Welsh producer and bassist Huw Marc Bennett is set to release his beautiful new
album 'Days Like Now'. Steeped in organic sounds of jazz, folk, soul, dub and the
earthy, psychedelic roots of his homeland; the music has history but also harmonises with the new world around it, understanding the changing landscape.

"I feel as if this is both a step back and forward with my identity, piecing together what I like about Welsh and Celtic music and feelings", says Bennett.

"Trying to move forward with a modern approach and bravery in that I may not understand everything but this is mine to use and be proud of".

His last album, 2020's 'Tresilian Bay', was widely supported on BBC radio by 6
Music's Cerys Matthews, Gideon Coe, Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Lauren Laverne, Stuart Maconie, Tom Ravenscroft and BBC Wales' Adam Walton and Huw Stephens.

The Vinyl Factory said it “Melds south London electronica and Welsh psychedelia,
along with elements of Afrobeat and highlife” while Electronic Sound said Bennett is "Another name to add to the growing list of UK new jazz talents".

'Days Like Now' started as a continuation of the worldly-funk sound of 'Tresilian
Bay' before morphing inwards to become a more personal reflection of Bennett's
connection with living in, leaving, and revisiting Wales from his now home in south
London. Playing bass, guitar and synths, the tracks were written, performed and
recorded by Bennett and as the writing progressed, he became more influenced by
thoughts of home and melodies from Wales' extensive cannon of beautiful songs.

"Now I am older, home means more to me than ever", says Bennett.

"I look back at what I took from there. Being brought up in a quiet Welsh coastal setting gives you a sense of community but also a longing for the bigger world. I like to think this record is exploring a lot of those outside influences I've been exposed to, but following my journey back to where I started, and even deeper in to the destination where perceive my identity".

On ‘Y Gwydd’, Bennett takes direct inspiration from the music of Wales, offering his
version of the popular folk tune ‘Y Gwydd’ (The Loom), first collected by Maria Jane Williams. The original words of the tune, compares the threads of life, to the threads of the loom.

'Red Valley' refers to the Welsh who left their homes between 1936 and 1939 to fight in the Spanish civil war against Franco and the rise of facism. Bennett says,

"It's just my little nod to the humble people who saw themselves as global citizens and the responsibility that comes with that, and that their individual actions truly mattered".

Featuring the voices of Angela Christofilou, Cleo Savva and Bennett himself, the
beautifully serene 'Pinc Sunset' captures that moment when it's hard not to stop and recognise the beauty of nature.

"Whether on a busy main street or streaming in through the window in your small room, it makes you stop and have a moment of clarity and peace. To look at yourself, who you are, where you are going, and where you have come from. And whatever that is, you own it".

Days Like Now

Huw Marc Bennett - Red Valley

Huw Marc Bennett - Y Gwydd

Electric Highway Part 2 bridges the gap between their debut Sound & Reason album and the forthcoming follow up. Part 2 of this thematic jam expands on an idea first captured in the debut, but opens out both in sound and scope. Stabbing guitars and wobbling synths support a heavy bass and drum beat that can just as easily sit alongside hip-hop cuts as contemporary jazz pieces like the work of Vels Trio. 

New London based quartet Qwalia, led by drummer Yusuf Ahmed, offer a plethora of influences whilst remaining resolutely itself. Assembled from musicians who play with David Byrne, Joy Crookes, Nubiyan Twist, Frank Ocean, Jordan Rakei, Sampha, Cat Stevens and more; Yusuf is joined by Tal Janes on guitars and vocals, Ben Reed on bass and keyboardist Joseph Costi. Qwalia’s debut album ‘Sound And Reason’ is set for release by Alberts Favourites on 24th March 2023.

Electric Highway Part 2

Qwalia - Electric Highway Part 2

Inês Loubet is one of London's most exciting multi-instrumentalist, songwriters and singers, navigating the influences of Jazz, vibrant latin-grooves and her native language, Portuguese. 

Her second single, Guri, is a bright and beautiful ride into the samba rhythms and melodic heart of the album to come.  A joy filled glide across romantic harmonies and another uplifting piece of work from an immensely talented young writer. 

Loubet has performed alongside Brazilian legends Gilberto Gil & João Bosco and cowrote and performed on the incredible Caravela album Orla on None More Records. 

"An extraordinarily accomplished debut by a band with something to say" 4 out of 5 stars - Songlines Magazine on Caravela's Orla

"One of the albums of the year so far!" - Strut Records on Caravela's Orla

Loubet's projects have been praised by the likes of Gilles Peterson and The Line of Best Fit, as well as earned her several UK and international tours and radio appearances at Jazz Fm and BBC Radio 3. Loubet is also the recipient of the Drake Yolanda Award 2022 and Arts Council Lottery Project Grant 2023 for her SENGA UK Tour.

Guri

Inês Loubet - Guri

Irini Arabatzi has quietly been bringing her uplifting presence and sublime vocal talent to the UK jazz and soul scene for a few years now. But we've yet to experience her vision and songwriting in a solo context. 

2024 is the year that all changes. The lightest of touches fuses exemplary pop sensibilities with folk and soul sounds and rhythms. Her guitar threads through evolving soundscapes while memorable melodies anchor each moment. She holds a song is a beguiling introduction and just a hint of what is to come with her debut EP this spring.

She Holds A Song (for I.)

Irini Arabatzi - She Holds A Song (Radio Edit)

Irini Arabatzi - She Holds A Song

If warm, cosy and comforting could be captured in a piece of music, Remember This is that song. Gentle, slow and lovingly played, this is Rupert Cox doing what he is truly great at.

Rupert Cox's debut album is a brilliantly diverse collection of melodic ideas that adventure through sounds from downtempo jazz, through ambient soundscapes and into uplifting, joyful melodics and rhythm. 

Each song, beautifully sonically captured and resonant with layers of instrumentation, rewards in different ways. But all the while Rupert's strength as an in-demand pianist shines through. 

Songs have already gained support from Deb Grant on BBC Radio 6 Music's New Music Fix show, NTS Radio in London and further afield.

Remember This

02. Rupert Cox - Remember This (Single Edit)

Mörk (pronounced Merk) have consistently been producing some of the finest jazz funk and psych soul for years now. A central player in the Budapest jazz scene their performances as a band are energised and effortless. 

It's their songwriting which really places them on another level though. Tight falsetto hooks, delivered by guitarist and vocalist (and occasional electric sitarist) Mark Zentai, glide across a rhythm section that can oscillate from driving and syncopated to comfortably laid back without effort. 

Towards the Sun jumps immediately into soul disco beats and bass that would sit comfortably on a Thundercat record and continues to elevate to higher levels of energy. An uplifting underground hit to herald the coming spring.

Towards The Sun

Mörk - Towards The Sun

There’s A; Is a tunnel of time and space angling and landing into an expression of resolve over a heavy distortion driven climax with a pep talk. It’s the wild card of the debut album. 

The heavy rework by Wonky Logic takes it into a more dancefloor oriented direction, while retaining the oddness of the vocal delivery and as expected some general wonkiness. 

Wonky Logic is prolific and has played a huge part in the London jazz scene, including being a founder of Steam Down. His current writing and producing projects include Sons Of Kemet, alongside Nache aka Edward Hick, The General Elation Soundsystem alongside Brother Portrait and Nadeem Din-Gabisi. He is currently writing and performing with Nala Sinephro (Warp Records) with synth bass, afrofuturist band ONIPA and has recently played on Emma Jean Thackray's project Um-Yang alongside Soweto Kinch.

Andrea’s own story dots between periods spent living in Norway, the Philippines and England - experiencing joy and beauty battling corruption and violence in Manila, DJing in Oslo, losing her sizable record collection in a warehouse fire before making friends and family in the jazz scene in London. Every story needs a scene, a landscape, an environment; all things Andrea visualises when writing songs.


Andrea is far from new to the scene, having performed with Steamdown, Emma Jean Thackray, Hector Plimmer, Scrimshire, William Florelle and many more as a valuable and inspiring creative force within the South London music scene. 

Andrea also created the album’s artwork and music videos: musicality and painting evolved from her initial creative languages of drawing and dance. All aspects are dialects of her common language: singing what can’t be painted and painting what can’t be sung.

Andrea says “It has been a long time coming in cultivating a first body of work and I have a lot to say and ways I want to say it. I made this music with my most cherished people, I painted every cover, and I imagined and performed these films. As an introduction it is so important that everyone gets to meet me, deeply, bare, and as quirky as I really am. I feel at peace putting this album out, because I know it is my truth”.

There's A (Wonky Logic Remix)

And Is Phi - There's A (Wonky Logic Remix)

Mörk (pronounced Merk) have consistently been producing some of the finest jazz funk and psych soul for years now. A central player in the Budapest jazz scene their performances as a band are energised and effortless.

It's their songwriting which really places them on another level though. Tight falsetto hooks, delivered by guitarist and vocalist (and occasional electric sitarist) Mark Zentai, glide across a rhythm section that can oscillate from driving and syncopated to comfortably laid back without effort.

Towards the Sun jumps immediately into soul disco beats and bass that would sit comfortably on a Thundercat record and continues to elevate to higher levels of energy. An uplifting underground hit to herald the coming spring.

Mörk - Towards The Sun (Radio Edit)

Inês Loubet is one of London's most exciting multi-instrumentalist, songwriters and singers, navigating the influences of Jazz, vibrant latin-grooves and her native language, Portuguese. 

Her third single, Olha o Rio, is perhaps one of the brightest and most addictive sambas on her debut album. It digs even deeper into the roots sound the album thrives on. Starting intimate and traditional Olha o Rio builds to an irresistible chant and melody carried by flute and guitar. 

Loubet has performed alongside Brazilian legends Gilberto Gil & João Bosco and cowrote and performed on the incredible Caravela album Orla on None More Records. 

"An extraordinarily accomplished debut by a band with something to say" 4 out of 5 stars - Songlines Magazine on Caravela's Orla

"One of the albums of the year so far!" - Strut Records on Caravela's Orla

Loubet's projects have been praised by the likes of Gilles Peterson and The Line of Best Fit, as well as earned her several UK and international tours and radio appearances at Jazz Fm and BBC Radio 3. Loubet is also the recipient of the Drake Yolanda Award 2022 and Arts Council Lottery Project Grant 2023 for her SENGA UK Tour.

Olha o Rio

Olha O Rio

Download

Inês Loubet - Olha o Rio

Inês Loubet - Olha o Rio (Radio Edit)

Inês Loubet is one of London's most exciting multi-instrumentalist, songwriters and singers, navigating the influences of Jazz, vibrant latin-grooves and her native language, Portuguese.  

"The inspiration behind this song came from growing up in Porto, Portugal, surrounded by a Cape-Verdean community of musicians, and as I developed a deep connection with my friends, I also witnessed the racism they faced on a daily basis. In the song, I write a letter that I needed to get off my chest, enumerating a number of things that have to dramatically change in our society so we can finally live in a more just world, so we can all stand up against racism. I say “each one of us is responsible for doing their part, thinking deeper than our grandparents, enough of the same jobs, enough with the rude jokes”. I wrote it in the Cape-Verdean rhythm Coladera. This special track features brilliant master percussionist and composer Peu Meurray, London-based tenor saxophonist and producer Mark Cake and accordion player Marcelo Andrade. "

Loubet has performed alongside Brazilian legends Gilberto Gil & João Bosco and cowrote and performed on the incredible Caravela album Orla on None More Records. 

"An extraordinarily accomplished debut by a band with something to say" 4 out of 5 stars - Songlines Magazine on Caravela's Orla

"One of the albums of the year so far!" - Strut Records on Caravela's Orla

Loubet's projects have been praised by the likes of Gilles Peterson and The Line of Best Fit, as well as earned her several UK and international tours and radio appearances at Jazz Fm and BBC Radio 3. Loubet is also the recipient of the Drake Yolanda Award 2022 and Arts Council Lottery Project Grant 2023 for her SENGA UK Tour.

Senga

Sab Sabim

Inês Loubet - Sab Sabim

Qwalia is the experimental, improvisational home for a quartet of some of London’s most prolific and inspiring musicians. 

Led by drummer Yusuf Ahmed (Joy Crookes, Anoushka Shankar, Unknown to Known), much of the band’s music to date surfaced in a single two-day session at the Fish Factory in Willesden, West London. 

Although improvisational at its core, the band’s fluency and innate musicality makes it hard at times to believe these pieces weren’t written and developed over weeks, rather than conjured in the moment, with no prior rehearsal. Qwalia’s music is an instinctive aural expression of how things seemed in the moment of creation.

Featuring Ben Reed on bass (Frank Ocean, David Byrne, Richard Russell’s Everything Is Recorded), Tal Janes on Guitar (Jordan Rakei, Cherise, Waaju) and Joseph Costi on keys and synths (Cat Stevens, Tom Herbert, Heidi Vogel), the band’s debut album ‘Sound And Reason’ was released by Alberts Favourites in March 2023.

One year on we’re excited to share the first music from a new batch of songs. Omega is the very definition of a slow burn, emerging from the quiet pulses of a drum machine, the band lock quickly into Ben Reed’s lyrical bass line in a brooding but ever expanding ascent that you feel could confidently journey onwards forever.

Omega

Qwalia - Omega

Laid back soul sounds as the inimitable Andrew Ashong joins forces with Albert's Favourites label founder Jonny Drop. 

Sultry vocals compliment the yearning sound of horns (courtesy of former Funk Lovin' Criminal, Brian "Fast" Leiser) and mellow, warm bass movement. A magical combination dropping hints of what's to come on the full length LP in April.

The Puzzle Dust MP3s

The Puzzle Dust

Jonny Drop • Andrew Ashong - The Puzzle Dust

"I'm obsessed with this" Deb Grant, BBC Radio 6 Music


Mörk have consistently been producing some of the finest jazz funk and psych soul for years now. A central player in the Budapest jazz scene, their performances as a band are energised and effortless.

It's their songwriting which really places them on another level though. Tight hooks, delivered by vocalist (and occasional electric sitarist) Mark Zentai, glide across a rhythm section that can oscillate from driving and syncopated to comfortably laid back without effort.

Astral Visions is a new collection of songs that displays the full range of inspirations and influences of the band. From psychedelic soul to disco infused jazz and afrobeat.

A deep feature from Brother Portrait really projects the cosmic ambitions of this beautiful set of songs.

Astral Visions

Heaven Sent

Qwalia is the experimental, improvisational home for a quartet of some of London’s most prolific and inspiring musicians.

Led by drummer Yusuf Ahmed (Joy Crookes, Anoushka Shankar, Unknown to Known), much of the band’s music to date surfaced in a single two-day session at the Fish Factory in Willesden, West London.

Although improvisational at its core, the band’s fluency and innate musicality makes it hard at times to believe these pieces weren’t written and developed over weeks, rather than conjured in the moment, with no prior rehearsal. Qwalia’s music is an instinctive aural expression of how things seemed in the moment of creation.

Featuring Ben Reed on bass (Frank Ocean, David Byrne, Richard Russell’s Everything Is Recorded), Tal Janes on Guitar (Jordan Rakei, Cherise, Waaju) and Joseph Costi on keys and synths (Cat Stevens, Tom Herbert, Heidi Vogel), the band’s debut album ‘Sound And Reason’ was released by Alberts Favourites in March 2023.

One year on we’re excited to share the first music from a new batch of songs. Omega is the very definition of a slow burn, emerging from the quiet pulses of a drum machine, the band lock quickly into Ben Reed’s lyrical bass line in a brooding but ever expanding ascent that you feel could confidently journey onwards forever.

Qwalia - Omega (Radio Edit)

Pep Talks is an epic, electronic ballad that has been in the making for over 12 years. Scrimshire writing with frequent collaborator Dave Koor originally created the sounds and basis of this song back around the time of his 3rd album Bight in 2012. But the song coincided with a temporary break from the Scrimshire project and the original demo stayed quietly on a hard drive for years. 

In 2017 as he began the production of 4th album listeners, Adam decided to resurrect the song and invited another long-time collaborator, Stac to write the vocals for the piece. But as Listeners evolved, the song struggled to find its place on the album. Time and again, it resurfaced, for Believers Vol. 1, then as a completely reproduced piece for an unreleased album in 2024.

But now it sees light of day as a part of a forthcoming Forgotten Songs EP, Scrimshire's occasional compilation series of songs that slipped through the gaps. 

Cosmic, spacious, with stuttering beats reminding us of his earlier more electronic influenced productions, Pep Talks is a jewel of a track that we're so glad is finally out in the world.

Pep Talks

Scrimshire - Pep Talks Feat. Stac (Radio Edit)

For a song that was written originally about getting back out into the dance, Footshooter has taken an ethereal jazz exploration of the theme and flipped it directly into the centre of the dancefloor! 

Infectious broken beats and bass are surrounded by delicate piano and soothing vocal hooks, all allowing And Is Phi to rise above the white noise and elevate the spirit. 

"This is the recovery song playing in your soul the first time you made it back out to the dance floor on your ones after a heart break so massive it laid rest to the person you used to be."

White Noise (Footshooter Remix)

And Is Phi - White Noise (Footshooter Remix)

Qwalia is the experimental, improvisational home for a quartet of some of London’s most prolific and inspiring musicians. 

Led by drummer Yusuf Ahmed (Joy Crookes, Anoushka Shankar, Unknown to Known), much of the band’s music to date surfaced in a single two-day session at the Fish Factory in Willesden, West London. 

Although improvisational at its core, the band’s fluency and innate musicality makes it hard at times to believe these pieces weren’t written and developed over weeks, rather than conjured in the moment, with no prior rehearsal. Qwalia’s music is an instinctive aural expression of how things seemed in the moment of creation.

Featuring Ben Reed on bass (Frank Ocean, David Byrne, Richard Russell’s Everything Is Recorded), Tal Janes on Guitar (Jordan Rakei, Cherise, Waaju) and Joseph Costi on keys and synths (Cat Stevens, Tom Herbert, Heidi Vogel), the band’s debut album ‘Sound And Reason’ was released by Alberts Favourites in March 2023.

Majolica

Qwalia - Majolica

I'm A Joke is another shining example of Irini Arabatzi's power to balance light and dark to perfection. A confrontation, facing down wilful misunderstanding and preconceptions to accept her own power and nature. While the music almost skips forward into energising and memorable choruses. 

Irini Arabatzi is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and performer. 

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, she began her music journey while growing up in Brussels. 

Inspired by the Greek records of her parents she began to absorb traditional folk sounds but also to discover jazz and improvisation during 12 years of piano classes. Music remained a vital ingredient of her life when she returned to Greece, attending the Athenaeum Conservatory. After performing all around the country and with some of its most famous artists, she moved to Scotland to continue her education and met with artists like Corto.Alto, Fractus Band and Fergus McCreadie. 

After arriving in London in 2018 she began her first solo musical project which is now coming into the world via south London soul and jazz label Albert’s Favourites. Her debut EP, to be released in June 2024, is a collection of intimate yet uplifting songs, produced alongside her brother Manolis. The music is saturated with beautiful melodies and full of light.

Songs For Them

I'm A Joke

Irini Arabatzi - I'm A Joke (for W.)

A deep feature from Brother Portrait really projects the cosmic ambitions of this beautiful song. Leaning heavily into afrobeat influences, the Steamdown and Touching Bass regular delivers a calming and expansive monologue that takes this earthly beat into the stars. 

Mörk (pronounced Merk) have consistently been producing some of the finest jazz funk and psych soul for years now. A central player in the Budapest jazz scene their performances as a band are energised and effortless. 

It's their songwriting which really places them on another level though. Tight falsetto hooks, delivered by guitarist and vocalist (and occasional electric sitarist) Mark Zentai, glide across a rhythm section that can oscillate from driving and syncopated to comfortably laid back without effort.

Dromedar

02. Mörk - Dromedar Feat. Brother Portrait

01. Mörk - Dromedar Feat. Brother Portrait (Single Edit)

Hector Plimmer
Eastern System Ft Drahla b/w Kalimba
Albert’s Favourites
DL / 7” Vinyl
ALBF-7002

Albert’s Favourites are proud to present Hector Plimmer for the labels third release.

Hector burst onto the scene in 2014 with an appearance on Gilles Peterson’s ‘Brownswood Bubblers” Vol 11, alongside beatsmith Al Dobson Jr, jazz luminaries GoGo Penguin, and the ever soulful Moonchild. He went on to win the PRS Steve Reid InNOVAtion Award, firmly cementing himself on the ‘ones to watch’ list.

We started bumping into Hector around Crystal Palace, and he presented himself as a deeply humble man, quiet and introspective - and with a killer selection of vinyl, but it took a support slot at Soho’s Sounds Of the Universe (supporting fellow producer and long term friend Wu-Lu) to really turn our heads. 

Hector’s beats are constructed like small sculptures, each one with its own influences and palette, but all with a very signature sound. 

Eastern System is a real beat workout, with traces of Asia in its melodies, Africa in its rhythms and a stunning choral arrangement. This, layered with a charming and somewhat nostalgic main vocal, eventually turns into a hypnotic chant towards the close. A beautifully subdued track that still manages to deliver powerfully on the dancefloor.

Flip the disc and you meet ‘Kalimba’, another pulsing beat that’ll have you hooked right from the start. Frantic percussion and a wonky Kalimba drive this track along, pushing you into the middle section where it breaks down to drums and synths, transforming what was previously acoustic into electronic, pushing the track directly into 2016.

You can catch Hector around London, playing records and playing live. He has a regular show on NTS Radio – 92 Points – and also runs his event ‘Crates’ Upstairs at the Ritzy in Brixton. He is part of this years EFG London Jazz Festival, performing at The Forge in Camden on the 11th November.

We are also excited to announce that Hector will be releasing an album with us early 2017. Stay tuned!

Eastern System

"I love The Expansions their futuristic leanings inject new life into the form. Fresh material!" Ian Merchant (Black Acre)

“Exudes all the qualities I cherish most in music, warmth, integrity and a dedication to the groove… it’s a hard road to travel when you step in the footprints of giants, The Expansions are treading that path with ease and assurance.” Patrick Forge

"Coming off something like the UK's more jazz-funk fueled answer to BBNG, all four quarters of this monstrous unit are on point on this hugely anticipated release. There's got to be a very special long-player in the works, and I for one can't wait to immerse myself in that!" Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) 

“The Expansions, very funky! Headhunters/Weather Report inspired, and definitely worth checking out. My new favourite band.” Steve White (Style Council, Paul Weller)
=========
When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer. 

Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance. 

Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. 

Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return. 

Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending. 

Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale. 

Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker. 

The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line. 

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.

Murmuration

The Expansions - Cannonball

Jonny Drop - Last Winter

The Sunflower is like no other. A flower of ultimate dedication, it basks in the glory of sunbeams all day, it’s head constantly and carefully tracing the source of light and warmth’s every move. A superb ally to nature anywhere it is found, it has unique nutritional value, oils and seeds available to all who cultivate it. It’s the reason they are found across the globe.

This is the ethos behind Ronin Arkestra. Formed in Tokyo in 2017, Ronin Arkestra brings together some of the finest and most creative players in Japan’s Jazz and and electronic scene. The collective includes members of Kyoto Jazz Sextet, WONK, Cro-Magnon, Root Soul, Sleepwalker, Sauce81, Kyoto Jazz Massive and, of course, band leader Mark de Clive Lowe. 

Kicking it all off is ‘Stranger Searching’, where lush electronics meet beautifully executed Jazz in full story mode. A constantly driving beat push this track along through its various chapters, with each member of the band given time tell their tale. Horns from Shinpei Ruike, Kohei Ando and Wataru Hamasaki tie everything together in beautiful harmony.

Ronin Arkestra - Stranger Searching

Won't Get Better

02. Scrimshire - Won't Get Better feat. Emma-Jean Thackray

Listeners

Scrimshire - Don't Stop Here feat. Ego Ella May

‘Joyfulness’ ft Alexa Harley is the new single from Hector Plimmer’s second album 'Next To Nothing'. The smouldering track was described for Resident Advisor by Chal Ravens as “A thick soulful laminate...multiple takes melting together like candle wax.”

Hector expands on the origin of ‘Joyfulness’: “We recorded the vocals for ‘Joyfulness’ at Adam Scrimshire’s house. After recording 12 takes of Harley’s vocals I half-jokingly asked Adam to play all the takes together, Harley is so on point that they all layered pretty much perfectly and that is how they stayed. Forget doubling a vocal, Alexa Harley duodecuples!”

Previous single ‘Somebody Else’ ft Andrew Ashong enjoyed a month on BBC 6 Music’s playlist with tracks also supported on radio by Jamz Supernova, Benji B, Moses Boyd and Worldwide FM. Influenced by beat-makers like Flying Lotus and Theo Parrish, but with the subtleties of the classic Metalheadz era drum and bass, his album 'Next To Nothing' was released on 25th October 2019 and featured guests Ego Ella May, Emma-Jean Thackray, Andrew Ashong, Pie Eye Collective and Alexa Harley. The album was covered by tastemaker press including Resident Advisor, Crack Magazine, Hyponik, The Vinyl Factory, Stamp The Wax and i-D.

Hector Plimmer - Joyfulness feat. Alexa Harley (Radio Edit)

Huw Marc Bennett creates a warm, deep, retro groove, the sound of sun kissed vinyl. He draws on Tim Maia, Augustus Pablo and Idris Muhammed as much as he does the Jazz scene and community he has found in South East London, with a streak of ‘Sain Records’ brand welsh phycyedlia running through the whole thing. 

Tressilian Bay started out as a long lost live session recorded at the  Total Refreshment Centre studios, featuring Chelsea Carmichael (Sax), Rosie Turton (Trombone) Shirley Tetteh (Guitar) Jake long (Drums) with Huw at the helm on bass and compositions. Huw utilised his human style of production and multi instrumentality seen in his project Susso (Soundway Record) as well as the glorious vocal contributions of Miryam Solomon, to mold these recordings in to this mature and emotional debut, with a subtle nod to hedonistic summer nights, whether spent on the glamorgan coast or the hot lewisham streets.

Blue Lias

Huw Marc Bennett - Blue Lias

Before lockdown put a temporary end to parties, Village Cuts were behind one of the fastest growing parties in London. Focused on dance music from further afield, the Village Cuts duo easily blend Rhumba, Cumbia, Highlife, Afrobeat and beyond with the unmistakable sounds of the UK underground. And a fast-developing catalogue of exceptional remixes is now supporting that. 

Taking the massively popular Penya collaboration, Tanto Tiempo, from Scrimshire's 5th album and giving it an altogether more bass and beat heavy workover, the Village Cuts remix even delivers all new brass section and cut up vocals for a perfect party heater. Heavy music, ready for whatever the summer brings.

In 2020 Albert’s Favourites co-founder Adam Scrimshire released his fifth album 'Believers Vol. 1’, featuring guests And Is Phi, Bessi, K.O.G., Omar, Xana & Faye Houston, Penya, Stac and Tamar Osborn. The album draws from Scrimshire's passion for jazz, soul and electronic music of all styles; from energetic Afro-disco through lushly orchestrated neo-soul to harmonious jazz experiments.

Popular tracks by Albert's Favourites