Mr Bongo proudly presents the debut album from Tasmania-born, Melbourne-based, Finn Rees. Gliding across a swirling palette of saturated hues, Dawn Is A Melody feels vintage yet vibrant, new but familiar at the same time. A spiritual, deep and textured jazz record, tipping its hat to greats from the past, capturing memories and reformulating them into new ideas with the help of some of Melbourne’s finest talent.

Expert keys player for the likes of 30/70 and Elle Shimada, alongside one-half of Close Counters, this debut LP was Finn’s conscious departure from the realm of groove-based jazz. Instead, Dawn Is A Melody places the piano and arrangements centre stage, giving Finn and his fellow Melbourne crew freedom to explore the spaces in between, new emotions and alternate soundscapes.

In Finn’s own words: “My intention with Dawn Is A Melody was to create a world; a microcosm of colour. Something rich and beautiful that allowed the melodies and compositions to reach their full potential. It was driven by hope, curiosity and the search for beauty and reassurance in this ever-changing world. The emotion behind the music is really about the journey of life, growing up and changing, as well as my relationship with Tasmania’s natural landscapes where I grew up, a part of the world that is incredibly unique and beautiful.”

The album arcs between opening, middle and end. Beginning with the optimism of ‘Looking Up’ and ‘Lagoon’, the former a celestial, string and harp marbled slice of positivity, the latter a spiritual journey of exuberance and hope, Finn’s fingers dancing across the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano. From there the songs blossom outwards with the cinematic soulful journey of ‘It’s Behind Me Now’ and Brazilian-inspired ‘Expansion’, as the divine ‘Crossing’ signals a transition to a new realm. The energy is transformed from the rich cosmic textures to a more intimate and personal feeling with ‘Ablaze’, ‘Between Spaces’ and ‘As It Passes’ which blissfully fades down to simply piano and strings to close out the record.

Recorded at Rolling Stock in Collingwood, Melbourne, Henry Jenkins was drafted in as recording and mix engineer, his minimal vintage mic setups giving a live aesthetic and warmth to the arrangements. Lucky Pereira and Blakely McLean Davies form the rock-solid rhythm section, with a hand-picked line-up of other Melbourne talent on display, including Cheryl Durongpitikul on tenor sax, Siwei Wong on harp, Audrey Powne on trumpet and Allysha Joy on vocals to name only a few.

Plotting a course from Alice Coltrane, through Herbie Hancock, to Arthur Verocai, this is a debut nourished by the past but firmly made in the present. A record unable to be age-stamped, casting ambiguity as to when, what era and by whom it has been crafted. Like a vintage lens capturing a current scene, Dawn Is A Melody is warm and familiar yet focused on the here now.

Finn Rees - Between Spaces

A message for Music Lovers:

Don’t forget to feed your soul with Music 
Don’t get old with Music - live it
Don’t get used to Music
Don’t get asleep with music - listen to it between ur sheets
Don’t fuck up with Music

Love it
Touch it
Feel it 

Whatever Summer song, Winter track, Autumn Leaves. Tout ça . BUY at least one of my music friends tracks per month ! 
#BUY1m

Please...
For Gil
For Miles
For Prince
For Meshell
For Herbie
For ATCQ 
For Antonio ‘Kane’ Hardy
For LL
For Yuji O
For the Mizell Bros
For The Three Sounds
For Bilal
For Erykah
For The Roots
For Rob’G
For Jorja S
For XXX
For Shiloh Dynasty
For Rxseboy
For Seon
For Giveon
For Savage Gasp
For O’Mys
For Mach-Hommy
For Papithbk
For Christian Scott
For Adrian Younge
For Madlib
For MFDoom
For Anouar Brahem
For Joji
For Melodiesinfonie
For Chance
For SZA
For JAE R
For Alfa Mist
For Tyler the C
For Sampa the G
For Jimmy D
For Roper Williams
For Mark Saunders
For DJHarrison 
For Knxwledge 
For Ibrahim Maalouf
For Asal Hz
For Yoshimi
For IvanAve
For Little Simz
For SwuM
For Rook1e
For (Sean) Rosati
For Dahm
For Nakisounds
For love-sadKiD
For Swarvy
For stwo
For Little Simz
For Camoflauge Monk
For TGF
For Kevmo
For Fee-nicks
For Liv.e (_Osun)
For Pink Siffu
For Nia Nicole
For potsu 
For B. Cool-Aid
For Ahwlee
For Ohbliv
For Yussef Dayes

For NTS radio
For NPR Music
For  Fantasy Records
For TBM
For Black Jazz Records 
For L’OrangeMusic
For Leaving Records
For Jakarta Records
For Akashik Records
For Paxico Records
For Mutualintentions
For Brainfeeder
For Mello Music Group
For Jellowstone Records
For Roche Music
For StoneThrow
For Warp Records
For Brownswood Recordings
For BBE
For Okayplayer
For Delicious Vinyl
For Pendulum
For BGP
For Acid Jazz Records
For Big Cheese Records
For Jimmy Jay Production
For Groove Attack Records
For Elektra 
For Interscope
For Jive
For Assassins Production
For Talkin’Loud
For Bongo Records
For Naïve
For Maverick 
For Night&Day
For Enja 
For ECM
For SMALL label 
For WildPitch Records
For Epic
For DefJam
For Cold Chilin’
For PIR 
For Soul Brother Records
For Columbia Records
For Riverside
For Polydor
For Warner
For EMI
For Arista Records
For Stax
For Atlantic Records 
For Impulse
For CTI
For Motown Records 
For Blue Note Records
...

PeaceTous

Record label. Record shop. Film label. Since 1989.