‘On The Daily’ is the electrifying first single taken from The Brkn Record’s forthcoming debut album, ‘The Architecture of Oppression Part 1’. A ground-breaking concept album from Jake Ferguson of The Heliocentrics. It is a critical journey through the eyes of black Britons, blending powerful and sobering narratives with psychedelic and soulful symphonies.

‘On The Daily’ is a future anthem that has a timeless quality to it. With flawless production that is relevant and urgent today, but would also feel at home had it emerged from the Cadet Records stable at their 60s and 70s peak. It displays the strength and intimacy of a modern-day Odetta jamming with Charles Stepney. 

A child of Nigerian, West African parents, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, narrates and delivers the song with the strength and ethereal beautify of an avenging angel. Ugochi describes this song as an "attempt to express the degree of power, resilience and focus it takes to be black and in this world. So many forces trying to take our peace of heart and mind. Though the battle rages on, those on the frontline win when we keep our poise and expose the perpetrators of racism and white terrorism."

This song is a clarion call driving awareness to the fact that these things are happening to black people everyday, and you have to be strong to survive this - on the daily.

The Brkn Record

The Brkn Record - On The Daily (Feat Ugochi Nwaogwugwu)

From their forthcoming album - Glenn Fallows & Mark Treffel Present - The Globeflower Masters Vol.1' - Released September 10th 2021.

‘Fear Me Now’ was recorded in the early summer of 2020. It marked a stage in the recording process where the artists wanted to introduce more grit and weight to what they had recorded during previous sessions. Not only did this help balance the album, it also led to a track full of drama, fuelled by deliberate and distinct changes of mood. Akin to how iconic TV soundtracks often utilise musical ebbs and flows to heighten emotions, ‘Fear Me Now’ has an introductory section, which progresses to an unexpected and darker twist in the middle, but ultimately resolves to an uplifting finale. Commenting on the inspiration for this approach, Glenn stated, "I've always loved the Ironside theme music by Quincy Jones as it goes from a deeply sinister intro into something softer, then back to bombastic.  So many mood changes. This track follows a similar pattern.”  

The track is drenched in strings and its arrangement is also heavily influenced by Quincy Jones, in particular his scoring of The Italian Job, which featured a more 'European' sound than much of his other work. Glenn and Mark also single out Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett's 'Black Pearl’ album from 1973 as a reference point. It shares a similar vibe in regards to it consisting of dark TV theme music undertones, but also being short and punchy for library music purposes. This single is yet another enticing glimpse into an album that promises to deliver so much.

Glenn Fallows & Mark Treffel - Fear Me Now

Grace & The Flat Boys' first ever studio single, released ahead of their debut EP due mid-September 2021.

Produced by Ed Meltzer at Meatlocker Studios, Edinburgh.

Recap for Joe

‘Caminhos’ is a tribute to the late samba composer Catoni, featuring the masters lush vocal & guitar samples (with the permission of his family). The hard swinging hip hop track bridges gaps between classic Brazilian samba & bossa nova sounds with hard hitting Dilla-esque grooves, raw funk and boom bap, taking us on a trip to the shores of Rio de Janeiro. “The type of track you could loop forever”.

https://www.musicamacondo.com/2021/09/premiere-abase-caminhos/

Premiere: Àbáse - Caminhos (for Catoni)

‘Melodi’ is the second album from Kit Sebastian. Those familiar with the band's cult classic 2019 debut record 'Mantra Moderne' will instantly recognise their unique sound that blurs boundaries of world music, jazz and psychedelia. Not to be content replicating the same album, sonically the feel of ‘Melodi’ is a maturation. It is more diverse and provides glimpses into many different worlds from the Italian Riviera to the mountains of the Caucasus, the beaches of Bahia to the city streets of Istanbul and Paris. This joyous merging of soundscapes evokes a borderless planet with music as an international language, belonging everywhere and nowhere.

Melodi

Kit Sebastian - Please Don't Take This Badly

Kit Sebastian - Ahenk

Australian jazz funk ensemble Kerbside Collection return with dusty grooves of “Round The Corner”, the second single to be taken from their forthcoming fourth studio album of the same name, following the lush & laidback “‘Glaze”.

Referring to some of the ‘unknowns’ and ‘uncertainties’ around the corner post cv-19, “Round The Corner” is also an uplifting groove affirmation looking forward to the positive things, and seasons to come round these kinds of unknown corners, and the new year ahead.  

In contrast to the cruisy, layered and cinematic first single, ‘Round The Corner’ is a tight, dancy, uptempo, jazz funk burner featuring the group’s core trio raw and upfront. The Rubbery, pulsating electric bass guitar of Lachlan Symons, the silky Fender rhodes (and acoustic piano solo), jazzy guitar licks guitar of Andrew Fincher, and the gritty, razor sharp grooves and percussion of drummer paprika, are all wrapped up into this dancefloor-friendly, contemporary live jazz funk track.

“Round The Corner” embodies some of the current resurgence of live jazz-house crossover sounds coming out of Australia (Horatio Luna, First Beige etc), whilst also reminiscent of Incognito, The Rebirth and Herbie Hancock’s 70’s jazz fusion years. Another sumptuous taste of what to expect on this special new record from ‘down-under’ out on modern funk and soul label Légère Recordings.

Exclusive Premiere: Kerbside Collection "Round The Corner" (Forthcoming on Légère Recordings)

Recorded live on a Sunday evening in front of a small Twitch audience, an hour of jazz joints make up the latest episode of Pullin from the Stacks! Stay tuned for future episodes to be streamed live as well starting in May. No episode next week as I'll be traveling but a new Knowledge Breaks before the month is out...thanks for tuning in!

Tracklist: Donald Byrd, Hampton Hawes, Jazz Traficantes, George Shearing, Frank Cunimondo, Steve Grossman, Stanley Turrentine, Michel Sardaby, Clare Fischer, Atlantis Jazz Ensemble, Mutual Attraction, Build An Ark

April 13 2022

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 195

Recorded this episode right after the Supreme Court leak of the opinion turning back Roe v. Wade, so I had to start it off with an old spoken-word piece from Digable Planets. "The facists are some heavy dudes / they don't really give a damn about life." Words that continue to ring true. If you're able please donate to these abortion funds listed here (rather than Planned Parenthood): https://defector.com/here-are-some-abortion-funds-you-can-donate-to/

Photo credit: http://instagram.com/radicalgraffiti

Tracklist: Digable Planets, Azimuth, T. Takahashi, Gojkovic-Kovacev, Skymark, Raffy Bushman, New Haven Women's Liberation Rock Band

May 4 2022

Abortion Funds

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 197

Ahead of the much anticipated release of Música Macondo's 'Brasil Novo' compilation of deep, raw and contemporary Afro Brazilian samba, we are exited to premiere Grupo Bongar's electric take on Samba de Coco, "Vento Corredor". 

Música Macondo has unearthed eight contemporary Brazilian tracks on compilation 'Brasil Novo', disseminating the rich and percussive heritage of Brazil and Samba De Coco. Selected by DJs Tahira (Sao Paulo) and Tim Garcia (London), the diversity and positivity of Brazil shines, featuring elements of samba, candomble, batuques, jazz, folk and beyond, designed with the esoteric dancefloor in mind.

DJ Tahira is a massive Brazilian music fan and has been on a research journey for a number of years, dedicated to the preservation and archiving of music made or influenced by black and indigenous Brazilians. Based out of Sao Paulo he has a particular interest in the history of Samba de Coco, a folkloric musical form that was very popular in, (and probably originated from), the north east of Brazil, by slaves and indiginous people from working class backgrounds who came together, making a rhythmical mesh of sounds dating back hundreds of years and allowing them to carve a unique cultural identity.

Ignored or disregarded as inferior by Brazil's recording industry, there are few existing original recordings of this music from the twentieth century, relying instead on oral tradition and carnivals like those in Recife or Pernambuco. In recent times there has been a flux of contemporary proponents who mix Samba de Coco with other contemporary Brazilian musical forms. Brasil Novo features both the roots, and more divergent fusions.

In the current cultural impasse that Brazil is experiencing, with artists and musicians experiencing the withdrawal of funding and services and with concerts and clubs yet to get back to pre-pandemic levels, it's never been so important to give visibility to contemporary creativity. This compilation not only gives a needy international platform to new artists, it enables an archive of Afro Brazilian culture that in some cases is disappearing. It’s also a fine example of resistance and positivity, against the odds.

Grupo Bongar, well known in Brazil and internationally, combine all manners of Brazilian folk, axé and samba, whilst they also run a centre for percussion aimed at galvanising musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Exclusive Premiere: Grupo Bongar "Vento Corredor" (Forthcoming on Música Macondo)

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

Kit Sebastian - Please Don't Take This Badly

Mr Bongo