Named after the road where he grew up, ‘POWERSCROFT’ marks a defining new chapter for an artist who has spent the past decade shaping the sound of UK dance music. Drawing from jungle, broken beat, grime, garage, soul and dub, the album channels the energy of the dancefloor while remaining deeply rooted in memory, instinct and identity. It captures what it feels like to be inside IZCO’s world, where thoughts, memories and influences collide.

Hailing from East London, IZCO is a producer and DJ spearheading a new generation that is bringing soul back to the dancefloor. Shaped by the rich musical heritage of his hometown, he has developed a sound that feels familiar yet forward-looking, diverse yet distinctly his own. That sound has taken him across the globe, from New York to Tokyo, alongside standout sets at We Out Here, Outlook and Glastonbury.

IZCO began his journey making grime beats for local rappers including Capo Lee, Novelist and Reek0, before becoming a key figure in the UK’s evolving garage and dance music landscape. In 2018, he launched his long-running Rinse FM show and released his debut EP 'Tek 5', earning early underground acclaim. His production credits include PinkPantheress’ breakout track ‘Passion’, created alongside Jkarri, as well as collaborations and remixes for artists such as Katy B and Greentea Peng.

Beyond his solo work, IZCO is a label head, promoter and co-founder of the Brighter Days Family, a collective built on community, craft and cooperation. With ‘POWERSCROFT’, he steps fully into the spotlight, presenting his most personal and fully realised body of work to date. “This album is about channeling my true musical personality and character,” he says. “I’m marking a new chapter by paying tribute to my foundations.”

RIYL: Brighter Days Family, Nia Archives, Kaytranada, Interplanetary Criminal, Bakey

TRACK LISTING

1. Bluebell
2. Japan Greatly (feat. Reek0 And S.I)
3. Turn Me On
4. Dinero (feat. P Wavey)
5. Down 4 (feat. Osquello)
6. Strike A Pose (feat. Camille Munn)
7. Longest Road (feat. PK)
8. Komodo
9. Somebody Jump (feat. Reek0)
10. Wonderluv
11. Tek Control (feat. Liam Bailey)
12. Guiding Star (feat. Reek0)

'KIZZY' is the breakthrough EP from rising East London artist Bel Cobain, one of the most distinctive new voices emerging from the UK alternative R&B and soul landscape. Written across 18 months of late-night ideas, scattered sessions, and quiet breakthroughs, the project captures an artist in motion. Following a string of singles that introduced her raw lyricism, 'KIZZY' marks a confident step forward with intimate, sharp, and melodically rich songs that sit in the space between endings and new beginnings.

Across these six tracks, Bel moves with striking emotional honesty through a rich palette that encompasses rock’s bite, jazz’s looseness, R&B warmth, hip hop rhythm, folk intimacy, and fractured breaks. She blends conversational storytelling with her distinct smoky vocals, reflecting on change, learning to let go, and finding light in the aftermath. The EP invites the listener to listen closely to the cracks, the softness, and the pulse of the beauty that still rises when a chapter turns.

Bel Cobain is fast becoming known for her ability to connect deeply with audiences, pairing classic songwriting instincts with a contemporary sonic edge. Early support has come from tastemaker radio and press, with momentum building across streaming platforms as listeners discover her unique perspective on vulnerability and self-awareness. Released as Brownswood Recordings celebrates its 20th year, 'KIZZY' continues the label’s tradition of championing the most singular artists.

TRACK LISTING

1. Hard To Leave
2. Change
3. Kills Me
4. Am I Dumb
5. Fucking City
6. Mind Is A Dancer

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2026 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 18TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM (BST) ON MONDAY APRIL 20th).

For Record Store Day 2026, Brownswood Recordings mark two decades of boundary-pushing independent music with Twenty Years Deep, a limited-edition 3xLP vinyl compilation celebrating the label’s rich, global catalogue and enduring influence.

Founded in 2006 by broadcaster, DJ, and cultural tastemaker Gilles Peterson, Brownswood has spent the last 20 years championing forward-thinking artists who sit just left of centre: rooted in Afro-diasporic music, but never confined by genre. Twenty Years Deep is a snapshot of that journey: a carefully curated collection spanning the label’s early breakthroughs, cult classics, and defining moments.

Pressed exclusively for Record Store Day on 3 piece coloured vinyl Twenty Years Deep brings together tracks that reflect Brownswood’s long-standing commitment to artistic freedom, musical lineage, and future-facing sounds. From deep jazz explorations and dancefloor mutations to global collaborations and genre-defying hybrids, the compilation captures the connective thread that has defined the label since day one: trust in artists and belief in music that lasts.

Rather than a greatest-hits exercise, Twenty Years Deep functions as an archive and a statement documenting how Brownswood has maintained its own point of view. By following a highly instinctive approach to A&R the label has shaped music culture, introduced new voices, and built a catalogue that continues to resonate well beyond release cycles.

Twenty Years Deep will be available exclusively at participating independent record stores on Record Store Day 2026, pressed as a limited-edition 3 piece vinyl release.

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2026 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 18TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM (BST) ON MONDAY APRIL 20th).

Following the success of their 2025 album Tuff Times Never Last and a headline show at O2 Academy Brixton, Kokoroko return with a raw, one-take session at Metropolis Studios.

The London-based afrobeat jazz septet delivers their signature grooves and wide-ranging influences—from 80s Brit-funk and R&B to West African disco—captured live straight to vinyl in their Jack Daniel’s Revive Live session.

This four-track EP features ‘Higher’ from Get The Message, highlights from their second album, and a never-before-released cover of ‘Express Your Love’, offering a raw, one-take glimpse into the band’s evolving artistry.

Kokoroko:
“Cutting live-to-vinyl is kind of like stamping time, you’re capturing this moment that’s not going to happen the same way again. We love vinyl, so it just felt right; doing it in the spirit of some of our favourite records. We’d never played some of these songs like this before, it felt like the perfect way to capture them. We also covered Sweet and Innocent’s ‘Express Your Love’ (such a gorgeous track) and it’s the first time recording Noushy on lead vocals with us. She sounds amazing, and we really wanted to give her that shine.”

ZENA, the contemporary ethio-jazz duo from London comprised of producer, keyboardist and synth player Yohan Kebede and bassist/producer Menelik. Their debut EP ‘TEMESGEN’; is a six-track aural odyssey that balances uncompromising experimentation with a deep sense of home, comfort, and exploration. In accordance with the duo’s mission, the project is seeking to redefine and reimagine Ethiopian music for a new generation.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the EP’s title, Yohan said: “‘TEMESGEN’ means “Thank God” in Amharic, and for me, I never heard my mother receive good news without saying it aloud. After the first couple gigs we did as ZENA, we saw how people reacted to our music and how it resonated with them. It spurred in us a feeling of overwhelming gratitude, after which the EP kind of named itself”.


Born out of a mutual love and respect for the music of their shared Ethiopian heritage, ZENA are charting a new endeavour where Ethiopian musical traditions meet the future. Building upon the roots and foundations laid by legendary Ethiopian musicians Haliu Mergia, Alemayehu Eshete and Mulatu Astatke, ZENA fuses the haunting spirituality and earthiness of the ethio-jazz tradition with a modernity, sensuality and sense of disruption that is distinctly London.


Following three sold-out London headline shows, plus appearances at We Out Here Festival and on NTS Radio, ZENA arrive on Brownswood Recordings with a bold debut that’s equally at home across jazz-minded selectors and leftfield crate-diggers. The duo’s momentum is fuelled by Yohan Kebede’s landmark year with Kokoroko; from the release of Tuff Times Never Last to an NPR Tiny Desk, a North American tour, and their biggest headline show yet at O2 Academy Brixton, alongside Menelik’s quietly formidable reputation in London’s inner circle, shaped by time on the road and in the studio with Muva Of Earth and Bill Laurance.

TRACK LISTING

1. ZENA!
2. MY LOVE YOUR LOVE
3. KAZANCHIS
4. IT'S YOU (ANTE NEH) [ft. Meron T]
5. LONG TIME NO SPEAK
6. TEMESGEN

London-based producer IZCO latest single, 'Guiding Star (feat. Reek0)', blends soulful nostalgia with the raw energy of the capital’s underground sound.

Drawing from influences that span UK dance music, hip hop, and soul, IZCO’s music captures both the energy of the dancefloor and the emotion of lived experience. Over the years, IZCO has become a key figure in London’s cross-genre underground scene, collaborating with artists like Reek0, Greentea Peng, Sam Wise, Liam Bailey, and Novelist, and performing at iconic venues and festivals across the UK and Europe.

His previous releases, including tracks like 'soulboy - IZCO Remix', 'Beauty Inside', and 'OBiNRin - IZCO Remix', showcase his knack for crafting warm, sample-rich productions that balance classic influences with a distinctly modern edge. Whether behind the decks or in the studio, IZCO continues to push boundaries, creating music that feels timeless, authentic, and deeply rooted in community.

'Guiding Star' is no different. It pairs warm, vintage soul textures with the sharp percussion and bass-driven pulse that have defined IZCO’s sound across his discography. Featuring long-time collaborator Reek0, the single bridges eras and styles; a homage to the past while firmly rooted in the energy of today’s London.

TRACK LISTING

1. Guiding Star (feat. Reek0)
2. Guiding Star [Instrumental]

Following the instant sell-out of 'MT. FUJI FM' (featuring Gilles Peterson) - The Yussef Dayes Experience returns for 'LIVE FROM MT. FUJI' on standard black vinyl, with music only. The project includes live performances of both pre-released favourites and brand-new compositions, featuring the extraordinary Japanese vocalist / virtuoso Minami Kizuki from Amami Island, on vocals and Sanshin (a traditional three-stringed, long-necked instrument, unique to the region).

TRACK LISTING

1. Chasing The Drum
2. Turquoise Galaxy
3. The Light
4. Amami (feat. Minami Kizuki)
5. Fuji Yama (feat. Minami Kizuki)
6. Chi Ave/ A Love Letter To Salvador
7. The Colour Purple

Oreglo’s latest release, 'THE WHIRR', marks a bold new chapter for the band, pushing their experimental edge further than ever. Described by the band as “a less apologetic and more expansive sound,” it finds them experimenting more boldly with the foundations of their identity. Drawing on backgrounds that span prog rock, alternative & jazz, oreglo create music that resists definition in the best possible way.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Whirr
2. Don Gino
3. Speedbump!
4. Red Shift
5. Bosté

Brownswood Recordings proudly presents the fourth installment of its Remix Editions series, featuring fresh reworks of Galliano classics. This limited-edition vinyl delivers two dynamic, dancefloor-ready gems, perfect for collectors and music lovers alike.

Side A: musclecars remix
New York DJ/Producer duo musclecars bring their signature warmth and groove to Pleasure, Joy & Happiness, transforming it into a soulful, 90s NYC house-inspired anthem. Known for their genre-blending approach and a mission to unite communities through music, musclecars’ rework includes lush instrumentation and fresh vocal runs from Galliano’s Rob Gallagher and Valerie Etienne. The release also includes an instrumental version of the remix.

Speaking about the track, musclecars said:
“We wanted to give this a real 90’s NYC house feel, with additional instrumentation to really bring on that euphoric sense of pleasure, joy, and happiness that Rob & Val were singing about. Big shout out to them for being open to doing additional vocal runs for our remix. Think it really gave the track new life!”

Galliano’s Rob Gallagher shared his excitement:
“Brooklyn’s finest work over the Eddie Chacon classic to sit on the dancefloor with that New York underground stamp. Already a mainstay of the Galliano live set, this remix gives the song yet more legs to explore the outer reaches. When is a song not a song? When it’s a Millipede….”

Side B: Laroye Remix
French producer Laroye reimagines Circles Going Round The Sun through a Detroit-inspired lens, blending soulful TR-909 beats, evolving strings, and a driving bassline. This remix channels the essence of Detroit techno while honoring the emotive heart of the original, creating a powerful, genre-defying track designed for the dancefloor.

Laroye explained his inspiration:
“This remix draws on soulful Detroit techno—Underground Resistance, Carl Craig, Recloose—melding jazz, soul, and house. Galliano’s message feels timeless, and this remix bridges the past and present beautifully. Like we were somehow connected, without guessing we’d meet one day… a little bit like magic.”

Galliano’s Rob Gallagher added:
“The Laroye remix is a journey in itself. Hearing it late at We Out Here Festival, the crowd moved like one creature on waves of sound. It’s a joy that lingers every time I hear it.”

About Brownswood Remix Editions
The Brownswood Remix Editions series celebrates dancefloor culture with exclusive 12” releases featuring contemporary remixes and rediscovered classics. These limited-edition vinyl records are meticulously pressed for bass-weight perfection, catering to DJs, collectors, and music enthusiasts.

TRACK LISTING

A - Pleasure, Joy & Happiness (Musclecars Remix)
B - Circles Going Round The Sun (Laroye Remix)

A part of Gilles Peterson’s expanded network, Future Bubblers is backed by Arts Council England, which continues to focus on uncovering unsigned talent and growing the audience for innovative, experimental music. The professional recordings, manufacturing and physical release of 'Future Bubblers 8.0' is made possible with additional support from PRS Foundation, as Talent Development Partners. Unlike other music initiatives, this compilation acts as a launchpad for emerging artists, utilizing a cooperative model thatshares revenue directly with the artist, helping them generate a sustainable income. Previous Future Bubblers artists include Yazmin Lacey KinKai, Lynda Dawn, MC Snowy, Forest Law, Victoria Jane, Ne One The Wonderer and Kayla Painter and more.

Across six tracks, 'Future Bubblers 8.0' eclectically fuses the worlds of R&B, soul, funk, rap, and electronic music in their many forms.The lead single, 'Damn', comes from Leicester-based psychedelic Space-Soul band Shadeemus, . Bristolian vocalist and producer t l k creates ethereal soundscapes on her track 'Legs', while O.K Asanda, who made Manchester his home, hascrafted a unique Alt R&B and soul sound. Songstress JOIISOL blends R&B, Neo-Soul, and Electronic-Jazz with vintage samples.

In 2023 the Future Bubblers team announced an entirely new framework to launch a new phase of their talent discovery and artistdevelopment scheme. Future Bubblers Academy consists of candidates drawn from underrepresented demographics with a particular focus on those with restricted access to traditional music learning paths. The 6 artists and industry candidates have been drawn from underrepresented demographics, specifically focusing on those with limited access to formal music learning paths. Candidates will beset real-life tasks and challenges across the following areas: Promotions and Marketing, Creating and releasing Masters, Live andEverything Else You Might Need To Know (funding, sync, brand deals), all spanning over a year. Aided by their mentors, creative candidates will put their learning towards a series of tasks, while industry candidates will receive mentorship from the Future Bubblers and Brownswood Recordings team behind the scenes.

TRACK LISTING

1. Joiisol - Good Intentions
2. Shadeemus - Damn
3. O.K Asanda - Easy Loving
4. T L K - Legs
5. Shadeemus, Joiisol, O.K Asanda, Clodagh - Like Glue
6. Joiisol, Shadeemus, O.K Asanda - Primrose Hill

The second instalment of Brownswood Recordings’ Remix Editions series features two dancefloor hitters; one from new kids on the block IZCO & Reek0 and the other from sub-bass heavyweight Coki. Each producer turns in a remix of a track from oreglo’s debut EP, Not Real People, which dropped in July 2024. Like the first instalment, these 12”s are super limited to only 500 units. No reissues, no represses. Once they’re gone they’re gone.

Side 1 features IZCO & Reek0’s twist on ‘levels’. Known for their concoction of UK bass, garage, broken beat, reggae and more, they transform the languorous instrumental into an upbeat, balmy tune with Reek0’s trademark playful cadence and lyricism that paints a picture of summertime in London.

The flipside is a thunderous reworking of EP favourite ‘opedge’ that fuses the band’s multi-genre melting pot of influences with club-ready dub sonics, courtesy of South London dubstep legend Coki.

TRACK LISTING

Side A: Levels (IZCO & Reek0 Remix)
Side B: Opedge (Coki Remix) 

Almost three decades on from their last release, Acid Jazz forefathers Galliano are back with their new LP ‘Halfway Somewhere’ which is released on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings.

Born out of London’s underground clubs and warehouse parties of the mid to late eighties, with the debut single on the Acid Jazz label in 1988, Galliano came out of a culture that spanned music, dance, fashion, art, design, and the written word.

When they arrived as the first act on Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label in 1990 with ‘Welcome to the Story’ (produced by Chris Bangs who invented the term Acid Jazz) dressed in Gabicci sweaters, beads and skullcaps they captured a scene built on re-invention. “We were all playing around with what we could get our hands on whether that was a seventies book on Jamaican style or old Last Poets and Watts Prophets records,” says Gallagher. “We’d been recycling things for a few years but suddenly everything had coalesced and you’ve got an amalgam that seemed quite solid.”

For their first album since 1997, Rob Gallagher and his partner, vocalist Valerie Etienne, are joined by Galliano stalwarts Ernie McKone on bass, Crispin Taylor on drums, and Ski Oakenfull on keys (with guests including saxophonist Jason Yarde and percussionist Crispin ‘Spry’ Robinson).

Where the old Galliano recycled records they heard at clubs, today they are responding to the kaleidoscopic global jazz scene - from Total Refreshment Centre in London to International Anthem in Chicago. More than forty years since they came together, Galliano are still only ‘Halfway Somewhere’, but listening to the album they are obviously having fun getting there. “I think the stars have to be aligned when you redo things,” says Gallagher. “Coming at it from this door is very different to the door we came into back then. But once it's existing it is something. But I’m still not sure what that something is.”

TRACK LISTING

A1. Brownswood Rockers / Golden Shovel (Somebody Else’s Idea)
A2. Dancin' Your Own Time
A3. Limebike Getaway
A4. General Rubbish Vs The Sportswear Mystics
A5. Tottenham
B1. Crow Foot Hustling
B2. Numbers Click
B3. Circles Going Round The Sun
B4. Golden Shovel 2 (Somebody Else's Idea)
C1. Jazz
C2. Halfway Somewhere
C3. Of Peace
C4. Move As One...
C5. In The Brakes
D1. 57th Min / Power And Glory
D2. Kingsland Road
D3. Cabin Fever Dub
D4. Euston Warehouse
D5. Pleasure, Joy & Happiness

Your favourite DJ’s favourite DJ presents his 10-track album; "This record feels like the starting point of a new era, which I’m sure a lot of people can relate to what I mean; the tracks I recorded, the ones I’m singing over and the guests i invited have been my way to deal with the pandemic, the motherless child that I am and the father that I am. I call this record a deep pre-club record, one that will give you the energy to go out there and party but with a feeling of letting go of everything."

TRACK LISTING

A1 Diane Charlemagne (feat. Iman Houssein)
A2 Love Supreme (Part 1 And 2) [feat. Aint About Me]
A3 The Elegance Of A Dancing Body
A4 The Birth Of A New You (feat Pierre Spataro)
A5 Electric (feat. Aint About Me)
B1 I Sing To Find Peace Of Mind (feat. Simbad)
B2 Live In Darkness And Wait For Brighter Days
B3 I Feel The Pain But Can't Describe It (feat. Aint About Me)
B4 One Day You Smile, One Day You Cry (feat. Pierre Spataro)
B5 The Soundtrack To A Beautiful Sunset On Your Way Home

Over a year since the release of their exhilarating debut Could We Be More, Kokoroko present a new collection of remixes of tracks from their first album. The record brings together a dizzying, globe-spanning array of contemporary music’s most forward-thinking artists, each bringing their own unique identity to the project while maintaining the immersive sound-world of the original. Could We Be More Remixes is due 10th November 2023 via Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings.

All the remixers share a common approach with the band, filtering global influences and backgrounds through the lens of their hometown. As a result, each remix explores and stretches the core elements of the debut in different ways. Home-grown London talents Eun and Demae, both associates of the Touching Bass collective that sprouted from the same scene as Kokoroko, turn in a spaced-out version of ‘Tojo’ that manages to be introspective and driving at the same time, reminiscent of some of the best work on Moodymann’s imprints. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A gorgeous selection of reworks from Kokoroko's brilliant 'Could We Be More'. The remixes here fit seamlessly alongside the original material, taking the original sounds and stretching their peripheries outwards, resulting in something that's a perfect listen as an extension of the original story rather than a retelling.

TRACK LISTING

1. Tojo (Eun Remix Feat. Demae)
2. Somethings Going On (Miles James Remix)
3. Home (anaiis Remix)
4. Ewà Inú (Vanyfox Remix)
5. Ewà Inú (Dreamcastmoe's Smoked Out Remix)
6. We Give Thanks (KeiyaA Remix)
7. Dide O (Ash Lauryn & Stefan Ringer Remix)
8. War Dance (Hagan Remix)

‘Black Classical Music’ is a 19-track record taking listeners through a looking glass into the exalted artist’s past and present whilst exploring themes of home and family. The album draws influence from his musical heroes Miles Davis & Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Yussef’s extensive travel around the globe that has deepened his study of rhythm.

Honourable features on “Black Classical Music” - Chronixx, Jamilah Barry, Tom Misch, Shabaka Hutchings, Miles James, Sheila Maurice Grey, Nathaniel Cross, Theon Cross and the Chineke! Orchestra, plus Venna, Rocco Palladino, Charlie Stacey & Elijah Fox

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Oooof, this is an absolute wealth of rich groove and the seamless pulling together of myriad influences from drummer and renowned London jazzer, Yussef Dayes. Filled with collaborative talent, 'Black Classical Music' manages to draw from a wealth of sound worlds without breaking step. Afrobeat, soul funk and jazz fans take note.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Black Classical Music Ft. Venna & Charlie Stacey
A2. Afro Cubanism
A3. Raisins Under The Sun Ft. Shabaka Hutchings
A4. Rust Ft. Tom Misch
A5. Turquoise Galaxy

B1. The Light Ft. Bahia Dayes
B2. Pon Di Plaza Ft. Chronixx
B3. Magnolia Symphony
B4. Early Dayes
B5. Chasing The Drum

C1. Birds Of Paradise
C2. Gelato
C3. Marching Band Ft. Masego
C4. Crystal Palace Park Ft. Elijah Fox
C5. Presidential Ft. Jahaan Sweet

D1. Jukebox
D2. Woman's Touch Ft. Jamilah Barry
D3. Tioga Pass Ft. Rocco Palladino
D4. Cowrie Charms Ft. Leon Thomas & Barbara Hicks 

Manchester jazz-funkers, Secret Night Gang return with their sophomore album “Belongs on a Place Called Earth”, via Brownswood Recordings. “Belongs on a Place Called Earth” is a record birthed from the emotional rollercoaster the world collectively faced over the past few years, as a result of the pandemic. A time which cultivated self-reflection and profound life questions leading to an evolution for the Manchester natives. This new record is undeniably a fresh & bold new sound, with the leading purpose of permeating hope & light through their music. In continued strength to strength, Secret Night Gang are carving their own lane across the British jazz & street soul scene and this upcoming album, is set to take them to new heights.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Following on from a very well received couple of releases for Brownswood, the soulful funk powerhouse that is SNG returns for 'Belongs On A Place Called Earth'. Soaring funky instrumentals, perfectly played and full of vigour, simmer beneath the silken vocals and perfect layered harmonies. Rich, sumptuous and perfect for the summer.

TRACK LISTING

1. Respect Me
2. Dkw Tomorrow Brings
3. One & Only
4. Never Ever
5. Find A Way
6. Do For You
7. Outta Ma Head
8. Ev'ry Nation
9. Things Will Work Out 

Drummer and producer Tom Skinner (The Smile, Sons of Kemet) announces this lean and beautiful album, in which he edited a starry recording session into a sonorous, tuff and beguiling new shape.

The title of Tom Skinner’s first release under his own name is a reference to cellist Abdul Wadud’s ultra-rare 1978 solo album ‘By Myself’, which Skinner listened to repeatedly during lockdown. Wadud’s album was privately pressed on his own label, Bisharra, and whilst Skinner’s title uses the more conventional spelling of this common Arabic name, they both have the same intention or meaning: it translates as ‘good news’, or ‘the bringer of good news’.

This is a classic-sounding record that connects backwards to Skinner’s 2017 Hello Skinny collaboration with American composer and Arthur Russell-collaborator Peter Zummo on ‘Watermelon Sun’. It links sideways to Makaya McCraven’s beat maker-inspired treatments of jazz sessions, and it offers a musical bridge to Sons of Kemet’s most meditative moments.

TRACK LISTING

1. Bishara
2. Red 2
3. The Journey
4. The Day After Tomorrow
5. Voices (of The Past)
6. Quiet As It's Kept

Following the huge success of 2018’s Kokoroko EP and the sensational Abusey Junction (100M streams and counting), Could We Be More is an expansive and ambitious debut album that speaks to the force of Kokoroko.

Each song possesses the power to evoke memories and harness the feeling of home through music: from the psychedelic, funk-laden previous single ‘Something’s Going On’ to the congregational energy of today’s track ‘We Give Thanks’, ‘Could We Be More’ fuses together the African- London synergy which so naturally underpins the heat of Kokoroko’s identity.

Winners of a slew of awards in the UK, Kokoroko specialise in soul shaking, horn fuelled sounds with West African roots and Inner London hues. Having played many EU Festivals including Glastonbury, Meltdown Festival, Elbjazz, & Jazz a la Villette, they are are looking forward to extending their reach further around the globe in 2022 and beyond. The band have performed on several BBC TV shows and their two Boiler Room sets have racked up almost half a million plays between them.

“Drawing influence from West African highlife and jazz, wellmarinated in enough polyrhythm seasoning to induce fires on the dance floors they play.” Okay Africa

“Afrobeat, jazz, soul and ’70s psych-leaning funk - luminescent” Cool Hunting

“This female-led, multicultural collective of under 30s is a vital example of not only jazz’s new form but the shape of things to come.” The Guardian

TRACK LISTING

A1. Tojo
A2. Blue Robe (pt.i)
A3. Ewà Inú
A4. Age Of Ascent
A5. Dide O
A6. Soul Searching
B1. We Give Thanks
B2. Those Good Times
B3. Reprise
B4. War Dance
B5. Interlude
B6. Home
B7. Something's Going On
B8. Outro
B9. Blue Robe (pt.ii)

A heavy new compilation from Brownswood shines a light on the independent underground in Melbourne, where a close-knit collection of artists have taken cues from soul, jazz and club culture to carve out a fresh Melbournian sound. Featuring nine different groups, many of them sharing members and studios, the record surveys the musical contours of this bubbling scene, nodding to house, broken beat, samba, p-funk and soul.

Recorded over a week at The Grove, a fabled house-cum-studio in the North Melbourne suburb of Coburg, it’s home to the record’s engineer, Nick Herrera, and two members of Hiatus Kaiyote, the city’s breakout gangster-soul dons with whom many of the record’s personnel have collaborated. Silentjay was musical director, the Rhythm Section-affiliated multi-instrumentalist and producer (who’s played with Joey Bada$$ and Flying Lotus) marshalling together the album’s different players, many of them part of influential collectives 30/70 and Mandarin Dreams.

Nurtured in the city’s collaborative, close-knit confines, the scene has been bubbling up under the radar of Australian music institutions, in the garages and makeshift studios of Melbourne’s suburban sprawl. Sunny Side Up is a colourful portrait of the scene’s potential, exploring the story behind this flourishing period and shining light on some of its most compelling figures.

STAFF COMMENTS

Millie says: Brownswood shifts its focus to creative collectives from Melbourne in Sunny Side Up, filled to the brim with Afro-beat, jazzy goodness and samba. From Allysha Joy to SilentJay, this compilation provides the relaxing chilled tones which make you want to sail away on an idyllic coastline.

TRACK LISTING

1. Phil Stroud - Banksia
2. Dufresne - Pick Up / Galaxy
3. Kuzich - There Is No Time
4. Audrey Powne - Bleeding Hearts
5. Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange - Powers 2 (The People)
6. Laneous - Nice To See You
7. Silentjay - Eternal / Internal Peace
8. Horatio Luna -The Wake-Up
9. Allysha Joy - Orbit

Bridging distinct but closely connected music scenes can open new possibilities. On ‘No More Normal’, Swindle confidently grasps the different sides to the UK music scene. Boasting roots in the boundary-pushing world of Grime & Dubstep, this album marks the next step in the London-raised producer’s expanded vision for his music. It fuses different disciplines together in new and electrifying ways. He connects a group of peers sharing creative common ground, one that centres around the fertile space between UK Jazz, Grime and Hip Hop. The results span from lush, strings-laden soul to voicebox-heavy p-funk – often in the course of one song. “It’s a class photo of 2018,” he says. “I need everyone in this picture.” It incorporates an all-star cast of MC’s in Kojey Radical, Ghetts, D Double E and P Money, to instrumentalists Yussef Dayes, Nubya Garcia, Riot Jazz, and singers such as Etta Bond, Eva Lazarus, Daley and Kiko Bun.

The album was built over a three year period. The opening track “‘What We Do’ became the track that set the scene for each studio session, a way of Swindle explaining what he was setting out to achieve. Featuring an (on paper) unusual combination of R&B singer Daley, Grime legends P Money & D Double E, and an opening speech from Bristol-based spoken word artist, Rider Shafique - “It describes the narrative of the record overall and helped set the agenda for what followed - I made a lot of tracks that were really good that at the end of the day didn’t fit this project”. The resulting work has a pervading sense of triumph against the odds, and a celebration of togetherness at this moment of fragmentation that manages to feel both optimistic and nostalgic. A record that could have only been made in today’s multicultural Britain. “No More Normal is the idea of us doing our thing, our way, with no rules or limitations. It is jazz influenced as much as it is grime influenced. It’s London influenced as much as it is LA influenced. I can work with D Double E and Nubya Garcia, these records are my imagination brought to life in musical form”.

STAFF COMMENTS

Millie says: High energy Hip Hop at its finest, Swindle’s album No More Normal varies from Jazz to Hip Hop, Grime to R&B and just a bit of everything in-between. My personal favourites are ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Grateful’, articulate lyrics and boss beats create this confident and collaborative album.

TRACK LISTING

A1. What We Do (Feat. Rider ShafIque, P Money, D Double E + Daley)
A2. Get Paid
A3. Drill Work (Feat. Ghetts)
A4. Run Up (Feat. Kiko Bun, Knucks, Eva Lazarus + Nubya Garcia)
A5. Coming Home (Feat. Kojey Radical)
A6. Reach The Stars (Feat. Andrew Ashong)
B1. Knowledge (Feat. Eva Lazarus + Kiko Bun)
B2. Take It Back (Feat. D Double E + Kiko Bun)
B3. California (Feat. Etta Bond + Kojey Radical)
B4. Talk A Lot (Feat. Eva Lazarus + Mansur Brown)
B5. Grateful (Feat. Kojey Radical + Rider ShafIque)

Tradition shapes your work. For saxophonist and bandleader Shabaka Hutchings, that’s something he’s long understood. After years spent in the orbit of London’s jazz circuit, he examines and reimagines his influences with a dexterity that’s unique. Drawing out the vision underlying his new album, he says, “I see energy as being a form of wisdom to be passed down through the ages.” Unpicking the album’s title, he continues, “When we study the music, the lives, the words of our master musicians we obtain a glimpse of that artist’s essential energy source. This is the core vitality of the individual which leads them to utilise the musical specifics of their chosen genre in a way that mirrors their inner source of power. This is an intuited wisdom that’s handed to us from the legacies of our elders.” The album is a document of sessions combining Hutchings with a group of South African jazz musicians he’s long admired. His connection to the group was Mandla Mlangeni (bandleader of the Amandla Freedom Ensemble), whom he’d flown there to play with over the past few years. Recorded across just one day, the group drew on their South African lineage – heroes like Zim Ngquwana and Bheki Mseleku – to bring their own slant to the American jazz lineage being reconfigured in Hutchings’ compositions themselves. Going beyond the jazz greats Hutchings cites, influences are drawn from plenty of other sources: Caribbean calypso, central African song structures and Southern African Nguni music all play a part. Bringing together those ideas with the contributions of his bandmates is, he explains, crucial to what he sees in the role of an album artist. “Even though I wrote all the music, for me, the leader of the project isn’t the person who writes all the music but the one who has a vision for how certain musical elements will be combined.” Born in London, moving to the Barbados from the age of six to 16, his tenor sax has become a regular sight on stages around London and beyond since his return. Receiving awards from Jazz FM and the MOBOs for playing in – and often leading – groups like Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, Melt Yourself Down and Sun Ra Arkestra, he’s part of a generation whose idea of jazz is pointedly unrefined. That’s to say, "Wisdom of Elders" comes from an artist interested in the indefinable gaps more than fitting into boxes. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Mzawandile
2. Joyous
3. The Observer
4. The Sea
5. The Observed
6. Natty
7. OBS
8. Give Thanks
9. Nguni

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2014 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

Brighton-based duo Max Wheeler (producer) and Victoria Port (singer/songwriter) are a classic British concoction of jazz-inflected heady dance floor thrills. While Victoria’s melodies bring the sweetness, the tracks have the low-end weight to please DJ mavens like Karizma and Brackles on Rinse and Moxie and Annie Mac on Radio 1.

The results could be described as a UK Funky Lorde. The ‘Distorted Air’ EP forthcoming on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, is full of Victoria’s songwriting on fractious romance, ever the well-spring of transcendent pop with sweet female attitude. There’s relationship breakdown on ‘Broken Circuit’ or the claustrophobia of ‘World In A Room’. All of which brings to mind 1998 Talkin’ Loud signing MJ Cole and his bedroom produced classic ‘Sincere’ which traded on a similar brew of jazz, musicality, connection with the living dance floor and the pull and push of love.