Gondwana Vinilo y CD

Review: Matthew Halsall continues to serve as a true devotee of spiritual jazz in the UK with his stellar new album An Ever Changing View. Restlessly prolific and drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of ideas, Halsall approached this record as a reset of sorts, affording himself freedom to explore sound in all aspects. The end result remains true to his velvet-smooth approach, delivering understated instrumental flourishes around delicate grooves to make for the gentlest of access points for the labyrinthe halls of jazz, but as ever there's much nuance and complexity bedded into these delicate compositions to yield new discoveries over repeated listens.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


The split 12" from East London's Portico Quartet and Polish pianist Hania Rani exemplifies how simple ideas can yield remarkable results. Each artist reworked the other's track, with impressive outcomes. Portico Quartet transforms Rani's 'Nest' into a dreamy, ethereal jazz piece, featuring undulating analogue synths, immersive chords, and floaty vocal samples carried by languid jazz drumming. Rani's take on Portico Quartet's 'With, Beside, Against' is even more striking. Her version, minimalistic and sparse, introduces twinkling piano motifs and her evocative vocals, creating a slowly unfolding, cinematic jazz experience. Both interpretations are nothing short of stunning.

Review: Since launching a few years back, Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Records has released some terrific albums from a string of talented but often little-known artists. This brilliant set is another. It comes from Hania Rani, a pianist, composer and producer better known for her collaborative work with the likes of Christian Loffler, Dobrawa Czocher and Hior Chronik. "Esja" is Rani's solo debut and sees her sashay between atmospheric, often poignant pieces that put her impeccable piano playing at the heart of the action. It's exceedingly elegant and picturesque, with Rani's subtle use of field recordings and crackling background noise only enhancing the listening experience.

Review: This is the CD version of Ghosts, the third solo album from Polish pianist and composer Hania Rani, courtesy of Mathew Halsall's Gondwana. It comes after an artist residency in Switzerland in an abandoned sanitarium amongst the mountains so is inspired by the numerous rumoured ghosts that inhabit the hills. Lead singles 'Hello' and 'Dancing with Ghosts' take drastically different approaches, with the former being an electro-ambient take on lounge jazz sensibilities and 'Dancing with Ghosts' being a moody and grumbling duet ballad with Patrick Whatson. The whole album has a lingering sense of finality and creeping doom and is another absorbing listen from front to back.

Review: Hania Rani has a knack for blending the ethereal with the intimate, and her latest offering, Nostalgia, captures that perfectly. This is her first live album, but it's much more than just a performance recording. Filmed at the Polish Radio studios in Warsaw, it feels like a love letter to a place steeped in history and meaning for her. The space itself, with all its ghosts and hidden stories, becomes a character in the album, lending an air of mystery and depth to Rani's signature mix of piano, voice, and electronics. Nostalgia moves through delicate melodies and cinematic arrangements, with Rani's touch feeling both familiar and experimental. She brings the studio's spirit alive, layering sound and memory in a way that feels both spontaneous and deliberate. This isn't just a snapshot of a live show; it's an immersive, intimate dive into Rani's creative world. With its mix of lush textures and haunting vocals, Nostalgia solidifies her status as an artist who can create both in the moment and with timeless grace.