The Brkn Record is a new project led and produced by Jake Ferguson, the co-founder and bass player for the UK’s foundational deep jazz outfit the Heliocentrics. With fellow Heliocentrics co-founder and legendary drummer Malcolm Catto, Ferguson has been a regular collaborator with globally recognised artists including Archie Shepp, Mulatu Astatke, Melvin Van Peebles, Orlando Julius and many others.

The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 represents Ferguson’s debut as a bandleader and orchestrator, and manifests as a committed and soulful response to ongoing and systemic anti-black racism, social oppression and state violence both at home in London and across the globe. Combining poetry, testimony and song with rich and cinematic backdrops, Ferguson has produced a sui generis sound that conjures flavours of Arthur Verocai, Ennio Morricone, classic library productions, Madlib-style deep-jazz beat science, and psychedelic soul. With bandmate Malcolm Catto on drums, Ferguson draws on their long years of collaborative experience in the Heliocentrics to build an album of striking texture and depth. 

But the album does not only reflect Ferguson’s full-spectrum musical prowess, experience and vision. It is equally a manifestation of his longstanding and high-profile work as a frontline activist for racial justice and social equity in London and beyond.

Alongside Malcom Catto, contributors to the album are drawn from the intersecting worlds of community activism, cultural education, politics and music, and include singer and political activist Jermain Jackman, Zara MacFarlane; Chicagoan activist, poet and singer Ugochi Nwaogwugwu; Lee Jasper, longstanding worker for racial justice and former advisor on equalities to the Mayor of London; acclaimed performance poet Dylema; Hackney community leader Janette Collins MBE and Leroy Logan MBE, founder and former chair of the Black Police Association, and the subject of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe episode ‘Red, White and Blue’.

The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 is a singular and urgent chronicle of the black British experience, an upful expression of Pan-African creative unity and community solidarity, and a militant and unbending missive from the frontline in the great tradition of The Impressions’ This Is My Country, Irreversible Entanglements Who Sent You?, Max Roach’s We Insist - Freedom Now Suite, or Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Bass Culture.

A broken record repeats itself, and never plays through – the music is interrupted or trapped in a cycle by damage to the grooves. But The Brkn Record is a work of healing and protection, and a chance to let the full story be heard – all the way to the end, no skips.

The Brkn Record - Hackney Ain’t Innocent (feat. Yolanda Lear)

Getting in the mood for the big kick-off this week.

Ed Lincoln - Se Você Quiser (Mark Wayward Edit)

Balance

Buy / Stream: BBEmusic.lnk.to/RiveGaucheWalking
Already touring extensively thoughout their native France, Rive Gauche is a new live and studio project fronted by Alexandre Destrez, pianist of Saint Germain’s
albums (Tourist & Boulevard).
Fans of Saint Germain’s two stunning albums on Blue Note will be pleased to know that the debut single from Rive Gauche is very much in the same vein.
Smooth jazz grooves, seductive trumpet licks and smokey vocals are the order of the day here, laid over subtle electronic touches and solid beats. First up on remix duties, genre-hopping production maestro Simbad supplies an uptempo and fun jazz-house workout guaranteed to move a dancefloor (DJs should probably practise miming the ‘rewind’). Last but no means least, radio presenter and champion of quality music of almost all shades, Gilles Peterson takes the helm for the second remix. His multifaceted interpretation blends latin jazz vibes with Amen Break sampling drum’n’bass beats, somehow remaining delicate and floaty throughout. Creative and brilliantly realised, we can’t wait to hear what’s next from Rive Gauche.

Walking...

Rive Gauche - Walking... (Gilles Peterson Remix)

Since its inception in 2010, much of Uncanny Valley's output has found its way into our proverbial (and literal) record bags here at Flux. As big fans of both Jacob Korn and Cuthead, we watched the label grow, accommodating releases from the likes of Massimilano Pagliara and Joel Alter. In its relatively short lifetime, Uncanny Valley has become an extremely well regarded label in European house music.

It's a privilege to be hosting an exclusive from the Dresden-based label, but for now we'll leave you with a quote from the press release that summarises the release far more accurately than we ever could...

"Hallelujah, House-heads and Hip-Hop-kids, be prepared. Listen to the word of the Sample Jesus!"

Release date: 15/08/2016 on uncannyvalleyrec.bandcamp.com

Check:
@cuthead
@uncanny-valley-dresden

Return Of The Sample Jesus

First Play: Cuthead - My Love For You [Uncanny Valley]

Myele Manzanza - production, drums, synths 
Mark de Clive-Lowe - piano, rhodes, electronics 
Matt Dal Din - bass

Purchase link here https://myelemanzanza.bandcamp.com/track/freedom-of-movement-red-cross-fundraiser-ft-mark-de-clive-lowe-matt-dal-din

In these turbulent times we're currently living in and an overall fear-of-the-other vibe that seems to be setting in globally, I want to be more proactive about helping make things better for the world around me in whatever capacity I can with the resources and skills I have. One of the issues I feel is of a high importance right now is around refugee resettlement. With many of the worlds governments closing the doors to those in need, it’s more important than ever that individuals who care about human rights do something with their energies that goes a step further than retweeting the latest doomsday articles and clicking ‘like’ on a friend’s post. 

One of the small ways that I realized I could contribute is with music. While I don’t have a huge amount of money, if I can use my music to assist in causes I think are worthwhile then that’s a start. In my home country of New Zealand one of the organizations doing great work in the area of refugee resettlement is the New Zealand Red Cross. Their work on the ground alongside other local organisations in helping refugees to settle into life in New Zealand and help find work is particularly impressive, and their advocacy in pushing for New Zealand to lift it’s refugee quota in light of events across the globe is something I fully support. Their response to the New Zealand Prime Minister’s comments on the US refugee program suspension sums it up nicely… 

“We agree that it is the kiwi way to welcome refugees and believe that New Zealand has been a world leader in this regard,” says Anne Smith, acting Secretary General of New Zealand Red Cross. 

In the current global climate support for refugees, and upholding obligations to protect them, has never been more important. 

Long conflicts around the world have exacted a terrible price on civilians, among them high numbers of women and children and Red Cross is concerned that the current refugee quota in New Zealand does not match the global humanitarian need. 

“The majority of refugees are women and children, an emergency intake could assist some of these families who are most vulnerable,” says Mrs Smith. 

As the primary provider of refugee resettlement support in Aotearoa, Red Cross is confident that New Zealand has the capacity to do more to meet the ongoing humanitarian need. 

“The continual offers of support we have from kiwis demonstrates that people care about what’s happening on the global stage and want to help.” 

New Zealand has a world class refugee resettlement programme which means we are in a position to respond to urgent humanitarian need. An emergency intake now is both possible and urgently required." 

........................... 

Freedom Of Movement is a piece of music I produced in collaboration with Los Angeles based pianist and programmer Mark de Clive-Lowe and Berlin based bassist Matt Dal Din. As a long form and abstract instrumental journey through multiple forms, my hope with this piece is that the modal harmony and off kilter rhythms gives some sense of unpredictability as well as forward motion that is representative of the long and arduous journey a refugee would need to take to find a better life for themselves. 

100% of the artist’s proceeds from the sale of Freedom Of Movement go to the New Zealand Red Cross in their efforts toward refugee resettlement. While I’ve set the minimum buy at $5 on my Bandcamp page, please feel free to donate more if you can. It really makes a difference. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this and helping to support those in a great amount of need right now. 

Myele Manzanza.

Freedom Of Movement (Red Cross Fundraiser) ft. Mark de Clive-Lowe & Matt Dal Din

Rivalling their legendary output from the 70’s onwards, Brazilian jazz-funk pioneers Azymuth’s latest album Fênix saw the band on top form, with their trademark samba doido (crazy samba) sounding as slick as ever. Since then, Far Out Recordings has comissioned a special one-off remix for the project, from Chicago deep-house legend Ron Trent, who has long cited Azymuth as musical heroes and one of his biggest influences. With a toughened groove and gorgeous swirls of synth and pad embelishments, Ron’s remix takes Azymuth’s futurist disco even deeper.

Fenix- Azymuth (Album Version)

Theme from 'Ranger - Portable Presents- RANGEr'

Portable Presents: RANGEr

Ranger - Bazonkonwaba

Liquid Saloon

Side A

1. Naive By Choice 02:52
2. Gueta (featuring Nitai Hershkovits) 04:26
3. Belibi (featuring Eyal Talmudi) 04:54
4. Self Parade 04:16
5. Play Play 03:14

Side B

1. Polaroid Banana 05:53
2. Border Lines 04:30
3. Won’t Be Led By Fear (featuring Jenny Penkin) 03:05
4. Slow Loris (featuring Rejoicer) 03:31

Music Composed by Liquid Saloon
Except Tracks Co-Composed with
Rejoicer (2, 3, 5, 7, 9)
Nitai Hershkovits (2)

Produced & Recorded by Liquid Saloon at Kef Studios
Mixed by Nomok & Amir Bresler at Firehouse Studios
Transfered to Tape by Ran Shem Tov at Vivi Studios
Mastered by Asaf Shay at Halal Studios
Cover Art and Graphic Design by Jengo
Executive Produced by Asaf Shay

Amir Bresler - drums, drum programming, percussion, guitar, bass
Nomok - keyboards
Sefi Zisling - trumpet

with
Rejoicer - keyboards (2, 3, 5, 7, 9), bass (7)
Shlomi Alon - saxophone, flute (3, 6, 7, 9)
Jenny Penkin - vocals (8)
Yonatan Albalak - guitar (1, 5)
Nitai Hershkovits - keyboards (2)
Eyal Talmudi - clarinet (4)

Special Thanks to Elyasaf Bashari, Roi Avivi, Alhaji K. Frimpong, Tal Kohavi, Ebo Taylor, Roni Ful, Uzi Feinerman, Miles Davis & Yigal Havkin

Belibi (featuring Eyal Talmudi)

Upon popular request, TDR presents the instrumentals and re-edits of Tensei's uplifting 'Constellate' release. 

Tensei (meaning "Heaven Star" in Japanese) is the Chicago based producer tandem of Midas Wells and Chris Kramer. The music represents a soulful, electronic and hip hop infused perspective to Chicago's growing spiritual jazz movement, with many of the movement's protagonists such as Makaya McCraven, Brandee Younger, Greg Spero, Junius Paul, Khari Lemuel, Kevin Mitchell and Paul Curtis joining the recording sessions for the album. 

The vocal versions of the songs are also available via Tokyo Dawn featuring Jimetta Rose, Yaw, Sam Trump, Sulaiman, A. Billi Free, Kiara Lanier, ADaD and Liv Warfield from Prince's New Power Generation: tensei.bandcamp.com/album/constellate