A hazy trip through some flavours of IXCHEL...

Cuts from Ebi Soda, Ash Walker, Reginald Omas Mamode IV, Sudan Archives, Cleo Sol, ESG, Cymande, Helado Negro and more...

Some new music next week.

With thanks to Ariel Traverso x

001. Charlie IXCHEL // Entré

Wilderness Flowers

Yazz Ahmed’s Electric Dreams project is an on-going series of live performances and recording sessions in which she collaborates with her favourite musicians to create unique, spontaneous compositions.

These free flowing and conversational improvisations make use of electronic effects, sound design, live looping and sampling, in an exploration of contemporary jazz from a different angle.

Previous contributors include Janek Gwizdala, Lewis Wright, Shirley Tetteh, Johanna Burnheart and Dave Mannington.

Joining Yazz in this excerpt are vocal sculptor, Jason Singh, drummer, Rod Youngs, and guitarist, Samuel Hällkvist.

Electric Dreams excerpt - Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall. Oct 2017

Last year @yazzahmed recorded one of my favorite  jazz albums of 2017, the spellbinding and hypnotic "La Saboteuse".  Here she is with an equally dreamy and evocative mix, guiding you trough trough jazz, world music and minimal electronics hailing from all over the world. 

Tracklist:

Hermeto Pascoal - Dança doPajé [@hermeto-pascoal-official]
Weather Report - River People 
Bargou 08 - Mamchout [@glitterbeat]
Sarathy Korwar - Bismillah [@sarathykorwar]
Rabih Abou Khalil - An Evening With Jerry 
Aita - from ‘Hafla! Popular Traditions of Morocco’
Jon Hassell - Ndeya
David Torn - Sink [@david-torn-official]
Kenny Wheeler/Norma Winston/John Taylor - Adios Iony 
Bro/Knak - Mild Rebuild No.1 [@thomasknak]

NLS005 Yazz Ahmed

IXCHEL are simmering with excitement to present a super limited release from the formidable Yazz Ahmed entitled ‘A Shoal of Souls’.

The release marks the final chapter of her 2017 ‘La Saboteuse’ - an explosive album that turned heads worldwide, scooped numerous best of ’17 lists, as well as becoming a heavyweight UN certified UNESCO album of the decade. High praise for an artist on her second full length release.

‘A Shoal of Souls’ cements the formidable relationship that has been established between Yazz and Sophie Bass. Sophie is one of the most exciting illustrators currently operating worldwide; still in her twenties, her enlivening work across the Jazz scene has already sparked comparisons with Reid Miles. She was given free response to create the stunning four panel gatefold artwork for La Saboteuse, before being tasked to remix her own artwork where she captured the electronic rhythm and groove of the Hector Plimmer, DJ Khalab and Blacksea Não Maya reworks for the genre-breaking ‘La Saboteuse Remixed’ EP.

Music is intrinsic to Sophie’s creative process, fuelling her distinctive style that embodies symbolism and social justice. On seeing her music visually “come alive” Yazz was overwhelmingly inspired to create, this feeling best captured in Yazz’s presentation of the movement to Sophie.

“I was inspired to compose this piece  - compelled actually - after seeing your amazing, evocative, artwork for Chapter Two. Suddenly seeing my inner destroyer, La Saboteuse, given physical form as a living breathing entity made me gasp  - a real jaw dropping moment.

The way that you transposed psychological concepts into a physical image - my anti-muse literally dragging the victim into the depths… it really helped cement the whole idea - seeing how dangerous and evil she can be. 

I was already thinking about the migrants who perished at sea when I named the chapter The Shoal of Souls, and this new composition is dedicated to all the people who have lost their lives crossing the sea in search of a better future.

I hope the music conveys the strength and power of the human spirit, the bravery to risk everything for their families, the anger I feel at the response of the West, a lack of empathy, a lack of compassion. They are not a swarm, they are us - humans.

The music is also inspired by Sufism, the idea of whirling and turning, falling into a trance, a dream. I see a mirror with the whirling turning ocean, a whirlpool of lost souls, of untold stories, talents and lives unfulfilled: joining together in the eternal dance and rhythm of a vast shoal of fish which seems to beat like a heart.”

Presented with the intertwining of two mammoth creatives we were compelled to create something truly special….

The record comes heavyweight, as a limited collectors edition worthy of the discogs-breaking prices La Saboteuse is currently fetching. Cementing the collaboration, Yazz’s music forms the A side while on the B is Sophie’s artwork; a whirlpool of fish and souls spinning backwards into the ocean when played, embodying the voice of the music.

Copies 1 - 50 come numbered and include a limited edition print of the cover art signed by Yazz. The release also marks the first time a Yazz Ahmed test pressing has ever been available to buy.

Move fast to grab a little piece of Jazz history.

Limited 12"

Yazz Ahmed - A Shoal Of Souls

Out October 30, pre-order it here: https://yazzahmed.bandcamp.com/album/polyhymnia-remixed

Award-winning British-Bahraini jazz pioneer @yazzahmed is releasing a 'Polyhymnia Remixed' featuring artists who beautifully mirror her "psychedelic arabic jazz" sound: DJ Plead, Asmara and Surly.

On his remix, @surlynz said: "Yazz gave me a very open brief for this, so I didn't go in with any plan re: genre or BPM. I listened to the original track and the stems for about a week, and tried some different chops and tempos, but nothing really had me hooked. One morning I left the house with it stuck in my head, and by the end of the day, what I could hear sounded like this. Stripped back, faster, with a syncopated bassline and a focus on the drums and the trumpet solo. There was so much other rich material I wanted to use, particularly from the intro, but I felt that adding more would take away from the mood I already had, so I kept it to a few key sections and let it breathe."

Premiere: Yazz Ahmed 'Deeds Not Words' (Surly remix)

'High priestess of psychedelic Arabic jazz’
Yazz Ahmed is a multi-award winning British-Bahraini trumpet player, composer and producer. She is renowned for her unique vision of psychedelic Arabic jazz and electronic experimentations.