Electric Wire Hustle – Perception

Brass Fever - Djingi (1975)

Modulation Lullaby

if its what you want

Soft Remedy (MBV3)

Cover of the Roy Ayers classic with 
@thisisversis [vox] and @melaniecharlesmusic [flute/vox]

swarvy.bandcamp.com/album/mirrors-vol-1

@vibe-music_co

02 - EverybodyLovesTheSunshine [ft. Versis & Melanie Charles]

Grains of sand EP - 

I had a vision to release an EP in a month. 
Not in a rush, just because I felt inspired in my journey and lately found passion to share raw feelings. 

All the tracks were written and recorded at Chilin’ Straße studio in Berlin over the last weeks, but the artwork was made as a sketch to another album during the previous winter. 

I would like to dedicate this album to my nephew who was born two weeks ago. 

Speaking of new music, in few days I’m going to drop another album called “Better now” which is a beautiful collaboration with Q3000. Stay tuned! 

All tracks written by J.Lamotta すずめ 
Except #2: Instrumental Beat by J Dilla 

Production & Artwork by J.Lamotta すずめ 

Released September 2016 at Århus, Denmark

Bandcamp-
https://lamottajay.bandcamp.com/

Advice

"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

'Oooo Lala' (Feat. Kaidi Akinnibi) taken from Blue Lab Beats' debut album 'Xover'.

Pre-order the album/stream the single here: BlueLabBeats.lnk.to/Xover

Follow Blue Lab Beats:
www.bluelabbeats.com
www.facebook.com/BlueLabBeats
www.twitter.com/bluelabbeats
www.instagram.com/bluelab_beats

Oooo Lala(Feat. Kaidi Akinnibi)

ten-minute jam recorded live by Bluestaeb & S. Fidelity during the first day of the album recording session in London. 
'Bluestaeb and S. Fidelity Present Underground Canopy' will be released on MENACE on January 31st, 2020. 
Pre Order : https://bit.ly/2sDUviJ
'The Jazz Bundle' : https://bit.ly/2S7f0Ps

MENACE l MNC006

'UC Visions' by Underground Canopy, Bluestaeb & S. Fidelity

Underground Canopy