John Beltran, a trusted veteran from Detroit, Michigan—whose previous album, *OATH* (2023), has already become a highly sought-after release fetching over 30,000 yen—has released his new album, *Sunrise And The Way We Live*, via Music For Dreams. Delicate soundscapes and polyphonic, magical rhythmic structures. (Saito)

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『2L ...Read moreP With Sunrise and the Life We Live, John Beltran returns to his ambient techno roots, the sound that garnered him global appeal in the 1990s. Through ten tracks, the album journeys through lush, aerated textures and beatless expanse. Hypnotic grooves deepen and bloom in a flow of shapes and colors, creating a sound that is both meditative and full of life. Thirty years after the release of his seminal Ten Days of Blue, Beltran's musicianship, vision and desire to produce remain at a fever pitch. With Sunrise and the Life We Live his gift of extracting emotion from the universe and turning it into a unique musical experience puts him in a class of his own.』

DJ Support: Gilles Peterson, Glenn Underground, Crazy P, Terry Farley, Aroop Roy, Chris Coco, Frank Tope, Greg Wilson, Dom Servini, Francois K, Macca, Max Essa, Oliver Dollar, Pete Herbert, and many more

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Danny Ward’s Balaphonic project, one of many the long-serving performer, producer, percussionist, drummer a ...Read morend DJ has utilised over a career spanning over three decades, has evolved considerably since his first release under the alias 11 years ago. Conceived as a platform to explore his love of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian musical culture, it gathered new impetus during lockdown and the recording of superb first album Resolution Revolutions, which fused these influences with nods to Balearica, dub, dancehall and deep house.

On the Organic Matters EP, Ward’s follow-up to that critically acclaimed set, the Balaphonic musical universe has expanded once more, with the Manchester native showcasing a wealth of eye-catching collaborations and an even more intricately layered and sonically detailed sound rich in live percussion and instrumentation. It’s an ambitious and widescreen musical vision wrapped in sun-soaked melodies, morning-fresh motifs and simmering, sunset-friendly soundscapes.

The dizzying new heights scaled by Ward on Organic Matters is evident from the opening bars of ‘Dew Drops’, a piece created in unison with internationally renowned composer and arranger Robin Dewhirst. Between them, the pair have conjured up a yearning, life-affirming samba shuffler where picturesque piano, xylophone and balafon melodies rise above Ward’s dense, layered Latin percussion and warming bass.

Next, Ward delivers a thrillingly different take on his 2005 composition ‘Switch’, featuring legendary Brazilian jazz vocalist Flora Purim and her equally talented daughter Diana Moreira Booker. Whereas that was a jazzy deep house workout, Ward’s Balaphonic re-make is a shuffling, gentle exploration in 7/4 time – a heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian records with which Purim first made her name in the 1960s and ‘70s.

‘Balaventurers’ sees Ward join forces with an old friend from the North-West scene, R.S.L founder Joe Botham AKA Baleardelica – a multi-instrumentalist and producer whose Flamenco-inspired acoustic guitar motifs provided the starting point for another vividly colourful exploration rich in layered vocalisations, twinkling keys and impeccably arranged percussion.

It’s followed by ‘Life of Strings’, a more up-tempo and dancefloor-leaning excursion written and recorded alongside Amsterdam-based violinist, and composer Katya Gabeli. While Ward’s percussion-rich groove provides propulsion and a rock-solid foundation, it’s Gabeli’s evocative string arrangement that provides the focal point and emotional resonance. It’s a genuinely brilliant collaboration.

To round off a second stunning Balaphonic release on NuNorthern Soul, Ward delivers two simmering, slow-motion delights: the Afro-Cuban rhythms, cascading melodies and melodic percussion motifs of ‘Boxfresh’, and stunning EP closer ‘Home’ – an almost overwhelmingly poignant and beautiful number that gently ebbs and flows on waves of tracked piano, dreamy chords and a comforting sense of closure. It’s a genuinely sublime conclusion to another wonderful Balaphonic release.』

インセンスの煙が導く陶酔のダブ・ハウス。バレアリックな逃避行。2022年作『Return to the Island』に続くJura Soundsystemの最新EP。Udaberri BluesやMama Capesでも活動する盟友Mike Burnが流麗なリード＆リズム・ギターを重ね、Fernando Pulichinoによるライブ・ベースが有機的なグルーヴを支えるリード曲「Morning Star」。Jack J作品でも知られるサックス奏者Linda Foxが参加し、メランコリックでゆったりとした「Savanna」。両曲のインスト・ダブ・ヴァージョンに加え、80年代の空気をまとった「Hands Across the Sea」、125BPMで軽快に弾むダブ色の濃い「Wah Fix」を収録。 (足立)

スペイン・マヨルカ島のDJ・トラックメイカーPepe Linkによる7インチが登場!最新アルバム『Scenes From My Soul』から初の7インチ・カットとなる本作は、A面にはGlen Anthony Henryを激渋ヴォーカルに迎えた、Bill Withersの1977年の秀作アルバム『Menagerie』に収録されていた永遠の名曲「Lovely Day」のチルアウトでバレアリック・ソウルフル名カヴァー（sample1）を収録。B面にはTania Mariaのブラジリアン・ジャズファンク大名曲クラシック「Come With Me」を、フラメンコ・ギターとブラジル人シンガー、Marta Santamariaの美しい美声でサンバ・ボサノヴァ・クロスオーバーに仕上げた「Vem Menin ...Read more (コンピューマ)a」（sample2）を収録。しかも今回の7インチ・リリースは、Pepe Link自らが新たなEDITを施した日本限定盤7インチとしての発売となっております。 (コンピューマ)