RHYTHM SECTION HQ - part 3

Level 7

Zoë

Buy / Stream: https://LateNightTales.lnk.to/needledrop

As accomplished producers, Session Victim have been intent on delivering a characteristic body of work for uninterrupted play. With ‘Needledrop’, Session Victim have landed with significant inspiration from the lavishly textured and subtly layered jazz and soul compositions that found their way into late 90’s trip hop. Fusing an array of live instrumentation and organic melody, ‘The Pain’ incorporates electronic touches whilst skillfully holding intact a chugging groove, bringing listeners on a hypnotic journey complimented by an echoed soothing vocal sample.

“‘The Pain’, which we wrote at Hauke’s place in Berlin, was one of the last tracks on the album to come together. Right from the start this one had a different vibe that we felt was an essential piece to the overall record, channelling something more serious and urgent but ultimately uplifting” – Session Victim

Directed by Peter Malla, the accompanying video offers a visual representation for the context of the track. Delivering an intimate and cinematic piece shot across London containing an ever-pressing theme and sense of perseverance, optimism and gaining strength through adversity and pain.

“The story follows an injured skateboarder as he struggles through the process of healing. Through his physical impairment, his other senses become heightened, bringing a strengthened awareness and grounding, highlighted in the garden scenes. What he gains from his experience, ultimately builds him into a stronger skateboarder, once he’s back on the board” - Peter Malla

German duo Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling, are no strangers to releasing quality, long-format albums. Whilst riding through a discerning community of DJs, the pair have previously released three albums on tastemaker label ‘Delusions Of Grandeur’ culminating in 2017’s ‘Listen To Your heart’. 

‘Needledrop’ is their fourth studio album and is set for release on ‘Night Time Stories’, the London based sister label to the coveted ‘LateNightTales’. The release marks a notable shift towards the downtempo dynamic of fellow masters of the LP format, such as Nightmares on Wax and DJ Shadow, artists that have played a strong influence in Session Victim’s varied output over the last decade.

Session Victim - The Pain  - Snippet

In November 2019, eight artists from Kenya, Uganda and the UK spent a week in Nairobi together exploring new tangents in soul music.

The group, collectively known as Extra Soul Perception, is made up of Faizal Mostrixx (Ug), Hibotep (Ug), K15 (UK), Karun (Ke), Labdi (Ke), Lex Amor (UK), Lynda Dawn (UK) and Maxwell Owen (UK).

Every day of the writing camp they worked with a new combination of artists, putting their powers of improvisation and collaboration to the test. The result was a body of work that reflected their range of backgrounds, interests and disciplines: acapella harmonies, soft spoken word, transcendental gqom, razor sharp swahili rap, bumping broken beat and beguiling RnB. The tracks capture a spirit, unique to a place and time that won’t be replicated again; an energy and atmosphere forged by open minds and prodigious talent.

The first EP of music made in Nairobi will be released in Spring 2020, titled New Tangents in Kampala, London & Nairobi Vol.1. It features five tracks by all eight artists in different combinations, and three cameos.

A1 Lex Amor, Hibotep & Faizal Mostrixx -Ancestry
A2 Maxwell Owin & Xenia Manasseh feat. Joe Armon-Jones - Probably Never
A3 Lynda Dawn & Bes Kept - Roses
B1 Faizal Mostrixx & Karun - In My Soul
B2 K15 & Labdi - Utokapo

Leading the EP out is first single ‘Probably Never’, by London DJ and producer Maxwell Owin with Nairobi singer Xenia Menasseh, featuring pianist Joe Armon-Jones. The track was born out of a series of improvised moments that epitomises the spirit of ESP. A low-slung gospel-sampling beat Max was playing around with late at night with no real purpose, whispered lyrics laid down in minutes on the final day in the studio during an unplanned-but-welcome cameo, and keys added by a supportive housemate as it was being finished in London.

It followers EP teaser ‘In My Soul’, released earlier this month featuring Kampala dancer and producer Faizal Mostrixx with Nairobi singer Karun rapping in Swahili for the first time; as if Obongjayar had been processed through a Hyperdub filter.

All five tracks from the EP will be performed live for the first time on the ESP. tour, featuring all eight artists performing solo and collaborative sets:

22 Feb: The Jazz Cafe, London
23 Feb: Band on the Wall, Manchester
24 Feb: 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool

Tickets and info about the project: www.extrasoulperception.com

ESP. is supported by British Council, Arts Council England and Analogue Foundation.

Level 7

DawiT

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