise funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Contours music speaks to the heart of this project and Band on the Wall as a whole in its mission to explore the world through an openness to diverse sonic and cultural influences, whilst celebrating the talent that exists within its home city.
