Review: Over the last couple of years, author Justin Hopper has joined folk musician Sharron Kraus and vintage synthesizer fetishists Belbury Poly on stage to narrate sections of his 2017 novel "Old Weird Albion" - a "poetical, autobiographical and psycho-geographical account" of his experiences at Chanctonbury Ring in West Sussex. This album is, in effect, an extended re-recording of those performances, with Hopper reading choice excerpts from his book over an inspired fusion of traditional folk tropes - think recorder, flute, and drifting female vocals - atmospheric field recordings and 1970s style electronic instrumentation. Given that these synths have largely been used to re-record tudor style Baroque tunes (think "Greensleeves" and you're close), the results are not only delightfully eccentric but also admirably unique.
Yazz & The Plastic Population - "The Only Way Is Up"
Rick James - "Super Freak"
Dazz Band - "Let It Whip"
Shannon - "Let The Music Play"
Eruption - "I Can't Stand The Rain"
Numarx - "Girl You Know It's True"
Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor - "Floyd"
Milli Vanilli - "Official Soundtrack Medley:Girl I'm Gonna Miss You/Girl You Know It's True Baby Don't Forget My Number/Blame It On The Rain/All Or Nothing/Keep On Running/Ma Baker"
Jan Geuer - "Before I Got Paid" (feat David Mayonga - remix)
Review: Kamasi Washington's latest effort is a little different from his previous releases, which delighted in taking spiritual and post-bop jazz in a myriad of thrilling new directions. Befitting its status as a soundtrack - the music on Becoming was written to feature on Nadia Hallgren's Netflix documentary of the same name on Michelle Obama - the compositions unveiled by Washington are breezy, accessible and seeped in musical positivity. There are lots of memorable melodic themes throughout the album, with bold and catchy, up-beat jazz numbers being joined by melancholic, contemplative compositions and even nods towards soul-jazz, Motown style soul and cheery jazz-funk.
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