London-based duo Kit Sebastian share their new single ‘Agitate’, a wake-up call from the ambiguous political position many find themselves in today. It is the first track to be taken from their forthcoming sophomore album, ‘Melodi', which is released 1st October on Mr Bongo. ‘Melodi' is a joyous expression of vibrant grooves and sophisticated lyricism that transcends boundaries, borders and social-cultural preconceptions. Those familiar with the band's cult classic 2019 debut record 'Mantra Moderne' will instantly recognise their unique take on world music, jazz and psychedelia. With this next album the duo have expanded their language and concepts and transposed them into something larger and more contemplative.

Written during the first UK lockdown and recorded that summer, ‘Agitate’ is a rallying-cry against pacification by the hegemony. It is a jolting recognition of how it feels being strongly opposed to social inequalities, yet not knowing how to rail against them in a society whose social history is deeply shaped around injustice. Idealising the past yet very selectively or safely remembering it. As the duo explain, "the song calls its listeners to remember, act against injustice and question figures of authority from our daily lives".

They weave a psychedelic tapestry of global influences, with ‘Agitate’ seeing them combining a rather stern Baroque harpsichord reminiscent of old Europe over an undercurrent of saxophones and a rhythm section influenced by global funk. The lyrics are sung in both English and Turkish, which adds another intriguing layer of depth to the track. A delicious taster of what is to come from a highly-anticipated album.

Agitate

Download

Kit Sebastian - Agitate

Kempton (Phil Stroud Remix)

Future-soul duo and WheelUP's label mates Anushka reworked the slick-summer-groove 'Good Love' for label Tru Thoughts. The release will also feature a remix by Dutchman Thijsenterprise and 'Rise Above' by WheelUP himself. 

Release date: July 15th
Full article: www.steppinintotomorrow.com

Rise Above feat. Abacus / Remixes

★ PREMIERE ★ WheelUP - 'Good Love ft. Afronaut, Destiny Will & Brint Story (Anushka Remix)'

Love In Dreams is the most cacophonous piece of music on the new Scrimshire album, Nothing Feels Like Everything. 

Synthesisers, saxophones and clarinets spin around, in and out of each other through a driving, secret waltz. Melody after melody flows through the expansive space of the song, one hook follows another, all topped off with a beautifully frenetic solo from London saxophonist Idris Rahman. Rahman, also known for his work with Ill Considered, Wildflower and Soothsayers delivers over and over through the maelstrom of sound. 

Beauty and power go hand in hand in this enveloping new piece of music from Scrimshire. 

So many of us head back out into the world post-lockdown, with a different perspective on the overpowering nature of it.

Nothing Feels Like Everything, looks deeply at how the absence of something can be just as overwhelming, whether the absence of physical contact, the absence of love, the absence of empathy and respect.

This album uses gentleness beside power and cacophony to recreate the vast swings of emotion experienced in isolation. When nothing can be too much, while at the same time, all we want.

The sixth studio album from Scrimshire is an atmospheric and emotional experience. Moments of swirling orchestral energy perfectly countered by quiet, meditative calm.

Nothing Feels Like Everything

Love In Dreams

Scrimshire - Love In Dreams feat. Idris Rahman

Artwork by Joseba Eskubi - www.josebaeskubi.com

Imago Mundi

We are delighted to premiere the soothing and hypnotic sounds of "Manyanet", the second single to be lifted from Venezuelan singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Isaac Sasson's forthcoming 'Canciones de Isaac' album on Olindo Records.

“Manyanet” is a sonic postcard dedicated to the small town of the same name in the Catalan Pyrenees, which inspired Isaac through its landscapes and sounds. It was one of the first songs Isaac wrote and recorded in Barcelona, Spain following his move from Venezuela, and contains a mixture of field recordings captured during his visit, juxtaposed with the sounds of Caracas during a rainy afternoon.

Due for release in January next year, the intimately titled album, ‘Canciones de Isaac’, summons the sounds of the wind, birds, crickets, fallen leaves and the atmosphere of both Caracas by night, and daytime walks through the meadows of the Pyrenees, to create a parallel universe between Isaac’s home country of Venezuela, and his current place of residence in Barcelona, Spain. 

Throughout the LP, Isaac’s gentle voice is accompanied by the traditional bandola llanera, charango and cuatro; various percussion and wind instruments; and carefully arranged strings. The 13 songs on the album develop a narrative built around personal stories that touch upon human emotions, family ties and friendships, to craft a collection of sonic postcards that evoke memories, places, travels and moments spent with loved ones during the musician’s journey between two continents.

"Manyanet" is released on Wenesday, 8th of December on Olindo Records, and will be available on all streaming platforms, or download via Bandcamp, where the album can also be previewed and pre-order on vinyl, CD and/or digital formats, with limited additional merch.

Exclusive Premiere: Isaac Sasson "Manyanet" (Forthcoming on Olindo Records)

Music is My Sanctuary is excited to present a track from UK based producer and selector Arnheim. Taken from his latest 12” release coming out on the 16th of December via his Barbara Recordings imprint, the deep richness of Arnheim’s trademark sound is best exhibited in the hypnotic chords and raw layers of the track “Leeway”.  

The release is about love lost and gained during an introspective period during the lockdown. The themes of love continue through each track, and their titles are suggestive of place in time within such love lost/gained process - a process of love towards oneself, another, and everything in between.

https://soundcloud.com/arnheim

Exclusive Premiere: Arnheim "Leeway" (Barbara Recordings)

This is the first in a new monthly series I'm hoping to do for 2022: "Knowledge Breaks." Each episode will be a short mix of breakbeats and samples from my collection, overlaid with excerpts from some of my favorite inspirational, radical people. 

When I was thinking of who to feature first, my partner Bina made the great suggestion of starting with the incredible bell hooks, who sadly passed last month. bell hooks wrote about love, Black liberation, feminism, and so much more. Her book "All About Love" was and is very important to me. I highly recommend everyone seek out her work, especially those involved in the educational or academic fields.  Many of the interviews that I excerpted on this tape were from a series hosted by the New School, and I hope everyone checks out the full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/c/thenewschool/search?query=bell%20hooks

There is no way to do justice to legendary people like bell hooks in such a short little mix. These are just a few excerpts I found compelling. The goal of this mixtape series is after a year, have a nice little compilation of voices, beats, breaks and knowledge. I hope everyone digs it, and searches out more from all of those featured. Please share!

Knowledge Breaks

bell hooks

Knowledge Breaks: bell hooks

We are excited to premiere "Suits You", the deep and stirring lead track from Manchester soul outfit Lovescene's forthcoming 7" single via Band On The Wall Recordings. 

Lovescene are at the forefront of Manchester’s soulful scene - comes out hot on the release of the group’s debut album and is an irresistibly rich mix of velvet RnB, groove-laden soul and driving floor filler. A-side "Suits You" adds to the canon of RnB torch ballads in its lament over unrequited love. It sees Pops Roberts’ vocal soar high over gently rolling percussion, murmuring low-end and comparatively bolder guitars and keys that pull the track between hushed sadness to more heart-rending grief.

The full release is slated for April 8, with the bodymoving-orientated "	
Overnight (Dancefloor Mix)" on the flip.

The Singles Club

Exclusive Premiere: Lovescene "Suits You" (Band On The Wall Recordings)

Love, You Are Too Late

Award winning artist and producer Plutonic Lab returns today, releasing music that comes drenched in striking R&B tones: new single, ‘Good Thing’. 

Featuring frequent collaborator, vocalist Natalie Slade, ‘Good Thing’ revels in nostalgic and romantic vibes. Plutonic Lab, applying his expert ear for melody and arrangement, constructs a beautiful, dreamy soundscape that Slade’s rich vocals weave effortlessly throughout.

The genesis of ‘Good Thing’ started - as with most sonic ideas - in the studio, with Plutonic Lab working on different ideas at his Wurlitzer electric piano. The cyclical melody, coupled with the chords, became the base of the song and from there, ‘Good Thing’ would grow into something great. Inspired by the Wurlitzer melody, Slade found herself creating within a sonic scope that was built on beautiful decadence and fantasy.

“It gave me the space to dream and so I wrote a story about a lush romance.” Natalie Slade

The fantastical elements of ‘Good Thing’ make the track an immersive listen. 
“Never give up on your good love, I won’t,” Slade sings, as orchestral strings swell around the lush production. The addition of brass and rhythmic builds beautifully, giving ‘Good Thing’ a rich vintage sound. 

“I created a demo for Natalie that already had the basic drums (which were a kind of slow samba), strings, bass guitar and the Wurlitzer electric piano parts, I also added that popcorn synth sound that plays the melodic counter to the piano. I named the beat ‘Wurly Dreams’ and I think the title inspired Nat to write the song”.  Plutonic Lab

Plutonic Lab and Slade have been collaborators for years, with Slade appearing on previous Plutonic Lab offerings, as well as their group project SOUNDS LIKE FRANCO. Slade has also been courting international attention for her solo work; her signing to UK label Eglo Records seeing her in the company of artists including Fatima and Floating Points.

Across the years and releases, the duo’s dynamism has strengthened; a strength that comes across so easily in ‘Good Thing’. It’s soul music that evokes memories of decades gone by, while still putting a fresh and contemporary foot forward.

‘Good Thing’ is the next offering from Plutonic Lab’s forthcoming EP ‘New Ruins’. Stay tuned for more music and info in the coming weeks.

Plutonic Lab Feat. Natalie Slade - Good Thing

Low Key Source is a record label based in Australia that releases music from across the globe