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https://uniri.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-reflections

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https://orcd.co/Uniri-Oumuamua

Amané Suganami - Prophet Rev 2, Moog Mother 32
Al Macsween - Prophet 6, Moog Subsequent 37
Luke Wynter - Electric Bass
Chiminyo - Drums

All music written by Chiminyo, Amané Suganami, Al Macsween and Luke Wynter
All music produced by Chiminyo
Mixed and Mastered by Aviv Cohen
Recorded at 224 Studios by Matteo Musetti
A&R: Łukasz Wojciechowski
Cover Art: Ricky Byrne
Graphic Design: Animisiewasz
Photo: Jordan Rawi

www.astigmaticrecords.com

© 2024 Uniri
(P) 2024 Uniri & Astigmatic Records
All Rights Reserved


Every 20 years or so, certain musical movements come full circle. Young musicians are inspired by genres dating back two decades, channelling them through their modern sensibility. The legendary J Dilla’s Donuts album was released in 2006 and instantly marked a starting point for the work of musicians worldwide, laying the foundations especially for the beat scene in Los Angeles. A whole young generation of musicians brought up on the new, instrumental and abstract hip-hop has carried jazz into a new era. The four London-based musicians who make up Uniri have gone one step further by abandoning the idea of a jazz band and "bedroom production" in favour of collective composing, creating a new look at the new-beat aesthetics, framing it as a road novel set in an unspecified time and space.

Uniri translates as ‘one unified dream’ and is the key driving motto of the project conceived by Chiminyo (Cykada, Maisha), the band's founder and head honcho. The project materialised in his private studio, where he invited fellow jazz musicians Amane Tsuganami (Jorja Smith, Maisha), Al Macsween (Nubya Garcia, Gary Bartz, Kefaya) and Luke Wynter (Nubyan Twist, Golden Mean) to spontaneously compose together. Hence, despite this being the band's first album, it wouldn't be right to call them rookies. The result of Uniri's collaborative work is the psychedelic, rhythmic album Infinite Reflections, packed with cosmic and warm synths, which neatly balances hip-hop beat and jazz composition. It's safe to say this music is even more appealing when played live, although it's equally suited to the club dancefloor.

UK Jazz has become a permanent fixture in the London landscape, but also across Europe and the US. Today, the musicians who shape the new wave of jazz are drawing on more and more genres, reducing solo improvisation for the benefit of composition and increasingly drawing on influences from the beat scene. Among such formations are the British NOK Cultural Ensemble, the Polish Błoto, the Belgian ECHT!, and the Dutch Comité Hypnotisé. Uniri is part of this emerging yet already international trend, creating an entirely fresh aesthetic that echoes artists such as Flying Lotus, Samiyam, Dorian Concept, Ras G and Nosaj Things oriented around the Californian 'new beats generation' scene.

The title Infinite Reflections alludes to a phenomenon observable on the open sea or during intercontinental flights. Gazing at the horizon blurs the boundary between the ocean and the sky, forming an infinite palette of blue shades. This inspiration sparked an elusive musical narrative, navigating between a sea voyage and an astral journey, destination unknown.

The album will be released by Astigmatic Records in digital, CD, and LP formats in both standard and limited editions. The pre-sale begins on March 1st on the Bandcamp platform, with the album scheduled for release on March 29, 2024.

Infinite Reflections

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Uniri - Oumuamua

Interstellar Fantasy

Stasis Loop

Buy / Save it here: https://orcd.co/animabreathe

Anima, the opening number from harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and saxophonist Tony Kofi's collaborative musical journey, Altera Vita, is a captivating ode to life’s very essence, breath. Intrinsically entwined with our existence, ‘Anima’ – Latin for soul – finds its symbiotic relationship with breath, deeply rooted in mythic lore. Ancient civilizations believed it to be the gods who 'breathe', or bestow the Ka - a life force or soul - onto an individual, marking the beginning of their existence.

Anima serves as a perfect entry point into the expansive universe of ‘Altera Vita’. The composition begins with a harp intro that guides the listener into a serene ‘other world’ where Kofi’s saxophone and Bzhezhinska’s harp engage in an intimate dance echoing stories of existence, questioning and responding to each other’s musical cues. The interspersing cadences achieve a resounding echo of life's rhythm, adding layers of atmospheric depth and a hint of percussive texture, creating a rich tapestry of sound.

The spotlight, quite deservedly, falls on the razor-sharp precision and controlled mastery of Kofi’s saxophone performance. It inhabits a central space in this ethereal ensemble as it intricately weaves through the narrative of the track. The saxophone's voice, both poignant and assertive, offers a compelling focus that harmoniously fuses with the exotic and beguiling strands of Bzhezhinska’s harp.

Together, they envelop the listener in an aural spectacle spanning five minutes, designed to cleanse senses and uplift spirits. It captures the transient quality of breath – the raw, unadulterated phenomena that fuels the existence of every living entity. Anima, in essence, transcends the ordinary and celebrates the profound connection between breath and Anima (soul).

Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi - Anima - Breathe

https://hanlitzgroup.bandcamp.com/album/the-universe-is-magic-feat-kid-sublime

Han Litz ft. Kid Sublime - 'Face The Flute (edit)'

Today's premiere from rising duo BOREAL SUN is a must hear for fans of contempory jazz, soul and West African rhythms. 

A collaboration between vocalist Liselotte Östblom (Sput, Ghost-Note) and producer/multi-instrumentalist Matt Roberts (Cleo Sol, Jorja Smith), BOREAL SUN are set to release their highly anticipated second single ‘New Beginning’ via Bridge The Gap on Thursday 7th March. Another taster of forthcoming debut EP ‘Dawn’, it follows the success of "future jazz & broken beat" tinged "< html > Code", which premiered on BBC Radio 6 before finding support across the likes of Jazz FM, Rinse FM and NTS.

"New Beginning" sees the duo channel West African influences into a utopian tale of endless possibilities and opportunities to flourish. The optimistic lyrical tone is mirrored by uplifting melodies, the dancing flute of Gareth Lockrane, impressive, flowing horn arrangements and the driving percussion of djembe master Yahael Camara Onono (Balimaya Project).

Dawn

Bandcamp

Exclusive Premiere: Boreal Sun "New Beginning" (Forthcoming on Bridge The Gap)

Barton Springs

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Zac Colwell - Barton Springs

Finn Rees, one of the key members of Melbourne’s bubbling music scene, announces his debut solo album, Dawn Is A Melody on Mr Bongo with the first single, ‘Looking Up’. As part of 30/70 and Close Counters his previous work has found form in its groove, Dawn Is A Melody instead places the piano and arrangements centre stage, embracing a timeless warmth infused with bittersweet melodies and saturated textures.
 
The lead single ‘Looking Up’ is a divine dose of uplifting, soul-rousing optimism that kicks off the album. A blank canvas for Finn and a whole host of Melbourne’s finest talent to fill with colour. Sitting between spiritual and cinematic, the track instantly envelops you in a swell of vintage hues, Lucky Pereira feathering the drums as Blakely McLean Davies riffs on the double bass. Finn’s fingers flow across the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano, delicately dancing around Siwei Wong’s stunning harp playing as the track builds and breaks. A sublime string section made up of Chloe Danger, Eunise Cheng, Nils Hobiger and McLean Davies, alongside shimmering vocal harmonies by 30/70 bandmate Allysha Joy, lift the track to limitless heights.
 
Finn’s layered synthwork on the Moog and Prophet provides a contemporary touch to proceedings, but one of the beauties of ‘Looking Up’ and the rest of the Dawn Is A Melody is its inability to be placed by age or era. A blend of inspirations from Arthur Verocai to Alice Coltrane, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to Kamasi Washington, tied together with recording and mix engineer Henry Jenkin’s vintage recording setup warmth.
 
Just as the swell washed in at the start, the tide draws ‘Looking Up’ to a close, fading back out across the horizon as the sun sets another story.

Finn Rees - Looking Up

Transmission Towers are operational, broadcasts have been received across the globe. Transmission One is inbound and ‘Sparse’ is the second oscillation from Mark Kyriacou and Eleanor Mante’s highly anticipated debut album, on Luke Una’s E Soul Cultura label. A stripped back, slo-mo cut of heads down, Detroit-flavoured deep house merged with futuristic machine soul.

The foundations for ‘Sparse’, laid with a pulsating kick and echoing rimshot, are simple, raw and immediately effective. Claps and clicks interject like strikes of light through the darkness. Channelling sonic architects such as Theo Parrish and Ron Trent, sounds with signatures bring an emotional presence. Pensive chords and deft piano keys sweep you up, with that subwoofer shaking bassline, rattling across the cosmos. Anchoring the track, Eleanor’s vocals entice from the depths with a soulfulness that is threaded through all of what Transmissions Towers do. 

Late-night reflections, cross-temporal reverberations, ‘Sparse’ is a timeless slice of emotive brilliance.

Transmission Towers - Sparse

The next single from New Regency Orchestra’s self-titled forthcoming album comes in form of Manuel Sánchez Acosta’s salsa sensation, ‘Papa Boco’. Originally written by the Dominican physician and composer, the band took inspiration from a different 1962 arrangement, made by bandleader and timbales maestro, Orlando Marin. 

For this fresh reimagining of ‘Papa Boco’, the 18-piece big band of New Regency Orchestra keeps the essence of Marin’s arrangement whilst adding their explosive flair to proceedings. An Afro-Cuban-flavoured warmth washes over you from the off, with Latin percussion and a swell of peaking horns kicking the song into gear immediately. Stepping forth, Jose Cesar’s commanding vocals give a distinctive depth to the recording that sets it apart from Marin’s version. 

With bandleader Eliane Correa on the keys and at the helm, the salsa energy is amplified through her scintillating and syncopated chords. As the track peaks, the groove swaps from 4’s to 3’s for the breakdown slipping into sensuous territory before bursting back into the dynamism of the full orchestra’s power.

A respectful yet contemporary take on a salsa gem from one of London’s most electrifying new acts.

New Regency Orchestra - Papa Boco

‘Expansion’ is the second single from Melbourne-based, Finn Rees’ forthcoming debut album, Dawn Is A Melody. A Brazilian-inspired, spirit-embracing jazz immersion, that nods to greats like Luiz Eça, Dom Salvador and Cesar Camargo Mariano yet showcases the vibrancy of Finn’s contemporary palette. 

Further illuminating the microcosm of colour that is Dawn Is A Melody, ‘Expansion’ explores the connection between the worldly and those cosmic realms that float in between, with the help of some of Melbourne’s finest musicians. Igniting the track, Lucky Pereira’s exquisite drumming marries with Blakely McLean Davies’ strutting double bass playing, as a Latin touch shines through Dom Kirk’s percussion. 

Sitting at the helm, Finn’s signature mastery across the keys from the ‘70s Yamaha grand piano to the warming tones of the Rhodes, elevate your mind to a weightless dimension. Enhancing those earthly measures, he taps into the cosmic-channelling Moog to add an undertone of interstellar electronics.  A foundation that gives ground for the triplet of horns to form a harmonious unison, Audrey Powne on trumpet, Cheryl Durongpisitkul on tenor sax, Josh Moshe on alto sax, all gliding as one. 

Both grounded and galactic, it’s an intricate, soulful and spiritual jazz journey with a depth and richness that is perfectly saturated by recording and mix engineer Henry Jenkin’s vintage recording setup.

Finn Rees - Expansion

Turning Again * Instrumental

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

Transmission Towers - Sparse

Mr Bongo

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