Basic Soul

It’s hard to imagine that “Poison Fruit” is Ivan “Mamao” Conti’s first release in over twenty years. Although the legendary drummer is one third of the infamous group Asymuth, don’t expect this to be your typical Asymuth album. Instead “Poison Fruit” is filled with experimental house beats and electronic rhythms. That’s due in part to London based producer Daniel Maunick. Mamao was introduced to Maunick by his son Thiago Maranhao who serves as co-producer. Tracks like “Encontro” will sound right at home with the traditional Asymuth sound. While “Bacurau” opens with explosive percussion rhythm riding a bass driven house groove. The title track goes deeper into experimental left-field house with spacey synths. As a bonus there are some superb remixes from notable DJ/Producers like Glenn Astro, Max Graef just to name a few. Samba flavored jazz fusion combined with samples and electronics pays dividends here. Mamao and Maunick connect the dots and emerge with a splendid record.

Brighton based musician Alphabets Heaven’s latest release “Your Lifestyle” is filled with laid back beats and atmospheric vibes. Similar to most beat tapes there’s a lengthy tracklist (nineteen) but only two tunes exceed three minutes. The disc begins with the warm acoustic guitar rhythms of “Nylon”. From here you’re pulled into a journey of mellow moods that glides the disc along at a leisurely pace. Along the way you’ll no doubt dig notable beats like “Laces”, “Follow” and “Tote Bag”. Like all the great beat makers Alphabets Heaven knows where to pair the right sample with the perfect beat. As a result it’s the perfect mixtape for a long drive to ease your mind.

Anthony Kieron, better known as K15 is firmly entrenched as a premiere producer of soul and house. With his London based quintet Culross Close he’s starting to stretch out as a musician as well. The six track ep “Forgotten Ones” is a myriad of Cosmic compositions that transcend genres. The disc begins with the heavenly keys of “Fractured” a soothing intro that’s a precursor for what lies ahead. The title track, one of the highlights here is filled with blissful vocal harmonies. Kieron’s rhythmic rhodes are complimented by enchanting cymbals from drummer May Goode. “The Tiniest Lights Still Shine” is another winner. It’s an infectious tune with a bass n drum groove with Nathaniel Jiddu’s spacey moog synths on top of it. This is an inspiring and imaginative piece of work that will transport you to a spiritual mental space. The only quibble is there’s only twenty five minutes of music here but essential listening nonetheless. We’ve come to expect nothing less than from Kieron and this is no exception.

French producer Medline’s latest release “A Quest Called Tribe” pays tribute to A Tribe Called Quest. Medline adds a gentle touch along with a melodic soul jazz groove to some of our beloved recordings from the legendary hip-hop trio. For starters the classic “Relaxation Electrique” is transformed into a sublime number with soothing vibes. “Jazz (On A Du)” is a medley of well chosen Tribe treats. “Trouver une Voie” channels “Find A Way” from the Love Movement lp. A delightful reminder of just how treasured these tracks are. Not to mention the creative possibilities when placed in the right hands. Medline’s cool rhythmic arrangements will ease any concerns. A superb record worthy of repeated listens.

Just when you thought the burgeoning UK jazz scene couldn’t get any better along comes another group to blow your mind. Seed Ensemble is a ten piece collective led by alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi. “Driftglass” is filled with afro-futurism, poetry and protest brought to life by an array of uber talented musicians. The title is named after a short story by Science fiction writer Samuel R. Delany. “Afronaut” features thought provoking poetry from Xana. Sheila Maurice-Grey’s glorious trumpet phrasings is just a nod of a strong horn section that includes Theon Cross on Tuba and Chelsea Carmichael on Tenor sax. Drummer Patrick Boyle keeps the beat at a fever pitch. “Wake” (for Grenfall) features lyrics by Langston Hughes sung by Cherise Adams-Burnett. The sobering tone and vocal harmonies juxtaposes images of injustice past and present. “Interplanetary Migration” is a spirited melting pot of jazz and afro-beat plus spoken word from Mr Ekow. Between working in other groups like Kokoroko and Nerija, Kinoshi has created something special here. She has composed a superb collection of music that makes a statement. The result is one of the best albums of the year

Drummer/producer Te’Amir is another artist to emerge from the deep well of Los Angeles. “Abyssinia & Abyssinia Rise” marries jazz and funk with Ethiopian rhythms. A release shaped in large part to Te’Amir exploring his Ethiopian roots. Among the highlights are “Habesha”, a haunting piano driven hip hop track that features Rebekah Raff on harp. “Randal In Addis” is filled with spirited Afrikan horn rhythms courtesy of Randal Fisher. “The Quest” blends Ethiopian jazz inspired instrumentation and soulful vocals from Dustin Warren. A bit disappointing that it’s under 25 minutes but this LP is a delightful listen. Te’Amir is someone to keep an eye on.