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PHAROAH SANDERS
For those of you who already know this record, then you know that its origin story is as elusive as Pharoah was about everything Pharoah. It was born out of a misunderstanding between him and the India Navigation producer Bob Cummins, and was recorded when he was at a crossroads in his career with an unlikely crew. Among them was a guitarist who was also a spiritual guru, an organist who would go on to co-write and produce “The Message,” and a classically trained pianist—his wife at the time, Bedria Sanders—who played the harmonium despite never having seen one. At times ambient and serene, at others funky and modal, PHAROAH radically departed from his earlier work. And it became beloved.
Last fall, we were working with Pharoah on this project when he unexpectedly passed away. At first, it was hard to know what to do. We loved him, and the reason you do all of this is not solely for the music, but also for the person who made it. It’s their personality, their humor, and their wishes that drive you forward. So, we decided to go deep into the research. We set out to create something that showed Pharoah and his music in a new light.
Over the next few months, we’re going to share with you all the amazing things we found, from personal photos of Pharoah to newspaper clippings that people saved in their time capsules. (Sign up at the link in our bio to get updates.) And we’re going to share the live versions of “Harvest Time,” which turn the original piece on its head.
For seasoned listeners and new acolytes both, Pharoah will never sound the same.
TRACK LISTING
2LP
Pharoah
A1. Harvest Time
B1. Love Will Find A Way
B2. Memories Of Edith Johnson
Harvest Time Live 1977
C1. Harvest Time Live – Version 1
D1. Harvest Time Live – Version 2
CD1 - Pharoah
1. Harvest Time
2. Love Will Find A Way
3. Memories Of Edith Johnson
CD2 - Harvest Time Live 1977
1. Harvest Time Live – Version 1
2. Harvest Time Live – Version 2
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- 2xColoured LP
- £34.99
- Cat Number
- MOVLP2947O
- Release date
- 21 Jul '23
- Format Info
Ltd edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on 180g orange & black marbled vinyl.
Ltd edition of 1000... [ + ]
TRACK LISTING
Side A
1. You've Got To Have Freedom
2. Naima
Side B
1. Origin
2. Speak Low
Side C
1. After The Morning
2. Africa
Side D
1. Heart To Heart
2. Duo
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- Coloured LP
- £28.99
- Cat Number
- MOVLP2949G
- Release date
- 21 Jul '23
- Format Info
Ltd edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on 180g gold & orange marbled viny.
Ltd edition of 1000... [ + ]
TRACK LISTING
Side A
1. Moon Child
2. Moon Rays
3. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
Side B
1. All Or Nothing At All
2. Soon
3. Moniebah
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- LP
- £33.99
- Cat Number
- 5521236
- Release date
- 14 Jul '23
TRACK LISTING
Side A
1. Black Unity – Part 1
Side B
2. Black Unity – Part 2
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- 2xColoured LP
- £32.99
- Cat Number
- MOVLP3289C
- Release date
- 24 Feb '23
- Format Info
Limited edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on 180g translucent blue vinyl.
Limited edition of 1500... [ + ]
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- 2xCD
- £11.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- SBM5CD
- Release date
- 1 Jul '22
Freedom is a live concert recording made at the Blue Whale, Los Angeles - where Mark put together a Los Angeles based collective made up by very accomplished and suitably talented Teodross Avery – saxophone, Corbin Jones - bass, souzaphone drummer Tommaso Cappellato Carlos Nino – percussion and the highly renowned spiritual jazz vocalist Dwight Trible.
Reinterpreting a set of Pharoah Sanders highly respected music is not for the creatively timid, and Mark himself sets out the approach and philosophy this collective took when approaching this project: “This album is a celebration of the music, joy and spirit that the great master-teacher Pharoah Sanders brings to the world through his lifelong creative journey. We gathered at Los Angeles’ Blue Whale jazz club to perform some of our favorite Pharoah compositions from a place of love, respect and gratitude for all the inspiration he’s brought to each of us. No one can play this music how Pharoah plays it - his expression is unique and imprinted on every one of his compositions in the deepest of ways. We can’t possibly improve on his mastery and share this music simply as a heartfelt thank you to Pharoah - we celebrate you, and are so grateful for all the timeless - and timely - music you have gifted to the world”.
Across this 12 track album the unique approach of improvised jazz is embellished with MDCL’s tasteful and subtle touches of electronica played & triggered – from behind his array of equipment he reinvigorates and energises the music with a deft and tasteful approach and the interplay between the musicians including vocalist Dwight Trible is flawless and more akin to a extensively rehearsed studio recording than a live concert, such are the skills of all the players.
The highlights are many and varied, from the delicate, sensitive Mansions World and Astral Travelling to the intense and rhythmically driven tracks OreSe-Rere and Teodross Avery’s spine tingling saxophone clarion call that opens the ever green ‘You’ve Got To Have Freedom’ is a beautiful tribute from one generation of master musicians to Pharoah – one of the greatest ever.
STAFF COMMENTS
Millie says: A beautiful, touching tribute of Pharoah Sanders, Mark De Clive Lowe and a host of other artists reimagine his powerful music which is no easy task but it's delivered in the most celebratory way, filled with emotion and admiration for a great musician while exploring important themes of freedom and identity.TRACK LISTING
LP
DISC ONE
A1 Upper Egypt
A2 Elevation
A3 Colors
B1 You’ve Got To Have Freedom
B2 Thembi
B3 Astral Travelling
DISC TWO
C1 The Creator Has A Master Plan
C2 Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)
C3 Love Is Everywhere
D1 Mansions World
D2 Ore-Se-Rere
D3 Memories Of Lee Morgan
CD
DISC ONE
01 Upper Egypt
02 Elevation
03 Colors
04 You’ve Got To Have Freedom
05 Thembi
06 Astral Travelling
DISC TWO
01 The Creator Has A Master Plan
02 Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner)
03 Love Is Everywhere
04 Mansions World
05 Ore-Se-Rere
06 Memories Of Lee Morgan
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- Coloured LP
- £25.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- LB97LPSE
- Release date
- 3 Dec '21
- Format Info
"End of the year" colour vinyl edition with die-cut gatefold sleeve.
"End of the... [ + ] -
- Indies Exclusive LP
- £23.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- LB97LP180
- Release date
- 26 Mar '21
- Format Info
Limited edition indies exclusive 180g black vinyl in a gatefold die-cut sleeve.
Limited edition indies... [ + ] -
- CD
- £10.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- LB97CD
- Release date
- 26 Mar '21
The entire album revolves around a recurring phrase played by Sam Shepherd on the piano, harpsichord and celesta. This phrase becomes the central pulse around which the other textures float, suspended in the space inbetween. The loose tempo allows for the improvised saxophone passages to flow freely and for Pharaoh to lean into the most tender moments of his performance.
At the beginning of the album the string section gradually emerges like a delicate silver thread before building through a series of sweeping chord progressions and moments of bittersweet dissonance. This leads into the third movement where Sam Shephard’s deft synth arrangement becomes the focal point. And later on we hear a hushed vocal performance from Pharoah. It’s one of the most touching moments of the album, with years of lived experience seeping through every crack and bend of his voice in a captivating way.
Promises is an album of subtle expression which invokes a feeling of boundlessness. It’s a wide open sonic space where each note is allowed to resonate to its full conclusion. There’s a constant feeling of push and pull, of tension and release, though it never really resolves fully. Something is always left hanging in the air - a question, a prayer, an inexplicable feeling. It’s perhaps one of the most surprising and profound releases of the year.
STAFF COMMENTS
Matt says: A beautiful orchestral piece that while both resplendent with FP's and PS's wonderful idiosyncrasies; recalls the gorgeous depth of Prefab Sprout's "I Trawl The Megahertz" but without the vocal parts! Epic!TRACK LISTING
Side 1
1. Promises (Movement 1) (1:16)
2. Promises (Movement 2) (3:56)
3. Promises (Movement 3) (3:16)
4. Promises (Movement 4) (3:39)
5. Promises (Movement 5) (6:06)
Side 2
1. Promises (Movement 6) (8:25)
2. Promises (Movement 7) (3:26)
3. Promises (Movement 8) (9:57)
4. Promises (Movement 9) (5:43)