Earthly Measures & Dreems (Multi Culti) come together to present their first release on new collaborative label 'Cult Measures' - First up is Jinje & A Brief Utopia's - 'We Invisible' - a deep, experimental 8 track LP with Afro percussion & Jazz influences - perfect for home listening and peak dance-floor in equal measures.

After hearing Jinje's EP on Scene Unseen, Earthly Measures approached Jinje about putting together the first release for the collaborative new label 'Cult Measures'. Thus the result is We Invisible. The idea behind this project is largely led by his love of percussion instruments and rhythms from around the world and old afrobeat, afrofolk and highlife recordings from the sixties and seventies given new life through a different lens. Jinje wanted to take that aesthetic to the dancefloor but also to the festival stage through the live band that is A Brief Utopia.

With records out on Mesh, Ostgut Ton, Different, Messrs Kick & Drum, SceneUnseen and his own label, Making Friends, Jinjé (aka, Lee J Malcolm) has been making headway with his solo project in the electronic music scene. As the founding member and main song writer of Vessels (Cuckundoo, BIAS/Leaf, Different/PIAS) he has been DJ’ing and performing live for over two decades.

A Brief Utopia (A project by Jinjé) A Brief Utopia was born from an EP released earlier this year by Jinjé (aka, Lee J Malcolm from Vessels) on Scene Unseen. Stepping away from his usual production duties and focusing more on his passion for live drumming and percussion instruments. This was the starting block for much of the composition on the this record. He quickly realised that this would be a brilliant thing to do live and reached out to fellow musicians Danny Templeman (Submotion Orchestra, Gentleman’s DubClub) and Nathan Moseley (Fwar, Brolin) to put together a high energy show aimed at clubs and festivals alike.A Brief Utopia brings a colourful, vibrant and visually engaging experience. Drawing on a love of music from around the world focused through a lens of live drumming, tuned percussion and psychedelic synth work.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Submarino
A2. We Invisible
A3. Belafon Balafon
A4. Gourds
B1. The Scam
B2. PushMePullYou
B3. Last Kankabono
B4. Polynese

Kicking off proceedings on new label, Scene Unseen is Yorkshire’s finest, Jinjé aka Lee J Malcolm.

Scene Unseen will focus on exploring and showcasing scenes from around the world (some seen or some maybe unseen), as well as releasing music from artists who incorporate sounds from across the globe within a music style that's closer to home. This is where Jinjé steps in, delivering an EP of Afro-funk and techno hybrids. He draws upon his well versed electronic production techniques and combines them with rhythms inspired by African and Indian music, using instruments (played and recorded live by Jinjé) and field recordings from both regions.

Jinjé has released on labels such as Messrs. Kicks & Drums, EPM Music, Mesh and Ostgut Ton. He was also a founding member and mainstay in the Leeds band, Vessels (Different Recordings), until leaving a couple of years ago to concentrate on solo projects.

The track names tell all, as Jinjé gives a clear nod to the Africanism is his music. First track, “Ngoma” is a name used across Africa to describe certain drums and percussive instruments, which can be heard here, like Djembes from the Conga region, as well as live and acoustic components, blended with modular and other electronic sounds.

“Burkina Faso” takes us west and hits the ground running with a vocal sample of Tribal women from the area, singing praise and joy to engineers who have come to provide fresh water to the village: ‘Praise God for they have come to build us a well.’ The progression of the track is based around this joy and develops nicely alongside some intense bass and drums.

“Dusk” is inspired by thoughts of the Serengeti planes at night fall, all built around Jinjé's live M'bira plugged into a modular synth, grouped with live flute and field recordings from India which provide additional percussion.

“Ya Maji” is a collection of high energy rhythms from a Moroccan frame drum, congas, clapping, live bass, distorted marimba and the mighty Korg Ms20 playing the lead synth lines.

Last up is “Jara”, a nod to Steve Reich and his six marimbas, as well as drawing inspiration from Fela Kuti. Vocal samples bring in more of the field recordings Jinjé made in India, as well as the clapping elements. Acoustic and electronic sounds intertwine to great effect and sum up the EP as a whole.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: An amalgamation of styles, birthed in Yorkshire and with a trans-global outlook. This is the kinda shit the kids at Dekmantel go nuts for - upfront productions, exotic influences, unusual rhythms all coalesce to make an award winning formula!

TRACK LISTING

1. Ngoma
2. Burkina Faso
3. Dusk
4. Ya Maji
5. Jara