Currently based in Los Angeles, Laurel Halo has spent over a decade stepping into different towns and cities for a moment or more, to the point where everywhere almost became nowhere. Atlas, the debut release on her new imprint Awe, is an attempt to put that feeling to music. Using both electronic and acoustic instrumentation, Halo has created a potent set of sensual ambient jazz collages, comprised of orchestral clouds, shades of modal harmony, hidden sonic details, and detuned, hallucinatory textures. The music functions as a series of maps, for places real and imaginary, and for expressing the unsaid. More

The 68th edition of the DJ-Kicks mix series is another landmark one, with experimental producer Laurel Halo taking the reins. The American's adventurous 28 track trip features seven exclusives, including two of her own plus those from Rrose, Machinewoman, FIT Siegel, Nick León and Ikonika. An electronic outlier, Halo hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, but has been based in Berlin for a number of years. Landing on labels like Hyperdub, Honest Jon's and Latency, Halo has released a body of work ranging in style, yet cohered by production and compositional tendencies that sound distinctly her own. Her studio work tends to be a multi-layered mix of the electronic and the acoustic, the organic and the synthetic. As a DJ, meanwhile, she lays down more floor focussed mixes of techno, bass and worldly drum rhythms, and her live sets are similarly visceral and direct. Halo's DJ-kicks packs a lot in to just 60 minutes. It kicks off with the first of two of her own exclusives, 'Public Art', a tactile piano loop that sets the melodic tone of the mix in focus. Crunchy drums soon take over and begin what is a blistering ride through electro, trippy minimalism and textures that range from icy and dubby to steel plated and sharp from the likes of Red Axes, Parris and an exclusive from Rrose. Another exclusive, rough and ready cut from Machinewoman follows, before the mid section twists and turns on surging drum patterns, frantic industrial textures and spaced out gqom sounds from the likes of Griffit Vigo, Dario Zenker and Final Cut. This is a mix forever on the move: one minute its tightly coiled and kinetic, the next it's loose and joyful before switching into more cerebral and insular passages that keep you intrigued. Fusing together so many disparate sounds and textures is no mean feat, but like everything Halo does, here they all add up to something as thrilling and edgy as it is unpredictable and compelling.

A1 Laurel Halo - Public Art ** A2 Parris - Puro Rosaceae A3 Rrose - Cricoid Pressure ** B1 Machinewoman - Just Made Some Jazz Music ** B2 FIT Siegel - Pennyrut ** B3 Siete Catorce - Canto C1 Ikonika - Bodied ** C2 Panda Lassow - Lachowa C3 Nick León - Pelican Dub ** D1 Stefan Ringer - Lust D2 Laurel Halo - Sweetie (DJ-Kicks) ** D3 Group A - Ketabali More

The 68th edition of the DJ-Kicks mix series is another landmark one, with experimental producer Laurel Halo taking the reins. The American's adventurous 28 track trip features seven exclusives, including two of her own plus those from Rrose, Machinewoman, FIT Siegel, Nick León and Ikonika. An electronic outlier, Halo hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, but has been based in Berlin for a number of years. Landing on labels like Hyperdub, Honest Jon's and Latency, Halo has released a body of work ranging in style, yet cohered by production and compositional tendencies that sound distinctly her own. Her studio work tends to be a multi-layered mix of the electronic and the acoustic, the organic and the synthetic. As a DJ, meanwhile, she lays down more floor focussed mixes of techno, bass and worldly drum rhythms, and her live sets are similarly visceral and direct. Halo's DJ-kicks packs a lot in to just 60 minutes. It kicks off with the first of two of her own exclusives, 'Public Art', a tactile piano loop that sets the melodic tone of the mix in focus. Crunchy drums soon take over and begin what is a blistering ride through electro, trippy minimalism and textures that range from icy and dubby to steel plated and sharp from the likes of Red Axes, Parris and an exclusive from Rrose. Another exclusive, rough and ready cut from Machinewoman follows, before the mid section twists and turns on surging drum patterns, frantic industrial textures and spaced out gqom sounds from the likes of Griffit Vigo, Dario Zenker and Final Cut. This is a mix forever on the move: one minute its tightly coiled and kinetic, the next it's loose and joyful before switching into more cerebral and insular passages that keep you intrigued. Fusing together so many disparate sounds and textures is no mean feat, but like everything Halo does, here they all add up to something as thrilling and edgy as it is unpredictable and compelling.
CD Tracklisting
01 Laurel Halo - Public Art ** 02 Stallone the Reducer - Always Hate 03 Red Axes - 5 min (feat. CAR) 04 Parris - Puro Rosaceae 05 Rrose - Cricoid Pressure ** 06 Machinewoman - Just Made Some Jazz Music ** 07 WCC - Ana 08 FIT Siegel - Pennyrut ** 09 Yamaoka - Plastic PQ 10 Siete Catorce - Canto 11 Facta - Poliwhirl 12 Laurel Halo & Hodge - The Light Within You 13 Ikonika - Bodied ** 14 Griffit Vigo - A.C.I.D (Electronic Gqom Mix) 15 Panda Lassow - Lachowa 16 Dario Zenker - Koraimer Bro 17 Final Cut - Temptation 18 Aos - Violent Light 19 Geoffrey Landers - Brian's Having a Party 20 Via Maris - Side Effects 21 Laurel Halo - Oneiroi 22 Nick León - Pelican Dub ** 23 Stefan Ringer - Lust 24 Kirk The Flirt - Loser 25 Laurel Halo - Sweetie (DJ-Kicks) ** 26 Blake Baxter - Funky World (Blake Baxter Remix) 27 Kiki Kudo - Freakey Keke 28 Group A - Ketabali 29 Whitefield Brothers - Ntu More

Currently based in Los Angeles, Laurel Halo has spent over a decade stepping into different towns and cities for a moment or more, to the point where everywhere almost became nowhere. Atlas, the debut release on her new imprint Awe, is an attempt to put that feeling to music. Using both electronic and acoustic instrumentation, Halo has created a potent set of sensual ambient jazz collages, comprised of orchestral clouds, shades of modal harmony, hidden sonic details, and detuned, hallucinatory textures. The music functions as a series of maps, for places real and imaginary, and for expressing the unsaid. More

Currently based in Los Angeles, Laurel Halo has spent over a decade stepping into different towns and cities for a moment or more, to the point where everywhere almost became nowhere. Atlas, the debut release on her new imprint Awe, is an attempt to put that feeling to music. Using both electronic and acoustic instrumentation, Halo has created a potent set of sensual ambient jazz collages, comprised of orchestral clouds, shades of modal harmony, hidden sonic details, and detuned, hallucinatory textures. The music functions as a series of maps, for places real and imaginary, and for expressing the unsaid. More

Berlin"s pre-eminent vocal ensemble, "A Song For You" pioneers a new wave of choral music with their debut album "Home". A Song For You, are a groundbreaking vocal ensemble, uniting over 50 artists from all over the world, led by the visionary collaboration of Noah Slee and Dhanesh Jayaselan. The collective defies any form of categorisation, sitting in a sonic realm somewhere between Neo Soul, R&B and Gospel. A Song For You celebrates the rich tapestry of Berlin"s musical landscape while providing a critical platform for underrepresented voices.

Listening link: https://listen.k7.com/1f68644d-3204-447e-9225-b3786bad4826

Tracklist
1.1Sunlight Shining
1.2Home
1.3Postcards From Home Part 1. Ft. Jumoke Adeyanju
1.4Nan's House
1.5Not Your Man Ft. Annahstasia
1.6Every Moment
1.7Soul
1.8Beautiful
1.9Theo's Message Ft. Theo Croker
1.10Give Ft. Theo Croker
2.1Postcards From Home Part 2. Ft. Brother Portrait
2.2Innervisions Ft. Duendita
2.3Believer Ft. Annahstasia
2.4Limoux Ft. Theo Croker & Moses Yoofee
2.5Distance
2.6Be Hones Ft. Madison McFerrin
2.7A Song For You More

Duval Timothy releases a highly requested repress of his 2018 EP 2 Sim on split colour heavyweight vinyl via Carrying Colour records. The project’s title is taken from a Krio phrase that refers to Sierra Leoneans of dual nationality as mobile phones that have two sim cards. The project was recorded in Sierra Leone and the UK and features Duval’s piano compositions married with field recordings made in and around the landscape of the capital city Freetown as well as interviews with Duval’s family and friends who explore their relationship to the idea of being a ‘2 Sim’. Botany Rd creates a musical soundscape through a walk with friends starting from the urban centre of Freetown up into the hills through small farming communities. First Rain takes a field recording of the rain arriving at Duval’s home in Freetown at the end of the dry season. The weather cycle echoing Duval’s cycle of migration between the UK and West-Africa. More

Recorded remotely during 2021-2022 the album took shape in the form of mutual compositions, gradually developed and embellished online. Final recording sessions took place at the majestic Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle Of Wight with Moses Boyd (drums), Tom Herbert (bass) and Siobhan Cosgrove (flute, clarinet) adding elements to several pieces. Tracks include the reflective, wistful single "Viento Calido" and drifting ambient piece "Sabena", a beautiful tribute to Gigi"s wife who sadly passed away during 2022. Greg Foat has recorded prolifically in recent years including acclaimed albums Symphonie Pacifique (2020) and The Mage (2019). Best known for his 1986 ambient masterpiece Wind and as a member of Gaussian Curve, Gigi Masin has enjoyed a revival in recent years through his Calypso album on R&S"s Apollo label and renewed touring. Dolphin represents Greg and Gigi"s first landmark recording collaboration together. "I first heard Gigi"s album Wind in 2016," remembers Greg. "I was living in Miami and I heard it playing one Summer evening. Since then, it has always been in my mind to be able to record together."

Tracklist
1.1Lee
1.2London Nights
1.3Love Theme
1.4Dolphin
1.5Sabena
1.6Leo Theo
1.7Viento Calido More

Ancient Infinity Orchestra is a 14-member jazz ensemble led by double-bassist and composer Ozzy Moysey, based in the bustling creative city of Leeds in the North of England – home to one of the most innovative and community-based jazz scenes in the UK. Saxophonist Matt Cliffe who also performs with Matthew Halsall is a key member and the rotating line-up which includes drums, two bassists, keyboards, harp, violin, cello, two tenors, alto, oboe, flute and percussion.
"River of Light’ drinks deep from the well of spiritual jazz and is especially inspired by the soulful sounds of Pharoah Sanders, Alice and John Coltrane but also channels a certain Northern sensibility that can be heard in the music of Matthew Halsall or Alabaster de Plume. Melodic, warm and honest this is music that is happy to wear its heart on its sleeve.


Listen: listen.k7.com/bd22946d-f8da-4124-9984-f174b93b8603

Track Listing:
A1. Greeting
A2. Rejoicing
A3. Niyama
B1. Michael & Zelah
B2. Equanimity

C1. Spring Break on Trappist-1
C2. Arc of the Sun
C3. Love Song
D1. River of Light
D2. Pharoah Sings More

Elevating, uplifting and beautifully arranged. Jasmine Myra's sophomore album Rising builds on the success of her breakthrough album Horizons to deliver a major statement from one of UK Jazz's rising stars. Produced by Matthew Halsall and mixed by Greg Freeman (Hania Rani, Matthew Halsall, Portico Quartet)

Track Listing:
A1. Rising
A2. Still Waters
A3. Knowingness
B1. Glimmers
B2. From Embers
B3. How Tall the Mountains

Listen: https://on.soundcloud.com/1iUyy More

“It’s just too easy to make a standard dance track,” Aphex Twin said of his mindset back in 1992. “You’ve got to put a bit of thought into it to get something a bit different.” ‘Didgeridoo’ was released on the Belgian R&S Records label in 1992, and originally peaked at #55 in the UK singles chart in May of that year. Over the last 32 years the track has become one of the essential Aphex Twin tracks in a gargantuan catalogue that continues to amaze and inspire. “I wanted to have some tracks to play to finish the raves I used to play in Cornwall, to really kill everybody off so they couldn’t dance,” Richard D James, AKA Aphex, told Select magazine back in the 90s. “Digeridoo came out of that.” Released as a 4 track EP that also included early Aphex productions (now classics) including the industrial, acidic clang of ‘Flap Head’ and hyperbolic futurism of ‘Isopropanol’, the release cemented a relationship with the R&S label that went on to release the ‘Xylem Tube’ EP and the pivotal album ‘Selected Ambient Works 85-92’ in the same year. The label’s owner & A&R Renaat Vandepapeliere reflected “When I first heard Aphex Twin’s music I said, ‘This is it!’, and everybody else said, ‘You’re crazy!’ …a lot of the hardcore R&S fans dropped us. To them it wasn’t music.” ‘Didgeridoo’ (Expanded Edition) is the first time the EP has been re-issued with extra material. Whilst digging in his DAT archive (allegedly stored in an airtight military ammo box), Richard James revisited the recordings, encoding them through a Nakamichi CR7e cassette deck, using the customised deck with vari-speed to encode at speeds “felt right at the time”. Alongside these CR7e versions, the original mixes have been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, offering a dilated insight into one of electronic music’s most endearing releases. More

Repress!

In February 2021, Jan Jelinek's seminal album "Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records" turned 20. The anniversary repress, a double LP with two bonus tracks (B-sides from the Tendency EP, 2000), is a little late to the party.

What the press said about Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records:

“Don’t be misled by the title, though for there isn’t a finger-snapping rhythm c bebop lead anywhere on the album. Instead, Jelinek chooses to explore the visual effect moiré - two shifting patterns creating an implied third dimension - in the audio realm.” (Alternative Press)

“The title acts as explanation for the studio technique that provided the basis for this album, snippets of other people’s arrangements deconstructed through a sampler into loops and then splashed onto an audio canvas.” (ATM)

“Jelinek’s sound evolved out of his dislike for (and inability to play) keyboards.” (RPM)

“Jelinek has abstracted his sources beyond recognition, looping his millisecond samples into flickering patterns of sonic moiré laid atop a dub Techno framework. (...) Jelinek might as well have sampled a horn player’s hissing intake of breath – it would have been ‘jazz’ enough for his purposes.“ (The Wire)

“It’s a perfect inversion of conventional music, a sonic negative. Everything that would typically be foreground is moved back or pushed off the screen altogether, and the flecks of sonic debris that would normally be covered by other sounds are left to carry the melody and rhythm.” (Pitchfork)

“All you need to know is that these onomatopoeic non-specific songs (...) are warm, paradisical creations”. (NME)

“Listen carefully and you’ll hear textures slowly unfolding and mutating. Presuming you’ve not fallen asleep of course.” (iDJ)

“At times, it’s all a bit dripping tap Japanese water torture; so sedentary it drowns in its own motionlessness” (DJ)

“Loop Finding Jazz Records' is a genuine modern classic whose re-release is anything but a cynical mortgage repayment exercise. Consider this a second chance, then pretend you had it all along.” (Boomkat)

PS:

“I’ve been fortunate enough to see Jan Jelinek live once, at Tonic NYC (...). Wearing a black and white striped shirt, he looked like a nihilistic Charlie Brown.” (beachsloth) More