Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: South Africa-based drummer Asher Gamedze looks into the relationship between time, music and history on this exceptional new album Turbulence and Pulse. This is a debut on this notable jazz label for this artist but those who follow free music closely will be familiar with his work such as his ZUZU debut album Dialectic Soul or last year's offering on Astral Spirits, Out Side Work. This album sees him again work with his core quartet from Dialectic Soul, namely South African musicians Thembinkosi Mavimbela on bass, Robin Fassie on trumpet, and Buddy Wells on tenor sax. It results in a soulful and accessible yet forward-thinking sound.

Review: Asher Gamedze's Constitution unfolds as a profound exploration of ensemble dynamics and collective creativity. Following the 2023 release Turbulence and Pulse, this double album introduces The Black Lungs, a ten-piece ensemble that expands Gamedze's vision of polyrhythmic and modal music. Recorded in a single day at Cape Town's Sound and Motion Studios, the album is a great example to the power of collective expression and autonomous constitution. The album features Gamedze on drums alongside Ru Slayen on percussion, Sean Sanby on bass, and Nobuhle Ashanti on piano, creating a cohesive rhythm section. This core is enriched by Tumi Pheko's cornet, Garth Erasmus and Jed Petersen's saxophones, Tina Mene's vocals, Athi Ngcaba's trombone, and Fred Moten's spoken word, each adding layers of tonal and atonal exploration. Constitution embodies the spirit of the Black Consciousness Movement, blending revolutionary thought with musical innovation. The ensemble's interplay reflects a process of collective unraveling, questioning, and creative resistance against systemic oppression. Gamedze's work is both a tribute to historical struggles and a celebration of the ensemble as a site of resistance and artistic possibility.

Review: The debut album for Ben LaMar Gay can also be considered his greatest hits of sorts. It's a collection of songs performed and produced by the Chicago born, sometimes Brazil-residing artist - all compiled from seven albums he made over the last several years, but never made the effort to actually release. With its title taken from the mantra he repeats across several tracks, Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun is 'avant-garde Americana' at its finest by a talented musician that has previously worked with the likes of legends Mark Pritchard, Theo Parrish, Wajeed and Steve Spacek. Released via local imprint International Anthem: a recording company that produces and promotes progressive media.

Review: This is the debut solo album by Italian-born, London-based composer, bassist and vocalist Ruth Goller. It was originally released in 2021 on Bex Burch's Vula Viel Records but quickly sold out with its detuned bass harmonics and dense vocal arrangements. Skylla introduced a sound both otherworldly and unplaceable and Goller's reputation soared as a result. That led to the critically acclaimed 2024 album Skyllumina on International Anthem while Skylla remains the genesis of her distinct style as it evokes the experimental energy of 1980s Downtown NYC or a Bjork-adjacent Icelandic project.