(Giveaway) Keep On Walking

English Garden Stroll

Taken from the album 'Home' - due out in mid-February on Sound of Speed Records.

Culross Close are:

Eli Emmnauel - Bass
Hasani - Percussion & Incense
Anthony Kieron - Keys
Nathaniel Jiddu - Synthesizers
May Goode - Drums


Artwork c/o of Ears -  http://earstotheground.net/

Pre-order

Requiem + Reflections

The Yussef Kamal Trio Live@Jazz - Refreshed

The first taste of the musical delights that comprise the bonus replay disc that will accompany the vinyl reissue of our Static Methods EP later this year. Our friends 30/70 laid down a live reinterpretation of our joint 'Divide,' Skomes on the boards, Cazeaux O.S.L.O on the vocal chords. Dig it. 
Love

Static Methods Reissue

Divide (30/70 Replay)

"I love The Expansions their futuristic leanings inject new life into the form. Fresh material!" Ian Merchant (Black Acre)

“Exudes all the qualities I cherish most in music, warmth, integrity and a dedication to the groove… it’s a hard road to travel when you step in the footprints of giants, The Expansions are treading that path with ease and assurance.” Patrick Forge

"Coming off something like the UK's more jazz-funk fueled answer to BBNG, all four quarters of this monstrous unit are on point on this hugely anticipated release. There's got to be a very special long-player in the works, and I for one can't wait to immerse myself in that!" Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) 

“The Expansions, very funky! Headhunters/Weather Report inspired, and definitely worth checking out. My new favourite band.” Steve White (Style Council, Paul Weller)
=========
When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer. 

Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance. 

Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. 

Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return. 

Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending. 

Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale. 

Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker. 

The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line. 

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.

Murmuration

The Expansions - Cannonball

When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer. 

Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance. 

There has also been a breakout project from drummer Jonny Drop - the album Sub Plot gained massive support and love from BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne. While keys-man Dave Koor has been busy playing shows with Gilles Peterson favourite Hector Plimmer, Shaun Escoffery, and Ego Ella May, improvising with Yussef Dayes (Yussef Kamaal) and Nubya Garcia, releasing music as Deoke and collaborating with label-mate Scrimshire on their Modified Man exploration. 

But always, The Expansions has remained a central focus and the true home of these four jazz and soul lovers, with occasional trips out to the country to form ideas and practice new music for the eventual album. 

Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. 

Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return. 

Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending. 

Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale. 

Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker. 

The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line. 

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.

Miles Away

@abasemusic delivers groove and sateen sweetness on this eight-minute stunner via @cosmiccompositions.

Read more: http://www.stampthewax.com/2018/11/30/premiere-abase-align-feat-wayne-snow/
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/abase-snow

Listen on Youtube

Àbáse - Align feat Wayne Snow (STW Premiere)

Pre-save the album on Spotify:
https://presave.kud.li/jrf0016

Drift Glass

Afronaut - SEED ENSEMBLE

Chris Dawkins is renowned for his work as a session musician and co-writer, penning and playing for Nightmares On Wax, touring and writing with Jimi Tenor and Maurice Fulton, collaborating with Dub pioneer Adrian Sherwood, and co-writing the blockbuster Oceans 11 Soundtrack with David Holmes – to name just a few of his career highlights.

It's now finally time for Dawkins to take centre stage and debut his own body of work... We proudly present to you his glimmering debut solo LP - 'Hero's Journey' - featuring Chris' signature Jazz landscapes, atmospheric trip-hop tips, and groove laden ditties.

Chris describes the thirteen track LP as his very own sonic diary. Each track has something attached for him emotionally. His peers have suggested it has a sound of something like Saint Germain or Air, which is praise indeed, whilst his own summation of this work harks back to his days with George Evelyn, with Chris stating that the listener is sure to hear echoes of his work over the past two decades with Nightmares on Wax on this particular album.

Most of the tracks here are solely of Dawkins’ own creation, however there are two notable mentions on Hero’s Journey. ‘Rootsman In Space’ features the extravagant production skills of Finnish-born Jimi Tenor, who is known for his works with Tony Allen and releases on Warp Records, whilst ‘Signs’ is graced with the delicate vocals of singer- producer-songwriter, and Released mainstay, Jorgie.
When Dawkins makes music he wants it to be colourless, genderless, ageless, wanting people to not think about who’s made it; not to judge it, but more to think about what they’re getting from the music itself... We’d say he’s done an excellent job in representing that ethos with this, his debut LP, ‘Hero’s Journey’.

Exclusive Premiere: Chris Dawkins "Rootsman In Space" Ft. Jimi Tenor

Without You (Featuring Steve Spacek) - Troubleman - Farout recordings 2004

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

Exclusive Premiere: Chris Dawkins "Rootsman In Space" Ft. Jimi Tenor

Music Is My Sanctuary

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