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BROWNSWOOD RECORDINGS
Warm, rich and sumptuous in sound, ‘Three Piece Suit’ is a heartwarming tribute to the Nigerian immigrant experience. An initial draft of the track first began life at Kokoroko’s studio under the working title ‘Get The Message’.
Crackling through the track’s snug and patiently arranged grooves are subtle touches of funk, adding new dimensions to the band's signature afrobeat and jazz sound in a way that recalls the work of Cymande. Further caressing the instrumentation is the incorporation of the Brazilian nose flute and woozy-sounding synth lines, effortlessly transporting the listeners back in time.
The EP marks Kokoroko’s first dose of new music since the release of ‘Could We Be More Remixes’. The experimental and kaleidoscopic sister project to their 2022 debut album ‘Could We Be More’ which upon initial release earned critical plaudits from the likes of The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times, Jazzwise, CRACK Magazine and Downbeat Magazine. The release would also garner their first Top 40 placement on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No.30.
Enlisting some of contemporary music’s most forward-thinking artists like KeiyaA, Ash Lauryn, Stefan Ringer and Hagan to re-imagine the original album through a club-focused lens, ‘Could We Be More Remixes’ marked the beginning of the band being cast beyond spaces unrelated to the jazz sphere. A signal of their incoming next phase.
Crackling through the track’s snug and patiently arranged grooves are subtle touches of funk, adding new dimensions to the band's signature afrobeat and jazz sound in a way that recalls the work of Cymande. Further caressing the instrumentation is the incorporation of the Brazilian nose flute and woozy-sounding synth lines, effortlessly transporting the listeners back in time.
The EP marks Kokoroko’s first dose of new music since the release of ‘Could We Be More Remixes’. The experimental and kaleidoscopic sister project to their 2022 debut album ‘Could We Be More’ which upon initial release earned critical plaudits from the likes of The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times, Jazzwise, CRACK Magazine and Downbeat Magazine. The release would also garner their first Top 40 placement on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No.30.
Enlisting some of contemporary music’s most forward-thinking artists like KeiyaA, Ash Lauryn, Stefan Ringer and Hagan to re-imagine the original album through a club-focused lens, ‘Could We Be More Remixes’ marked the beginning of the band being cast beyond spaces unrelated to the jazz sphere. A signal of their incoming next phase.
STAFF COMMENTS
Matt says: One of my favourite groups from the modern jazz scene, Kokoroko serve up another delicious table of sumptuous horns, rich bass and thrumming drums. It's an absolute delight on the ears, with the musicians on the very top of the game.TRACK LISTING
1. Higher
2. Sweeter Than
3. My Prayer
4. Three Piece Suit (feat. Azekel)
Yussef Dayes releases Live At Joshua Tree, the sound recording from a naturalistic video shot in Joshua Tree, California in collaboration with Soulection. Featuring Venna on sax, Rocco Palladino on bass, Alexander Bourt on percussion and Elijah Fox on keys, the vinyl release of this stellar session includes the exclusive vinyl-only track ‘For My Ladies’.
TRACK LISTING
A1. Raisins Under The Sun (Desert Version)
A2. For My Ladies (Feat. Elijah Fox)
A3. Odyssey
A4. Golden Hour (Feat. Rocco Palladino)
A5. Mystics (Feat. Venna)
A6. Rhythms Of Xango (feat. Alexander Bourt)
Welcome to ‘STR4TASFEAR, Bluey and Gilles’ second STR4TA album released.
A collection of songs, melodies, grooves and sounds that sit perfectly in the brand new music world it’s part of. Gilles and Bluey are both men who emerged into the Brit funk world. They were both part of this truly thrilling chapter in the story of homegrown music; which manifests itself here in a sumptuous mixture of twanging basslines, spacey synth melodies, clicking beats and wispy, ethereal voices.
And for this new set, they’ve got a few like-minded souls along to join the party. Multi-talented Neo-soul Godfather Omar, and celebrated vocalist, Valerie Etienne, both represent Brit funk’s first bounce. Also welcomed in to the fold is musical polymath, Emma-Jean Thackray, Brighton duo Anushka and Floridian trumpeter/vocalist Theo Croker. ‘STR4TASFEAR’ is Gilles and Bluey’s wide-open window into a timeless, wonderful world of Brit funk (Words by Mark Webster, 2022).
A collection of songs, melodies, grooves and sounds that sit perfectly in the brand new music world it’s part of. Gilles and Bluey are both men who emerged into the Brit funk world. They were both part of this truly thrilling chapter in the story of homegrown music; which manifests itself here in a sumptuous mixture of twanging basslines, spacey synth melodies, clicking beats and wispy, ethereal voices.
And for this new set, they’ve got a few like-minded souls along to join the party. Multi-talented Neo-soul Godfather Omar, and celebrated vocalist, Valerie Etienne, both represent Brit funk’s first bounce. Also welcomed in to the fold is musical polymath, Emma-Jean Thackray, Brighton duo Anushka and Floridian trumpeter/vocalist Theo Croker. ‘STR4TASFEAR’ is Gilles and Bluey’s wide-open window into a timeless, wonderful world of Brit funk (Words by Mark Webster, 2022).
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: Str4ta make music that hints at the Brit-funk roots of both members, but transforms into something more than the sum of their parts. It's richly dynamic and endlessly twists from funk to disco via hip-hop and soul, effortlessly blazing paths between definitions with ease.TRACK LISTING
1. Galactic Fanfare
2. City Sounds
3. Turn Me Around
4. When You Call Me
5. Why Must You Fly (feat. Omar)
6. To Be As One (feat. Theo Croker)
7. (Bring On The) Bad Weather (feat. Anushka)
8. Reflections (Chaser 1)
9. Night Flight 05:25
10. Soothsayer (feat. Theo Croker)
11. Reflections (Chaser 2)
12. Lazy Days (feat. Emma-Jean Thackray)
13. Find Your Heaven (feat. Valerie Etienne)
14. Virgil (Vocal Version)
15. Something, Anything
Latest volume of the Future Bubblers series - the 9 track compilation is a musically diverse collection of tracks, fusing genres that span across electronic, alt-R&B, alt-hip-hop, spoken word, neo-soul, jazz and beyond. Spanning just under 40 minutes, Future Bubblers 5.0 is an extremely impressive assemblage of talent who have all delivered top-shelf singles - the compilation embodies the spirit of the musicians as well as the team behind Future Bubblers.
STAFF COMMENTS
Millie says: Future Bubblers are back with their fifth instalment on the Brownswood label, not afraid to be different and showcase talent that deserves a platform. This has it all - Hip Hop, Nu Jazz and Afrobeat to name a few. V much enjoying it on the turntable this morning.TRACK LISTING
1. Magoya - The Most Beautiful Lie Feat. Ella Knight.
2. Mark Cake - Hoon
3. Ella Knight - It Don't Matter
4. NeOne The Wonderer - Nose Dive
5. Conrad Ellis - Make It Last
6. Damos Room - Soft Bodied (Widow's Reprise)
7. Shakira Alleyne - Floating Soul
8. Madi Saskia - Fast Or Slow
9. Griz-O & JSSO Project - Tabou Remix Feat. Kalliope
The afrobeat-inspired eight-piece Kokoroko drop their hotly-anticipated debut, a horn-fuelled, soul-shaking introduction to the young collective.
Kokoroko are part of the thriving scene that’s grown out of london’s young, jazz-influenced musical circles. Led by bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey, their self-titled ep is the group’s first solo release, following their early 2018 debut with ‘Abusey Junction’, a track that has gone on to accrue over 15 million plays on youtube and 2.6 million on spotify. Across the E.P’s four tracks, the eight-piece deliver on the promise of that memorable introduction, offering a bigger vision of their afrobeat-influenced, soulfully-imbued sound, west african roots shaded with inner London hues.
‘Abusey Junction’ was first featured on we out here, the 2018 Brownswood compilation documenting London’s bright-burning, jazz-influenced musical underground, picked by Rough Trade as compilation of the year 2018, and praised by the Wire, Monocle and the New York Times. Writing and performing as a group since 2014, Kokoroko have played at iconic venues from ronnie scott’s, performed at the festival, Afropunk, and toured in Brazil, Colombia and France. Inspired by Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, Tony Allen and the great sounds that come out of West Africa, Kokoroko put on a performance to honour the masters that taught them.
Kokoroko are part of the thriving scene that’s grown out of london’s young, jazz-influenced musical circles. Led by bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey, their self-titled ep is the group’s first solo release, following their early 2018 debut with ‘Abusey Junction’, a track that has gone on to accrue over 15 million plays on youtube and 2.6 million on spotify. Across the E.P’s four tracks, the eight-piece deliver on the promise of that memorable introduction, offering a bigger vision of their afrobeat-influenced, soulfully-imbued sound, west african roots shaded with inner London hues.
‘Abusey Junction’ was first featured on we out here, the 2018 Brownswood compilation documenting London’s bright-burning, jazz-influenced musical underground, picked by Rough Trade as compilation of the year 2018, and praised by the Wire, Monocle and the New York Times. Writing and performing as a group since 2014, Kokoroko have played at iconic venues from ronnie scott’s, performed at the festival, Afropunk, and toured in Brazil, Colombia and France. Inspired by Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, Tony Allen and the great sounds that come out of West Africa, Kokoroko put on a performance to honour the masters that taught them.
STAFF COMMENTS
Emily says: Kokoroko have (deservedly) attracted a lot of attention since being featured on Brownswood’s “We Out Here” compilation. The promising London jazz ensemble are now offering their debut EP which draws inspiration from afrobeat giants Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor and Tony Allen. “Abusey Junction” is a slowly unfolding ballad tinged with melancholy and nostalgia. “Uman” begins with a bittersweet horn chorale and slowly builds into a joyous afrobeat stomper. A record filled with moments of wisdom, celebration and fabulous musicianship.TRACK LISTING
1. Adwa
2. Ti-De
3. Uman
4. Abusey Junction
Troumaca release their brilliant debut album 'The Grace' on Brownswood Recordings. Drawing inspiration from love, honour and warmer climes, the Birmingham five piece have created a longplayer that draws on tropical rhythms and textures more commonly associated with the Caribbean than the Midlands, filtered through pirate radio and the perpetually shifting dance music underground. Spacious and ancient, 'The Grace' is an album bred out of a love affair with UK bass music - you might even call it bass escapism.
The relationship with the homeland runs deep, from the gentle ring of steel pans on 'Gold, Women & Wine' to the warm sub bass that permeates the record from beginning to end. It was those frequencies that first resonated with school friends Sam Baylis, Geoff Foulkes and Jim Nayak who delved into garage and house music with gusto: “We hung out, did the usual teenage thing and got stoned and jammed together,” says Geoff. Joined by kindred spirits Tom Gregory and Matt Duke, the circle was complete: “We all enjoy the same music, we go to the same raves in Brum. The musical affinity has always been there.”
The relationship with the homeland runs deep, from the gentle ring of steel pans on 'Gold, Women & Wine' to the warm sub bass that permeates the record from beginning to end. It was those frequencies that first resonated with school friends Sam Baylis, Geoff Foulkes and Jim Nayak who delved into garage and house music with gusto: “We hung out, did the usual teenage thing and got stoned and jammed together,” says Geoff. Joined by kindred spirits Tom Gregory and Matt Duke, the circle was complete: “We all enjoy the same music, we go to the same raves in Brum. The musical affinity has always been there.”
TRACK LISTING
1. Trees
2. Sanctify
3. Gold, Women & Wine
4. Kingdom
5. The Sun
6. Interlude
7. Tiger Eye
8. Ivory
9. Layou
10. Lady Colour
11. The Grace