New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-up - 7th July, 2023
Having emerged from a background in moody avant-pop, producer extraordinaire Kirby returns with a film score under his belt to Stones Throw for the release of his eighth solo album. Inspired by a trip to Costa Rica for the production of his own online travelogue series, Blowout is a beguiling slice of exotica, evoking the likes of Brazilian jazz-funk legends Azymuth with synth hooks galore that simply drip with melodic goodness. Kirby’s panache leaves little room for doubt as to the reason for his high demand across the left-field world of contemporary popular music.
Available Format: CD
Signalling a new chapter in the legendary Canterbury-rockers’ tale, this release marks the group’s first outing since reforming under the original Soft Machine moniker back in 2015. Their sound better entrenched these days within the heavier jazz-fusion camp than in the psych/prog one, Other Doors highlights the ways in which the Softs manage to keep a hold on their artistic lucidity yet all the while remaining full of surprises as ever. Offering brand new material as well as revisiting a track or two from their seventies heyday, the record also comes as a poignant farewell to the legendary drummer John Marshall, whose constant ability to steer the group through more lineup-changes than you or I have had hot dinners is enough to have earned him a worthy retirement.
Available Format: CD
Bassist Archer heads this trio in a dazzling array of inspired miniatures for his debut album as bandleader, delving into a silver career that has seen him perform alongside the likes of Norah Jones, Robert Glasper and John Scofield, to name but three. It was while serving under the last of these jazz greats that this group bonded before now setting out on their dynamic journey of acoustic fraternity. Musical roles are shared throughout, yet this release primarily serves as an exercise in communication and restraint, two skills both exquisitely handled by the ensemble with an overall grace and charm.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Already having received praise in their native Denmark since meeting a decade ago, the pairing of keyboardist Nikolaj Svaneborg and drummer Jonas Kardyb signifies a strong Scandi rebuttal to the home-grown talents of GoGo Penguin, Mammal Hands and Portico Quartet with this, their debut release for Gondwana (and third album in total). Refreshingly honest and thoughtful, the group are already experts in providing ample room for whatever sonic delights either of them may suggest. We were lucky enough to catch them at Love Supreme last weekend and are thrilled to report that you should expect great things from this promising young duo.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Barney Whittaker
