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SEPTEMBER RECORDINGS

Obongjayar

Just My Luck / Tomorrow Man

    Obongjayar makes his return with a distinct double-single offering; the infectiously danceable and dreamlike pop creation 'Just My Luck', alongside the unflinching and percussive 'Tomorrow Man'. Reflecting on themes of loneliness and laziness respectively, these two sonically contrasting yet cohesive singles serve as an exciting preview of what can be expected from this next chapter.


    TRACK LISTING

    1. Just My Luck
    2. Tomorrow Man

    Kara Jackson

    Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?

      'Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?' is the debut album by Chicago-based Poet Laureate & singer-songwriter Kara Jackson.

      'Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?', is a sonic invitation to process our grief. The title is a question the author is always answering. How do we give ourselves permission to yearn for the people we miss? How do we find the courage to let go of what begs to be released? How do we have the audacity to love in spite of everything invented to deter us from it?

      Kara wrote and recorded the original demos in her childhood bedroom during the early days of the pandemic, drafting lyrics in bed and singing into a mic propped up on her dresser. From there she brought in Nnamdi, Kaina and Sen Morimoto to re-record the demos and help shape the production.

      Wielding her voice like a honey-coated blade, Kara Jackson crafts a blend of emotional folk music and poetic alt-country. With the radical honesty of Nina Simone, the intricate lyricism of Fiona Apple and Joanna Newsom, and the straightforward, no-frills delivery of artists like Kimya Dawson, Kara’s writing blurs the line between poetry and song, demanding an attentive ear and a repeat listen.

      STAFF COMMENTS

      Barry says: Jackson's music is both intensely powerful and wildly understated, often relying upon an unadorned guitar and single vocal, before flourishing into orchestral swells and beautifully harmonised melodies. An arresting, cohesive debut LP with a singular sound.

      Obongjayar

      Some Nights I Dream Of Doors

        Steven Umoh grew up in Calabar, Nigeria. He was raised by his grandmother; his mother had moved to the UK to escape Umoh's father, who was abusive. Early in his life, he primarily listened to bootleg rap, particularly Eminem, Usher, Nelly, Snoop Dogg and Ciara. Umoh moved to live with his mother in England at the age of 17, but stayed active in the Nigerian music scene. He grew up a devoutly religious Christian, but became less so after he attended university in Norwich. In college he sang primarily in an American accent, influenced by his childhood spent listening to American hip hop music, but he transitioned to singing in his natural Nigerian-British accent before embarking on his professional career. Obongjayar's music has been called "hard to describe", incorporating elements of afrobeat, spoken word, soul, and electronic music. His lyrics incorporate spiritual overtones, although they are not readily identifiable with any specific religious tradition. A unifying feature of all of Obongjayar's music is his very deep voice, which slides between rapping, singing, and spoken word.

        STAFF COMMENTS

        Barry says: It's really mindblowing work, this. A heady juxtaposition of soulful synth music, minimalist pop and bright, percussive African rhythms all brought together flawlessly and meticulously into a cohesive and unique vision.

        TRACK LISTING

        SIDE 1
        1. Try
        2. Message In A Hammer
        3. Parasite
        4. Some Nights I Dream Of Doors
        5. Wrong For It
        6. Sugar

        SIDE 2
        1. My Life Can Change Today (Interlude)
        2. New Man
        3. All The Difference
        4. Tinko Tinko (Don't Play Me For A Fool)
        5. I Wish It Was Me
        6. Wind Sailor

        For Those I Love

        For Those I Love

          The severity of grief often comes across most clearly in art. What is the purpose of art but to depict human emotions for others to understand and empathise with? On his gripping new album For Those I Love, David Balfe offers a highly personalised portrait of love, loss, confusion, nostalgia and pain – that is to say, the Dublin songwriter/producer walks you through the early stages of mourning. Each savage emotion comes across as tangible and real. Balfe makes spoken word music over urbane electronica that takes its cues from alternative hip-hop and various forms of club music. His heavily accented delivery and penchant for familiar Dublin cadences means writing can only be set in one place, elevating the album among the great modern works set in the city.

          A project that started out as an ode to friendship was remodeled under a tragic cloud. Balfe conceived of For Those I Love as a solo project when he was still a member of punk band Burnt Out. Its purpose was to capture the tight-knit friendships – that is, the beauty of the relationships that exist between groups of young men that often go unspoken. Particularly, he wanted to depict his connection with best friend and Burnt Out bandmate, the poet Paul Curran. Tragically, Curran died in early 2018. In his grief, Balfe has created an album infused with the love and bond that existed between the pair.

          TRACK LISTING

          Side A
          I Have A Love
          You Stayed / To Live
          To Have You
          Top Scheme
          The Myth / I Don't

          Side B
          The Shape Of You
          Birthday / The Pain
          You Live / No One Like You
          Leave Me Not Love


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