Portuguese music producer Nery returns to his mother label Madluv Records, responsible for his long-play debut, and delivering an intricate and dreamlike 7'' vinyl. Moreover, the prolific and Berlin based producer Glenn Astro - that has been rooted to Ninja Tune, Tartelet Records and Termina (formerly Money $ex Records) over the last years - was invited to remix Nery's 'Snake's Head'; additionally, Nery also joined forces with the Portuguese multi-instrumentalist and producer Lewis M., and together did a rework of their own previous collaboration 'Jealous'.

If Nery's music is consistently shaped by unconventional grooves, psychedelism and leftfield realms, in 'Jealous Rework', both himself and Lewis M., took the rework concept to a brand new meaning/level by forging a whole fresh cosmos, not ever dismissing their original 'Jealous' heritage. As for Astro's remix, the level of confidence he showed by stripping down the original vocals and turning it in a experimental jazz instrumental, clearly shows how crafted he is: The drums and the bass programming are brilliantly exquisite to the point you will ask yourself who are those musicians. and when you least expect both Astro's signature and Nery's universe come together with finesse.

A1. Nery - Snake's Head (Glenn Astro Remix)

We are excited to premiere the dreamy-yet-intense psychedelic pop sounds of “Sod” by Cloud of I. Taken from the forthcoming 'Gazing' EP on Batov Records.

Cloud of I was conceptualised by singer, songwriter and front woman, Yuli Shafiri, in a Paris squat, and realised back home in Tel Aviv. Inspired by nature and earth, Cloud of I blurs the lines between fuzzed out psychedelic acid folk and intense, layered electronic euphoria, full of influences from the Middle East, Europe and beyond. A reflection of her wide reaching roots, from Latvia and Lithuania via Israel to Iraq via India.

On “Sod”, Yuli's hypnotising vocals are bedded in layers of shimmering guitars and Afrobeat inspired drumming from the school of Tony Allen. Yuli tells us "I want the listener to enter an ecstatic meditative state". Cloud of I marks Yuli’s first project of her very own, following extended stints fronting art rockers, The White Screen, and the Turkish 70’s psych influenced Satellites.

Asked about her recent dealings with inactivity and how she experienced 2020 she is serene and positive, having gone off–grid she continued creating and performing in the open air, under the stars, and around bonfires. The fire is most definitely burning. As Cloud Of I look ahead and dream, we can enjoy this first foray that sees them literally reaching for the skies.

Cloud of I’s ‘Gazing’ EP sees release on vinyl and digital on June 4th on Batov Records.

Exclusive Premiere: Cloud Of I "Sod" (Forthcoming on Batov Records)

La villette un dimanche matin, prise par la main par Varieras qui nous fait danser, emerger et même un peu chanter pendant ces 50 minutes

[DJ SET] Varieras au réveil

Hour 1
Georgy Porgy - Toto w/ Cheryl Lynn
Nights in Havana - Blue Lab Beats
Jewels Of Thought - Rebecca Vasmant
The Makings Of You - Curtis Mayfield
If You want Me To Stay - Ari Lennox
Jungle Strut - Ramsey Lewis
Chilvary is Not Dead - Hiatus Kaiyote
Memory of Our Love - Donny Hathaway
All That I Want - Braxton Cook

Hour 2
On & On - Erykah Badu
Beyond The Stage - Carmen Rodgers
Right on for The Darkness - Curtis Mayfield
Song for Everyman - New Rotary Connection
That Cuban Rhythm ft Regis Molina - Arema Arega & Born 74
Time Just Stops ft Jimetta Rose, Ian Roller, Josh Howard - Elusive
Brotha - Jill Scott
Splash Radar* - Turbulance
Company (re-work) - Yakul ft. Mereba

Hour 3
I Want To Ta Ta You Baby - Leela James
Summer Madness - Khruangbin
Show Me - Raquel Martins
It’s All Over Your Body - Jose James
Red Room - Hiatus Kaiyote
Clever Austin - Hiatus Kaiyote In Convo
On The Red Clay - Mark Murphy
Damage - Terrace Martin & Brandee Younger
I Want You To Know Me - Deyampert

Jazz FM Tony Minvielle on Sunday 13/6/21 guest Hiatus Kaiyote

London-based keyboardist/producer Dan Nicholls (of Y-OTIS) introduces a new album project ‘Mattering And Meaning’ to be released by We Jazz Records on August 13th. Nicholls' music uses acoustic piano as its key element, transporting the instrument into new territories that sound remarkably natural and organic, whilst displaying a strong kinship with the world of abstract electronic music. The music utilises piano loops and field recordings as its key elements, forming what might be described on the surface as a fascinating ambient jazz record – but at the same time there's so much more at play here on deeper levels. Dan's music sounds at once otherworldly and immensely inviting.

With its uncanny landscape of fine sand drifts, juniper fields and pine, the ancient Beerze forest in the North-East of the Netherlands is a site of many unusual convergences of human and other than human stories. 'Papa' continues to unravel the threads of a deep artistic collaboration and kinship between pianist and producer Dan Nicholls and the Dutch filmmaker and anthropologist Louise Boer. These fuzzily collaged images and sounds represent a common love for finding the in-between places in which ideas can find deeper roots, channeled here through a dreamlike world which holds within it the location in which Louise’s father, Henk Boer, found his final resting place.

Mattering and Meaning

Exclusive Premiere: Dan Nicholls "Papa" (We Jazz Records)

Sweet Lemonade Sisters were live with two hours of RnB, hip-hop, UK rap and disco tracks from the likes of Chunky, Faith Evans and Aisha. Later in the show they’re joined by Sophie Faith to chat about her inspirations, her path so far and what she has been working on recently.

Sweet Lemonade Sisters w/ Sophie Faith - June 2021

We are delighted to premiere the sublime sounds of “No Words”, by Awkward Corners, featuring acclaimed multi-reed player and Collocutor chief, Tamar Osborn.  Taken from ‘Amateur Dramatics’, Awkward Corners AKA Chris Menist’s second LP in the space of a year. 

Awkward Corners is Chris Menist, percussionist for The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band​, in-demand DJ, NTS radio host, compiler for the likes of Finders Keepers​ and ​Soundway, and writer for esteemed publications such as Songlines, Straight No Chaser and FACT. 

Awkward Corners started life as a small project in Islamabad, where Chris was living at the time. Initial recordings were made with local musicians in Pakistan and then subsequently in Thailand. This culminated in the​ ​’Sweet Decay​’ split LP on Finders Keepers’ Disposable Music​ in 2014, anda limited tape release on Boomkat/Reel Torque of original compositions and re-edits of Thai 45s the same year. 

Jumping a few years ahead, having relocated to the UK Chris began recordings for ‘Dislocation Songs’ in reaction to Brexit, collaborating on many of the tracks with award-winning performer Sarathy Korwar. The album’s release on Shapes of Rhythm in May 2020 marked his first full album. Catching the mood of the times and offering an incredibly fresh sound, it was hailed across the likes of NTS, Resonance FM, BBC 6 Music, Balamii and of course our own site and made Tom Ravenscroft’s LPs of 2020.

In 2020 – a time when the global pandemic gave artists more time and space to think about their music – Chris took his collaborations and compositions to a different level. Having already collaborated remotely with Sarathy Korwar amongst many others, Chris turned his thoughts towards a new project. 

‘Amateur Dramatics’ builds on foundations of the meditative, devotional electronic aspects of previous LP ‘Dislocation Songs’ but this time frames it more in a spiritual jazz context with significant collaborations with Collocutor’s Tamar Osborn on four tracks, and also for the first time, a vocal collaboration. The result is a thoughtful and deep listening 40 minute listening experience.

“No Words” heralds the first collaboration with Tamar Osborn - founder of acclaimed jazz ensemble Collocutor, frequently heard performing and recording with the likes of Dele Sosimi, Maisha, Emanative, Sarathy Korwar and ILL Considered. 

With a rhythmic bed of Tamar’s bass clarinet and Chris’ electric piano, the space is there for Tamar to grab an alto sax and solo above. As we reach the centre of the composition, the clarinet steps out of its loop and begins to engage with the saxophone. An LP standout, “No Words” underlines the progression from ‘Dislocation Songs’ to a more collaborative, and detailed approach with deeper levels of instrumentation.

 ‘Amateur Dramatics’ is released on Shapes of Rhythm on August 20th, and is available to pre-order now from Bandcamp.

Pre-Order

Exclusive Premiere: Awkward Corners "No Words" (Forthcoming on Shapes of Rhythm)

Karl Bos returns with the June instalment of Deeper Cuts, running a 60-minute selection of fresh Jazz music. This month includes cuts from Dave Okumu, Emma-Jean Thackray, Amaro Freitas, and more.

Deeper Cuts w/ Karl Bos - June 2021

Dune's First Light

Lotus Boy

Waiting on the Sun

Future Classics & Forgotten Treasures — Selections for the Adventurous Music Listener (Founded in 2007 by Lexis)

Exclusive Premiere: Awkward Corners "No Words" (Forthcoming on Shapes of Rhythm)

Music Is My Sanctuary

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