I’m starting afresh here and have archived older mixes on Mixcloud for the time being. I wanted to change things up and get back to putting out weekly mixes that are just an hour long. So that’s what I’ve done, opting for the title ‘Spirit Walk’, which seemed to fit.
This first one starts out with the title track from Hania Rani’s film score for Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, which I liked a lot when it came out in the UK earlier this year. I’ve only just got around to picking up the soundtrack, and it’s actually the first album by Hania Rani that I’ve bought. I’d like to check out some more of her work, particularly as she’s on Gondwana Records, and that’s usually a pretty good recommendation in itself. Following that, a bonus 7” that came with Mark Barrott’s new album, which is a dreamy, beautiful record (and I could have picked pretty much anything to play off it), before we get into the jazz side of things.
Mouth Words is the last track on SML’s most recent album on International Anthem, How You Been. I bought it a while ago but only gave it a second spin this past week, so it has been a little bit neglected, sitting in a ‘to-listen’ pile for longer than it ought to have. Anyway, it was good to give it another run through, and this track is one of my favourites on the album.
Then it’s into a couple of 10-minute-plus monsters. First Masaru Imada’s World Line, which is on the recent J Jazz Vol 5 compilation put out by BBE. There’s been plenty said and written about the J Jazz series, which is now drawing to a close, but I’ll chuck in my two farthings – the standard has been consistently top-drawer, and this release is no exception. Six sides of rare, brilliant music from Japan, beautifully packaged with fascinating liner notes. Honestly, don’t sleep on it.
From there, similarly long and similarly formidable, it’s the late, great Steve Reid’s Kai, from his album Rhythmatism. Check his drumming… insane. I’ve only got this one on CD – reissued by Soul Jazz – and hadn’t listened to it for a while, but I’ve been playing a few older Darkest Light shows by the DJ Martyn on Mixcloud, and Kai popped up on an episode. An incredible piece of music.
I love the percussion on the Angela D track Africa, which comes from another recent BBE comp called Danza Secreta: Lost And Hidden Grooves from Argentina (1970-1980). That one maybe hasn’t had the same kind of praise heaped upon it as the J Jazz one, or at least not in the corners of the internet that I’ve been skulking around in of late, but it definitely deserves attention as it’s another killer release. Four sides of vinyl featuring experimental soul, funk and disco that stood in opposition to the fascist, military oppression of the era. BBE’s output is consistently strong, and I just wish I could find more spare cash to dip in more often.
OK, onto slightly calmer sounds again with Lebanese singer-songwriter Rogér Fakhr’s Everything You Want, a vaguely psychedelic track taken from the Fine Anyway album that Habibi Funk put out five years or so ago. And somewhat shoehorned in afterwards is Sabu Martinez’s mournful Delilah; I’ve just got hold of a copy the Sabu’s Jazz Espagnole record recently via Discogs and heard it in full for the first time this past week.
The hour ends with Misty Rhodes by Weapon of Peace, an 80s reggae band from Wolverhampton, and Love and Praises, a Cedric Brooks / Dubism remix put out by the amazing Kent-based label Pressure Sounds on 10”. Feel lucky to have picked that up… just a case of opening Instagram at the right time when they made 100 copies or so available. If you can find one out there then snap it up, both sides are excellent (and if you can’t get that, at least pick up the Cedric Brooks United Africa album they reissued earlier this year, which is a treat from start to finish).
So that’s it this week. If you have bothered to listen, or to read, then thanks very much!
Tracklist:
Hania Rani – Sentimental Value
Mark Barrott – Land (II)
SML – Mouth Words
Masaru Imada – World Line
Steve Reid – Kai
Angela D – Africa
Rogér Fakhr – Everything You Want
Sabu Martinez and his Jazz Espagnole – Delilah
Weapon Of Peace – Misty Rhodes
Dubism & Cedric Brooks – Love and Praises
Lonesome Tonight 