45 RPM | 12 September 2024
Featuring Roy Hargrove, Ishmael Ensemble, Floating Points... David Gilmour?!... and much, much more. Noisy. Even when it's quiet.
You’d never see me doing some thing so mid.
That’s right, in the week in which a British museum went viral for using Gen Z slang in TikTok videos as a means of attracting a younger crowd, 45 RPM returns with 10 new Future Jazz tracks, all of which are skibidi toilet Ohio rizz.
So give main character energy, take those Ws and slay queen as give you a quick run-down of what’s on the mixtape this week.
SIDE A
Kinkajous: Shifting Sands
London-based Kinkajous—led by drummer/producer Benoît Parmentier and saxophonist Adrien Cau—have released their latest single, ‘Shifting Sands’, from their upcoming album ‘Nothing Will Disappear’, due out on October 18th. The track features a chord progression that is reminiscent of the Cinematic Orchestra’s ‘All Things’ and drifts along in a similarly widescreen tone, creating a swirling auditory cocktail that makes you feel both sophisticated and slightly underdressed. Listening to it, you’ll think you’ve unlocked the secrets of the universe right before you remember you still don’t understand your taxes.Ghost Funk Orchestra: Eyes of Love
I don’t know whether you’ve spend time with young people recently. Perhaps you are one. But apparently the same “baggy waggy” trousers we wore when we were teenagers (because we were imitating the blues rock bands of the 70s, who also wore them) have come back into fashion. And here’s the thing. The kids nowadays look equally as shit in them as we did 30 years ago (the 70s guys did somehow make them look fly, to be fair). All of which is a long way of saying that, while it may be tempting to describe ‘Eyes of Love’ by Seth Applebaum’s Ghost Funk Orchestra as being a throwback to 70s funk and soul, this track actually has a vibe that would sound fucking cool in any era.Roy Hargrove: Priorities
Since his passing in 2018, much has been written about the immense impact made by jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove during his career. His inventiveness and instinctive groove were abundantly evident across all of his output and here, now, is further evidence of it. ‘Priorities’ comes from an album called ‘Grande-Terre’, which is attributed to the ensemble, Roy Hargrove’s Crisol and it is a technicoloured, pickled-in-Havana-rum delight. It’s a track knows exactly what it's doing, and it does it with a wink and a swagger that says, “Yeah, I’m that good.” Oh, and in a weird twist of fate, it also appears to include a feature from Cinematic Orchestra’s ‘All Things’ - this time the swung paradiddle drum beat. #DrumNerdAsake + Central Cee: Wave
‘2:30’, from Asake’s 2023 album ‘Work of Art’ was one of my tracks of last year and now the Nigerian Afrobeats star has returned, a mere year later, with a whole new album called ‘Lungu Boy’. All of the elements I loved about ‘2:30’ are still in evidence but what’s new for ‘Wave’ is the addition of UK drill rapper Central Cee. The track itself is feels like what would happen if Lagos and London decided to link up for a night out and trade stories about success over late-night jollof and chips. If you’re not moving, check your pulse.Jonah Yano: Someone Asked Me How I’ve Been
Another notable 2023 artist, Yano’s ‘Portrait of a Dog’ album really affected me last year, written as it was about his father’s amnesia and featuring fragments of conversations with him, designed to help his dad remember his family as his memory fades. New single ‘Someone Asked Me How I’ve Been’ would appear to continue in that vein as the Japanese-Canadian jazz artist reflects that “I'm not happy where I've been” and “I didn't know what I was waiting for / Absence or presence”. Over mournful guitar lines and peddle points, and with a cascading, chaotic crescendo, it is once again proof of Yano’s emotive mastery.
SIDE B
Ishmael Ensemble: Fever Dream
45 favourites, Ishmael Ensemble dropped a new album last week called ‘Rituals’ and it marks a significant evolution in the group's sound. Building on their foundation in jazz, it further explores previous leanings into dub, experimental, and electronic genres. On lead-off single ‘Fever Dream’, there's an unmistakable sense of controlled chaos, a melody that lurches between sultry and sinister, with every note feeling like it's leading you further down some twisted rabbit hole. Aptly named, it is a fever you can’t sweat out; but that shouldn’t stop you trying to on a dance floor near you.Jhayco: Vida Rockstar
Jhayco (or Jesús Manuel Nieves Cortés as his Mum calls him when he’s in trouble) started his career by writing music for artists like Daddy Yankee amongst others. But don’t hold that against him. Since then, he’s been carving out a career in the reggaeton and Latin trap music scenes. New track, ‘Vida Rockstar’ is Jhayco’s unapologetic middle finger to subtlety, a soundtrack to living life like you’re invincible—fist bumps, bad decisions, and all. Is it punk? Is it electronic? Is it rap? Is it world? Who cares. It’s effin’ ace.Linda Sikhakhane: Ukukhushulwa
For the uninitiated, saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane has become a prominent figure in the new wave of South African jazz musicians gaining attention on the global stage. His music often explores themes of identity, spirituality, and the African experience, resonating deeply with both local and international audiences. On ‘Ukukhushulwa’ I can’t help hearing moments of the sort of cosmic jazz we’ve grown to know and love Gondwana Records’ Matthew Halsall for. It is a meditative walk through a sonic landscape, one in which every note contains a sense of longing - a deep-rooted connection to the past - while also promising a greater future.Floating Points: Ocotillo
Tomorrow, the British electronic artist Sam Shepherd - also known as Floating Points - will release his fourth full length, ‘Cascade’. It’s an album that’s already been described - deliciously! - as “an eruption of unfinished business,” referencing Shepherd’s desire to further explore the experimental, rave-inspired side of his sound that he couldn’t fully realize during the COVID-canceled tour for his previous album, ‘Crush’. On ‘Ocotillo’ Mr. Points pulls out a clavichord (yes, that’s right, a clavichord) that he inherited from his great aunt, as if he’s saying, “I’ll see your vintage synth and raise you a Renaissance relic.” And then there’s the harp—just casually floating in, like the soundtrack to an indie film where people stare meaningfully at cacti. It's hypnotic, it's weirdly beautiful, and just when you think you’re grounded, the whole thing slips away, leaving you wondering if you’ve been spiritually pickpocketed by a musical Zen master.David Gilmour + Romany Gilmour: Between Two Points
Bearing in mind I listen to almost of my new music blind (i.e. I set an algorithm playing and see which of the new tracks capture my attention while I work) one of the most annoying things is when a track piques my interest and sparks an insightful comment in my mind, only for me to find that my comment is actually pretty dull once I see the musician or research the piece. In the case of ‘Between Two Points’ I was nodding my head along to it yesterday thinking, “This is nice. It’s like Pink Floyd for the 21st Century.” Only to find out that it is, quite literally, a modern take on Pink Floyd - it’s Gilmour’s girl. No, not the shite early 00s TV series - Dave Gilmour’s daughter. The piece comes from Gilmour Sr's fifth solo album, ‘Luck and Strange’ which was released last week but it’s highlight is Romany’s vocal and harp contribution. As with all the best Floyd work, each note lingers in the air like a solitary star on the cusp of fading and the universe itself seems to sigh as the music sways; a reminder of the fleeting yet infinite dance we share with time, love, and the stars above.
And on that note, I’m off out with the mandem (it’s not that deep), leaving you to enjoy this week’s collection…