25.1.23

1999. The jazzy detroit masta… Needs no more. This will always go off.

Moodyman - Shades Of Jae

Today's premiere is an irresistible taste of Melbourne soul by upcoming vocalist Sunny Reyne.

Melbourne has been a fervent hotbed of talent for some time now, when it comes to forward thinking soul and jazz - not least of all giving us Hiatus Kaiyote, 30/70, Allysha Joy and Mildlife, just to name a few, so it isn't a complete surprise to discover another interesting artist break out to the wider world with chops and grooves worthy of our attention.

Beautifully crafted, rich and soulful, with stripped back instrumentation and a vocal delivery akin to the earthy sounds of Lianne La Havas, and compatriots Nai Palm and Allysha Joy, "Carefully" is the first single to be lifted from Sunny's forthcoming debut EP, produced by Lewis Moody, of 30/70 and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange.

Bandcamp

Sunny Reyne "Carefully" (Forthcoming Self Release)

Upcoming UK neo soul  starlet B-ahwe returns with a tasty remix of "Fall Into", one of our favourite tracks from her 2021 'Motions EP', by Leeds beatmaker apltn.

Leeds' experimental hip-hop and nu-jazz producer apltn is a mainstay of exciting label start-up 'Well Overdue', and is a long-term collaborator of B-ahwe, TAMBALA and LAUSSE THE CAT. 

His signature, glitched-out, experimental hip-hop provides a fresh take on 'Fall Into', with shades of Flying Lotus by way of Hiatus Kaiyote.

Exclusive Premiere: B-ahwe "Fall Into" (apltn Remix)" (Forthcoming)

We are thrilled to present a first taste of the upcoming album from our talented friend, Toronto-based producer and DJ Korea Town Acid.

Her newest work is titled “Elephant In The Room” and once again explores the boundaries between club and home listening. Spread across 12 tracks, it features collaborations with fellow-Canadian artists Hood Joplin, Zander Miller, Khrono.K and Driftnote helping her navigate through moods, tempos and micro genres.

We asked KTA three questions about her newest album.

Can you tell me about the creative context and process in which the new record was made?

Coming out with a full-length album seems like It’s world building. conceptual, progression, changes of direction, try and error, it’s a whole journey till you eventually let it go.

I built a small modular rack and new laptop last fall and started recording in december thru may. I try to fire everything up and really play by ear and try to capture the organic moments in the studio. It’s unpredictable but that’s what’s exciting about the creative process. believing in one’s machines fullest-potential.

There are many different styles, emotions, tempos spread across the record. Both in your production and DJIng you seem to always want to explore the boundaries…

My assumption is that I have ADHD so my mind wonders, I am also a curious person ,I get easily excited about stuff and get bored of it quickly, I always try to push the boundaries, so I don’t get tired of what I do and keep my interest in different baskets whether that’s productions, DJing or playing live hardware, and use all mediums of music, digital, vinyl, hardware, vsts, etc. I keep these different sources as my stimulation of interest intact in rotation.

What is your unrealized musical dream?

I would like to do work overseas, visit Seoul and do sound scoring for film producers like Bong Joon Ho or Park Chan Wook, and work with rappers like E SENS, Kim Ximya and CL. Also interested in learning and curating “Music Therapy” sessions.

“The Elephant In The Room” drops August 26th, via legendary Canadian imprint URBnet.

Elephant In The Room

Pre-Save Album

Exclusive Premiere: Korea Town Acid "Idiom" (feat. Driftnote)

Back at it with a MIMS favorite - Arnheim! 
Something from his forthcoming 12" in Barbara Recordings, a deep and moody synth and keys-driven banger in his now signature style. 

The EP is out on August 26th.

Otherwhere / Losing It / Not Today's Security

Exclusive Premiere: Arnheim "Losing It" (Barbara Recordings)

New music today from Agile Experiments, true believers of the freedom principle, who live up to their reputation for having the heaviest abstract grooves on "if you believe”. 

Taken from forthcoming album, ‘These Are Time For Mind And Spirit’, which sees the ever-evolving Agile Experiments return with their sharpest record to date, "if you believe" patiently unravels over a uniquely voiced drum groove building toward ecstatic echo walls of layered saxophone bliss. 

The de facto leader of Agile Experiments, and sole constant, is drummer, bassist and producer, Dave De Rose. Whilst incredibly busy recording and self-releasing albums, he also finds time to record and tour with Gnawa fusionists, Electric Jalaba, and has performed alongside the likes of Mulatu Astatke and Róisín Murphy.

According to Dave De Rose, "this title (if you believe) is stolen from a Meshell Ndegeocello lyric "if you believe that your god is better than another man, how will we end all your suffering?"... I'm often thinking about belief, whether in religious or non religious contexts. I made up my own belief over the years. It's not static belief, it's flexible and evolves with me and my understanding of life as I carry on gaining information. It borrows from old faith systems and mixes them with scientific research not belonging to either. Always open. This track is mysterious, it builds in a subtle, constant manner, small details keep bubbling in showing you a bigger picture before it dissipates. You can pay attention or you can just let it sweep over you, just like life and belief in things we don't understand".

De Rose is joined by Jon Scott (of Go Go Penguin) on drums and George Crowley (of Melt Yourself Down) on saxophone and machines. Together they pursue the perfect meeting point between free improvisation, irresistible groove and enveloping sound. 

‘These Are Time For Mind And Spirit’ is Agile Experiments' 11th release in four years. This fertile communal project continues to proliferate without repeating itself due to its creative methodology, receiving support across BBC Radio 6 Music, The Wire, Jazzwise, Worldwide FM and NTS. 

Agile Experiments is a method of creation rather than a band; The setting of a frame of mind that encourages the musicians to unleash their utmost creativity placing no limit on their imagination. This absolute freedom increases the will of the musicians to give their most selfless self, guiding the musical direction of the recordings collectively through original pathways that are beneficial to artist and listener alike.

Exclusive Premiere: Agile Experiments "if you believe" (Forthcoming on Dave De Rose Records)

I was watching videos of the Pharoah Sanders concert a few days after the end of the recent We Out Here festival. He was evidently frail and unwell, perhaps even uncomfortable after not setting foot on stage for three years.  

However, even through a phone screen, you couldn't help but get goosebumps once he blew into the saxophone. His charizma, aura, and sheer emotion, as always, shining through. Sadly it was to be his last. The torchbearer of Coltrane's legacy and his one true heir, passed away just a few weeks later. 
  
Born Farrell Sanders in Little Rock, Arkansas, Pharoah picked up the saxophone in his teenage years. He briefly moved to the West Coast to study art, before going to New York to take part in an exciting new jazz scene led by his idol, and later mentor, John Coltrane. Alongside Eric Dolphy, Archie Shepp, and Albert Ayler, he would become one of the most sought-after saxophonists in what was dubbed - avant-garde jazz. Pharoah Sanders joined Coltrane in 1965 and spent the next two years as his protege. After Trane's passing, he continued to take his music to new dimensions, furthering his journey into African and Eastern philosophies and eventually, becoming the face and driving force of what is now known as - spiritual jazz. 

From Alice Coltrane to Floating Points, Pharoah would collaborate with numerous musicians over the decades. However, for this tribute, I decided to focus on strictly his solo output and showcase the mastery of the albums he recorded for Impulse!, Strata East, and Theresa from the late sixties to the early eighties.

Rest in Jazz Pharoah Sanders (Oct 13 1940 - Sept 24 2022)

Tribute to PHAROAH SANDERS - Selected by Spacewalker

** PRESENTING THE FIRST OFFICIAL REISSUE PROJECT FROM MUSIC IS MY SANCTUARY ***

Born out of an era of occupied squats and DIY artist spaces, the Geneva-based “total art” collective had to cross an ocean to start finding an audience.

For us, the love affair with Black Citron’s music started when we first came in contact with two of their tracks appearing on a very obscure Montreal-based compilation titled ‘L’Album Blanc Vol. 2″.

Their music was experimental and groovy. Minimal and free. Organic and electronic. A sound which you’d have a hard time defining accurately without naming tons of different other genres and bands. One thing was for sure, it sounded cutting edge even by today’s standards.

As we started digging and investigating into the story of these two tracks we soon found out that they actually didn’t originate from our home city of Montreal, but were by a group from Switzerland who recorded them here in the late 80’s in the legendary Foufounes Electriques venue.

Black Citron were a collective of artists that had core members but also had others that would appear based on the project. Musicians, Designers, Photographers. The lead singer Evelyne Schumacher mentions the label “art total” as the best definition overall of the philosophy.

We fell in love with Black Citron, their music, story and artistic approach so much that we embarked on a project to create an anthology of all their work. An archival project we are happy to announce will get an official reissue on vinyl in full collaboration with the collective from Switzerland.

As a first taste of their music, here is “Revolution Rap” released in 1986 on a 7″ private press record under the Clinik alias. An incredible slice of experimental rap / post-punk / minimal drum machines. This track somehow gained an audience in Montreal and open up some doors for the band to travel to Canada and start the cross-Atlantic collaboration.

Although the recorded history Black Citron’s music only spans four years, they made some of most daring and revolutionary songs of that era. It has been a really incredible pleasure for us to dive deep in their catalog to gather their tracks which are spread out on vinyl and cassettes.

As a second preview, a taste of the upcoming reissue project, let’s jump forward to the last record Black Citron released officially, in 1990. Feast your ears on “Les Nouveaux Bisons.

We are in the final stages of gathering tracks, photos, prints in full collaboration with the band. We are beyond excited to bring all of this stunning music together on the definitive retrospective of Black Citron’s music.

More news very soon.

Clinik - Révolution Rap (1986)

Today’s exclusive is very special. Timeless soul, folk and funk from the “Voice” Of South Africa in collaboration with Sweden’s finest jazz and soul collective. 

Strut revives a lost recording from the archives in January with a 2002 collaboration between acclaimed South African folk singer Vusi Mahlasela, singer songwriter Norman Zulu and Swedish jazz / soul collective Jive Connection.

The links between South Africa and Sweden have long been strong with Sweden one of the most supportive European nations in the struggle against apartheid; the government helped to fund the ANC for decades and Mandela visited the country on one of his first European stops following his release from prison in 1990.

Although touring regularly, the collaboration has rarely been documented beyond a lone studio album in 1994. This “lost” recording, discovered in the archives of producer Torsten Larsson, also features songwriter / vocalist Norman Zulu and showcases their natural musical chemistry together. Vusi’s songs have traditionally addressed the struggle for freedom and the need for reconciliation and, here, his lyrics are as powerful as ever, as you can hear on this an unflinching lament on child abuse. 

Producer Torsten Larsson Musik remembers the session well: "It was such a fantastic voyage to work with Vusi and all the Swedish musicians… Vusi and Norman Zulu teaching the Swedish guys to do all their backing vocals in all these different South African languages. I remember I was so impressed by Vusis voice & vocal arrangements, he just put them down live and direct. In the evenings we listened through Sly Stone and Bootsy live records, pretending we're at a live concert, drinking beers and just listening through whole live albums + applause.. great memories. Putting down all these grooves in a few days in Sweden, so much love & fun!"

Store

Exclusive Premiere: Vusi Mahlasela, Norman Zulu & Jive Connection "Faceless People" (Strut Records)

Spacewalker returns one final time in 2022 with another jam-packed monthly dose of Balance!

Arjuna Oakes & Serebii’s sonic soul, dubby street soul from RTSAK, cinematic jazz by Move 78, a Tall Black Guy/Broken Keys boogie remix for Nicola Conte & much more...

Balance 571 > https://soundcloud.com/musicismysanctuary/balance-571-hosted-by-spacewalker

Tribute to Pharoah Sanders > https://soundcloud.com/musicismysanctuary/tribute-to-pharoah-sanders-selected-by-spacewalker

BALANCE #572 - Hosted by Spacewalker

Hold On 2 It

Hold On 2 It (Moodymann Remix)

We've been fans and followers of The Mole for a very long time, so we are excited to share "New Family", a sublime slice of ambient grooves that bumps somewhere between hip hop and house. 

"New Family" is taken from the album, 'The River Widens' on Circus Company.  Originally a limited cassette-only release on Eddie C's Red Motorbike, now due for release on 20 January on double vinyl, full digital release and cassette once again.

Never one to shy away from synth deep dives, or raw sample flip collaging, this collection of 21 works checks all the boxes. Ambient trippers to straight up neck-snapping instrumental beats. Not forgetting tastes of the more uptempo, highly-assured and hypnotic dance floor feels the world has come to love The Mole for. 

Moments of casual chilling are interspersed with effortless, emotive angles, some evoking the charm of his Little Sunshine release for Circus Company in 2017.

The River Widens

Buy/Stream

Exclusive Premiere: The Mole "New Family" (Circus Company)

Remixes by Moodymann, Potatohead People, Moodorama. It's a big honour and pure joy that Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann steps up for one of his rare and precious remix works! The Detroit legend puts his bright and bold sound signature on Inkswel & Colonel Red’s “Hold On 2 It”, turning this piece into a soulful house jewel of the highest format and is another proof that this guy’s playing in a class of its own. Potatohead People from Vancouver have been championed by Soulection, Nightmares on Wax, Questlove, Big Boi a.o. and have releases on Jellyfish Recordings, or NY label Bastard Jazz. The duo has worked with artists such as Moka Only, Kaytranada, Pomo, Phife Dawg a.o. Moodorama’s remixes are trippy dubby jams. Moodorama have a long recording history, starting in the 90s on Stereo Deluxe, but even before that Martin Sennebogen was the DJ and co-producer of Knowtoryus, the legendary first hip hop outfit on Compost.

Link:
@compost
@colonel-red
@Inkswel
@potatohead-people

Inkswel & Colonel Red - Holders Of The Sun Remix EP

APPAREL PREMIERE: Inkswel & Colonel Red - Make Me Crazy (Potatohead People Remix) [Compost Records]

We are delighted to premiere a brand new song from one of our favourite jazz artists, Malcolm Strachan. "Soul Trip" is an irresistible mid-tempo soul jazz number, with a Latin groove. 

Scottish trumpeter and Haggis Horns founding member Malcolm Strachan releases his second solo album 'Point Of No Return' on January 27th, featuring a broad spectrum of styles, from modal jazz grooves to Brazilian samba beats, Latin rhythms to cinematic soundtrack vibes, and along the way, some beautiful ballads.

If the first album nodded slightly to mid-late 1960s classic Blue Note Records type jazz, this one is more reminiscent of the jazz fusion albums that Malcolm‘s jazz trumpet hero Freddie Hubbard recorded for the legendary CTI Records label in the early-mid 1970s. The same groove-based jazz where soul and funk beats are at the heart of the arrangement. Rock solid rhythms that allow complex horn parts and improvisation to float over the top with ease. The ensemble playing is strong and the leader’s trumpet solos show why he’s been one of the most in-demand session musicians in the UK for the last 20 years.

An earlier single from the album showed great promise too, as the heavy dancefloor ready "Cut to the Chase" was one of our favourite tracks towards the end of 2022.

Strachan has recorded and toured with the likes of Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamiroquai, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Jess Glynne, The Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band, Black Honey, The New Mastersounds, Abstract Orchestra and Blue Note Records jazz saxophone legend Lou Donaldson. Of course, he’s also a founder and existing band member of the UK funk kings The Haggis Horns.

Exclusive Premiere: Malcolm Strachan "Soul Trip" (Forthcoming on Haggis Records)

Today’s premiere comes from Ugly Mac Beer, who shares the bossa meets boom bap instrumental “Dolce Vita” with us. 

French producer Ugly Mac Beer, known for his contributions to the breakbeat scene and for founding Beatsqueeze Records, is releasing a new solo album titled ‘The Valley of the Kings’. 

Set for release on January 27, 2023, the album features a collection of obscure samples from around the world, repurposed into heavy boom bap instrumentals. 

With inspiration from 90s productions by genre masters such as Madlib, DJ Shadow, and RZA, the album's concept centers around the search for the ultimate and perfectly heady loop. 

A concept album, ‘The Valley of the Kings’ tells a story of a journey back to the time when the pyramids were built, and is described as Ugly Mac Beer's own "old movie about Egypt".

The Valley Of The King

Exclusive Premiere: Ugly Mac Beer "Dolce Vita" (X-Ray Productions)

Moodyman -  Lyk U Used 2

Moody Blues

Moodyman

Metronom

Rue d'Orsel

Heimweh

Cenário

Intro Azul (feat. Olivia Wendlandt)

Music Lover. Interested in Jazz, Funk, Soul, Elektronic Music, Songwriting, Old Stuff, New Stuff, Hip-Hop.

25.1.23

Julia