2019:jazz:pt2:Blue-in-Green Sessions

Imran Mirza presents a very special edition of The Blue-in-Green Sessions that aired 19th December 2019 on Blue-in-Green:RADIO serving as part 1 of our multi-part celebration for 2019's stunning music releases.


This episode also serves as part 2 of our two-part jazz collection featuring a selection of glorious music with incredible selections a handful of which mentioned below...

'FLY or DIE II: Bird Dogs of Paradise' by Jaimie Branch [International Anthem]*
Jaimie Branch’s ‘FLY or DIE II: Bird Dogs of Paradise’ sees trumpeter Branch add the tag of vocalist to her seemingly never-ending skillset which includes trumpet, synths and composition.  The introduction of Branch as a vocalist serves to override any ambiguity regarding any of the very direct messages aimed towards the current Republican Presidency which contributes to a more honest and sincere recording. The album boasts high points from start to finish like the urgency captured throughout ‘Twenty-Three n Me, Jupiter Redux’ and the vibrant ‘Nuevo Roquero Estéreo’.

'A Mirage (Meant to Last Forever)' by Zoe's Shanghai
The debut EP from Zoe's Shanghai absolutely delivers as a fantastic introduction to this Barcelona-based collective.  Over the six tracks presented throughout, lead vocalist Zoé Renié soars over eclectic and vibrant sonic soundscapes that are an exquisite amalgamation of styles and genres laying the groundwork for hopefully much more to follow as they have cultivated such a distinct and confident sound beautifully explored over these six tracks.  With an excellent new single 'Through The Chord' already available, hopefully paving the way for another EP or album to follow shortly afterwards, make sure not to let the gem that is 'A Mirage' slip through your fingers!

'F___ Yo Feelings' by Robert Glasper [Loma Vista Recordings]
This year sees the release of Glasper's "mixtape" comprising of 19 songs seeing the revered pianist paired with Derrick Hodge on bass and original RG Experiment member, Chris Dave, on drums.  As a core trio, 'F__k Yo Feelings' plays host to a slew of other artists as diverse as rapper Mick Jenkins to the legendary Herbie Hancock.  There's a heavy slant on hip-hop throughout, and it's perhaps this free-flowing nature of songs and collaborations that inspired the project being presented as a mixtape in the first place.

'How's By You?' by Bright Dog Red [Ropeadope Records]
Following the praise and plaudits for Bright Dog Red's 2018 debut record 'Means to the Ends', the improv jazz outfit from Albany, New York, return with their thrilling follow-up for 2019.  'How's By You?' presents the band as becoming even more experimental and diverse in their compositions - Cody Davies (credited as supplying sound and electronics for the band) seems to embrace his role further by immersing the musicians within a more disparate and celestial sonic landscape which the Bright Dog Red members seem to thrive in - ultimately all contributing to this overwhelming cacophony of sounds.  The opener 'Runnin 'em Hurdles' eases you in perfectly but by the time you've reached the album's centrepiece - the 9+ minute otherworldly 'What's The Point?' - you ultimately stop trying to comprehend this unravelling psychedelic experience and just learn to accept its mesmerizing nature.

'Cross Currents' by Jesse Fischer
The new EP from the tirelessly prolific Jesse Fischer delivers an exquisite project befitting his unlimited talents.  Teaming with Marcus Strickland, Nate Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Fischer continues to boast his truly unique ability to craft music rooted within the essence of classic jazz, funk and soul stylings while still having the confidence to push through those boundaries creating something distinctly his own.  The four tracks presented on 'Cross Currents' is truly a testament to that.

'Weightless' by Teotima [First Word Records]*
The musicians comprising Teotima’s ensemble each now return to the fold after 6 years since the collective's debut ('Counting The Ways') as more experienced and well-rounded artists in their own right. With the talents of Ben "Nostalgia 77" Lamdin recruited once again for this album’s engineering and mixing, Teotima delivers on the incredible scope set out with this album. It’s also welcome to hear vocalist Ellie Rose Rusbridge secure a more central role within ‘Weightless’ appearing on five of the album’s seven tracks.

'Live At Club 85' by Smokin Rope
As part of Nu-Skool Soul's rundown of the year's R&B and soul releases, we highlighted music from our friends The Soul Sound Collective who had an incredibly productive year; Tim Higgins - bassist for the Collective - can also boast a further excellent EP as part of jazz quartet, Smokin Rope.  Along with Gabriel Nacu on guitar, Dave Kendall on keys and Luke Simmons on drums, Smokin Rope gifted the three tracks comprising 'Live At Club 85' ('Bop', 'Dark Spiral' and 'Fall From Grace') which is readily available through Bandcamp.  Fingers crossed there'll be more music to get stuck into in 2020.

'You Can't Steal My Joy' by Ezra Collective [Enter the Jungle Records]
The highly-anticipated full-length project from the Ezra Collective finally saw its official release earlier this year with the London five-piece finally gifting fans the album they've waited oh-so-patiently for!  But any time in between projects has certainly been productive - the Ezra members have continued to establish themselves as notable individual performers as well contributing to some of the UK's most exciting jazz projects over the last few years.

'BIRCKHEAD' by Brent Birckhead [Revive Music]*
Saxophonist Brent Birckhead sets the course for his debut project as he ably weaves between stories and themes of “the black experience”, family and one’s identity. The lush ‘Song For Nicole’ is the bold love letter to his wife while ‘The Ivory Antidote’ nods to the middle name that he shares with his grandfather. These themes are explored through an exciting presentation of jazz that doths its cap respectfully to a classic style and aesthetic while still being progressive and forging its own path.



*I have the distinct pleasure of writing for the revered UK Vibe so for the asterisked albums, please visit ukvibe.org for my complete review for each of these projects - Imran Mirza

2019:funk-on-waxx-off

Imran Mirza presents a very special edition of FunkOn//WaxxOff which aired 18th December - part 3 of our multi-part celebration for 2019's stunning music releases that you can catch all week on Blue-in-Green:RADIO.


Below is a small handful of some of the music you'll find on the complete show:

'American Love Call' by Durand Jones & The Indications [Colemine Records]
With Durand Jones's gospel-inspired vocal taking centre-stage and writing/producing duo Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein at the helm, lightning was captured in the proverbial bottle with the group's gritty, soulful debut album three years ago 'American love Call' sees the collective deliver, dare I say it, an even more well-rounded and soulful record than its predecessor.  Heavy on the strings, the album really finds itself at home with a series of lush ballads steeped in beautiful vocals (shared between Jones and Frazer) and quality musicianship throughout.

'The Wild Root' by AE3 [Vintage League Music]
Partnered with guitarist Danny Mayer and organist/keyboardist Kris Yunker, 'The Wild Root' is very much a product of  timing and circumstances all naturally aligning to birth this stunning record.  Named after the café that Evans, Yunker and Mayer would visit before each recording session, the collaboration was initially supposed to be about three friends reuniting and playing together with no final product in mind but when the stars align, the stars align.  That joyous energy carries over to the recording we have now - from the crashing drums of the title track opener to the melodic groove of 'The Surveyor', the lead single 'Black Rider' and the sublime closing of 'Sanctuary'.  It's a 5-star masterclass of contemporary soul music.

'Cage and Aviary' by Bryony Jarman-Pinto [Tru Thoughts]*
Spearheaded by the singles ‘As I’ve Heard’ and ‘Saffron Yellow’ – Jarman-Pinto’s distinctive, unhindered style of soul, jazz, folk and beat-heavy tracks, coupled with an earnest and heartfelt approach to her songwriting, served as excellent examples to what her pairing with Tru Thoughts label-mate Tom “Werkha” Leah would breed for a full-length album.  The project is currently receiving new life thanks to the recent remixes Tru Thoughts have just unveiled by Jesse Fischer ('Saffron Yellow') and Wonky Logic ('All About Life').

'It Rains Love' by Lee Fields & The Expressions [Big Crown Records]
Backed by the Big Crown/Truth & Soul/Daptone super-group mash-up of incredible musicians including Thomas Brenneck (guitar), Homer Steinweiss (drums), Dave Guy (trumpet) and produced by Leon Michels, Lee Fields once again excels, delivering a powerhouse selection of tracks this year.  With Fields using his music to inspire love as the healing factor, as a direct response to socio and political events in the US, he continues to cement himself as the best soul artist there is in contemporary music.

'Runnin (To Get To Your Love)' by Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints [Dala Records]
The brand new single from seasoned vocalist Bobby Harden finds him a new label home on Brooklyn's Dala Records.  Having toured the world as a vocalist for various groups including The Uptown Horns and Original Blues Brothers Band, as well as having performed with heavyweight names like Solomon Burke and Ben E. King, the New York-based vocalist continues his unwavering passion for his craft by ushering in the beginning of an exciting new era.  Dala house band The Soulful Saints provide a high-energy and Northern Soul-inspired backdrop for Harden's passionate delivery hopefully opening the door for more releases under the Dala banner.

'Tch'elema' by Anbessa Orchestra
'Tch'elema' (which in Amharic, translates to 'Darkness') serves as Anbessa Orchestra's own response to events in the US but it isn't a piece of music born of anger, but one born of the belief that things will get better.  Based in Brooklyn, New York, the 7-piece Anbessa Orchestra have presented their blend of Ethiopian musical culture for years: their debut 'EP' having been released in 2015 and subsequent follow-up 'Negestat' in 2018; the ensemble have proved a mainstay on the feverent New York live scene delivering their distinctive take on 60s/70s Ethiopian-inspired styles and compositions.

'Lucidity' by ATOMGA [Color Red Recordings]
Formed in 2011 from their home in Denver, Colorado, this ten-piece afrobeat orchestra have long been one of the most creative and unique collectives amongst a thriving funk & soul scene.  Their all-encompassing sound - rooted in the style and tradition of afrobeat as established by its pioneer, Fela Kuti - is confident and bold enough to push beyond the restrictions of just one tag masterfully embracing elements of Calypso, soul and jazz.  LaShá "CalySol" Afarko continually proves to be the match-made-in-heaven vocalist for the variety of sonic soundscapes the band immerse her into and as she matches ATOMGA's fervent pace throughout.  'Lucidity' is joyous, it's introspective, it's ATOMGA at their absolute best.

'Part Time Millionaire' by Flevans [Jalapeno Records]
Nigel “Flevans” Evans’s eclectic and versatile productions have made him a shining light in the UK for years, and now having partnered with Jalapeno Records, seems to have achieved his most successful outing with the release of 'Part Time Millionaire' which sees the producer/DJ/musician bench his trademark style of developing tracks around samples, instead opting to partner with a variety of vocalists including Laura Vane, Elliott Cole and Izo FitzRoy to develop songs from scratch.  The wheels are already in motion for the follow-up to this album which we're very much looking forward to in 2020.

'Back From The Brink' by The Soul Immigrants [Lateralize Records]
The Soul Immigrants have established themselves as a name in the UK's contemporary funk scene to be revered as highly as any band you could compare them with.  Initially formed in the 1990s, by Emrys Baird and Nitin Sawhney, the band has seen its fair share of evolution over the years but it's design has always remained intact: the focus on old-school sensibilities with their own distinctly contemporary twist.  From 'The Hustle Is On' to 'Covers For Lovers & Others' and now to 'Back From The Brink'; spearheaded by the incredible Barbara Lynn cover of 'I'm A Good Woman' - featuring vocalist Ria Currie - 'Back From The Brink' presents eight excellent tracks reintroducing The Soul Immigrants as leaders of the pack.

'Stand Up' by Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound

Based in Nova Scotia, Canada, Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound released their sophomore album, 'Stand Up', five years after their initial debut, 'Don't You Know?'.  With multiple awards to their name, and renoun as fervent live performers, Roxy & Co prove a refined act which uses their affection for the classic sound of Motown Recordings artists as a starting point to build upon and develop their own soul aesthetic.  'He's Alright', 'Let's Work It Out' and 'Left Behind The Good Times' all serve as strong album highlights but do what you can to catch the excellent video for the single 'Helpless'.

'Express 76' by Crowd Company [Vintage League Music]
'Express 76' actually debuted as the closing song on the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #29 when we had the pleasure of playing host to Crowd Company founder, Rob Fleming.  One of two singles released from the UK funk & soul contingent, both featuring members of Lettuce's horn section, as well as boasting production from Alan Evans, we're incredibly excited about Crowd Company's third album due for release early-2020.

2019:nu-skool-soul

Blue-in-Green:RADIO presents a very special edition of Nu-Skool Soul that aired 17th December 2019 - part 2 of our multi-part celebration for 2019's stunning music releases that you can catch all week.



Below is a small handful of some of the music you'll find on the complete show:

'Seeds' by Lasperanza [Dome Records]
The brainchild of saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Rico Garofalo, 'Seeds' marks the enchanting debut project from new Dome Records signee, Lasperanza.   ‘Seeds’ is very much the love letter to the music Rico grew up a fan of as he translates that affection through a selection of the 10 covers comprising his debut.  Even on paper, the variety of these classic and beloved recordings tackled are genuinely provocative - recreations of disco classics like George Benson's 'Give Me The Night' and Michael Jackson's 'Working Day and Night' sit comfortably alongside interpretations of Gwen Guthrie’s ‘It Should Have Been You’ and Keni Steven's 'Cannot Live Without Your Love', resulting in a series of luxurious, almost heavenly, soul-drenched and string-heavy numbers.

'AHLKE' by Freya Roy
'AHLKE' marks the exciting debut album from vocalist, writer, producer, guitarist and pianist, Freya Roy.  Spearheaded by the exquisitely infectious groove of lead single 'Midnight Train' and the subsequent follow-up single '22 Movements', Roy skilfully interweaves varying elements of R&B, neo-soul and jazz introducing listeners to a confident and charismatic young artist in complete creative control of her music.  Credited as the album's writer, composer and producer and released through her own FCR label, 'AHLKE' actually reaches inspirational-levels of creative success.

'The Vibezlab Sessions II' by PVIBEZ
Paul "PVIBEZ" Morgan returns with the second instalment of his Vibezlab Sessions series of EPs which builds on the groundwork laid out through Volume I (2008).  The 4-track selection here sees the producer and multi-instrumentalist step back into his proverbial Batcave or Fortress of Solitude, seeking his inspiration behind the boards, to provide the sonic soundscapes for his team of vocalists to soar over.  Once again reuniting the original 4 vocalists from Volume I, Morgan recreates the magic for his dream team of Eshe Escoffery, Lifford, Laurnea and Andrae Bentley.

'Green Balloon' by Tank & The Bangas [Verve Forecast]
The New Orleans based R&B and soul group released their long-awaited follow-up album after their debut was initially unveiled in 2013.  Having developed a strong reputation off the back of their live performances, 'Green Balloon' sees the collective enlist some first class assistance with Jack Splash on production for a handful of songs, Alex Isley appearing on vocals for 'Hot Air Balloon' and Robert Glasper supplying his talents most notably for the album's penultimate track, 'Lazy Daze'.

'Select' by Flyt [Space Between Records]
Comprised of husband and wife duo, Josh and Mary Mycroft, Flyt unveiled 'Select' this year which served as an exemplary project to display their unique chillout, nu-soul and R&B aesthetic.  The album concludes with two guest remixes as US remixer/producer Kebomusic revisits the disco-lite 'Can't Come Down' smoothly reimagining it with a more contemporary R&B/club approach, while 'Shadows' is tackled by the incredible Soul Sound Collective whose own versatile styles of incorporating 70s jazz-funk and effervescent soul receives a makeover in its own right with a house-tinged perspective of the track.

'Music & Minds'/'Something Like That'/'Isn't It All' by The Soul Sound Collective
What an excellent year it was for London-based The Soul Sound Collective! As well as having released two singles this year, the group also celebrated the release of their debut EP 'Music & Minds' showcasing their understated and sublime style of instrumental soul music.  Comprised of multi-instrumentalist and producer, Craig Sims, along with long-time collaborator and bassist Tim Higgins, projects this year have seen them paired with guitarist Simon Lee, horn players Colin Watling and Nick Crank, vocalist Steven Bamidele and the aforementioned Flyt.

'Tore Up' by ILL DOOTS featuring Emyne
With their debut full-length project released in 2018 through the incomparable Ropeadope Records, ILL DOOTS have harnessed their skills and experience formed over years of relentless touring and recording - honing their craft - delivering a project that was quite frankly exceptional.  Showcasing elements of hip-hop, soul and funk, this Philadelphia-based band ingeniously fuse these joyous musical styles extending their sound to their 'Tore Up' single this year so fingers crossed a follow-up album is in the works too.

'Ventura' by Anderson .Paak [Aftermath Entertainment]
Following up on 'Oxnard's release of last year in lightning pace, Anderson .Paak's 'Ventura' showcases a more soul-oriented approach to the album, again, demonstrating his indelible versatility as a revered crooner as well as a leading hip-hop heavyweight.  With guests including Pharrell, Brandy, Lalah Hathaway, Andre 3000 and a posthumous performance from West Coast icon, Nate Dogg, .Paak continues to establish an incredible catalogue of music with 'Ventura' taking pride of place amongst one of his best.

'Full Circle' by Jungle Brown [MR BONGO]
The sophomore album from UK hip-hop contingent, Jungle Brown, is not only an exemplary display of soul-inspired hip-hop but also a project that harks back to a golden era in rap music lovingly reminiscent of groups like The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest.  Rappers Ric Flo and MAEAR ooze charisma as they soar over sax-heavy production by Tony Bones that finds itself just as comfortable on dancier/house-esque productions.  'Full Circle' is enhanced with guest appearances from K Waltz, Sampa The Great, Ayo The Yung Africa Pioneer and Terri Walker who appears on the strong highlight 'Huami'.

2019:jazz:pt1:Blue-in-Green Sessions

Imran Mirza presents a very special edition of The Blue-in-Green Sessions that aired 16th December 2019 on Blue-in-Green:RADIO serving as part 1 of our multi-part celebration for 2019's stunning music releases.


This episode also serves as part 1 of our two-part jazz collection featuring a selection of glorious music with incredible selections a handful of which mentioned below...

'Resavoir' by Resavoir [International Anthem]
'Resavoir' is the self-titled and debut album and project from trumpeter, musician and producer, Will Miller.  Initially composed by Miller through a series of samples & loops before slowly introducing layers of different musicians into the proverbial gumbo - the resulting concoction boasts seemingly strong nods to a '70s aesthetic but still forges gloriously ahead with its own multi-layered and kaleidoscopic sound.  There must be a genuine sense of pride for Miller, and all involved, at the eventual release of this project with all the years that have been poured into it.  'Resavoir' is an absolute gem and one that stands incredibly tall amongst the year's best.

'Empyrean Tones' by Jason McGuiness [Common Good Records]
McGuiness's diverse and innovative productions through his Analog Burners Bandcamp page have proved a real treasure trove of gems over the years, but now signed to the excellent Common Good Records, McGuiness has just delivered what is surely now his magnum opus.  'Empyrean Tones' sees the producer delivering an ethereal cosmic jazz journey that genuinely ranks among the year's best releases.  An extensive list of musicians all deserve to be heralded for bringing their distinctive magic to a project that succeeds as an extraordinary achievement for Jason McGuiness and Common Good Records.

'A State of Flow' by Ishmael Ensemble
The debut full-length project from the UK's Ishmael Ensemble was released in May of this year.  While we may never know where Ishmael Ensemble will specifically go with their compositions, that level of unpredictability has in itself become their trademark: 'A State of Flow' masterfully navigates elements of jazz with dance & electronica, and it's a testament to anyone with the ability to make songs seemingly worlds apart like 'The Chapel' and 'Lapwing' both fit perfectly as part of a cohesive project.  And a fairly incredible one at that!

'A Quest Called Tribe' by Medline [My Bags]*
The legacy of A Tribe Called Quest lies within the subsequent generations of rappers, producers, beat-makers and DJs who herald Tribe’s music as the soundtrack to their youth and the inspiration for them to forge their own path in hip-hop. ‘A Quest Called Tribe’ is very much the exploration of Orlando “Medline” Diaz’s passion for the hip-hop luminaries and it’s a passion that’s exquisitely realised on the new My Bags record label release.  Eight tracks from the beloved Tribe catalogue are masterfully tackled here including ‘Electric Relaxation’, ‘Scenario’ and ‘Jazz (We’ve Got)’ in a thrilling new project that is sure to captivate hip-hop fans’ imagination, particularly with the love and affection with which the songs have been recreated.

'Koma Saxo' by Petter Eldh & Koma Saxo [We Jazz]*
The new project from Petter Eldh, ‘Koma Saxo’, sees the Swedish bassist assemble a wonderful five-piece comprised of long-time friends and collaborators, each incredible artists in their own right, to further carry the flag for We Jazz Records in 2019. The roots of the music here stem from the group’s live performance at the We Jazz Festival, 3rd December 2018, before the recordings were later revisited by Eldh with the end-result revealing the inspired and innovative vision that Eldh brought to the project.  Maybe it was his love of 90s hip-hop that served as inspiration to some capacity, but many of ‘Koma Saxo’s compositions you could almost envisage as being the products of hip-hop producers like Madlib or DJ Premier – or at the very least these are tracks they’d salivate at the thought of getting their hands on.

'Cykada' by Cykada [Astigmatic Records]
Much like Japan's Soil & "Pimp" Sessions referred to their high-octane levels of jazz as "death jazz", for the UK jazz six-piece Cykada, their myriad of experiences, styles and passions seem to organically spawn a style of jazz matching the energy of Tokyo’s finest but still having cultivated a style distinctly their own.  Cykada comprises something of a super-group of musicians from some of the UK’s finest names responsible for some of the UK’s finest jazz releases over the last few years.

'Fluid Motion' by 30/70 Collective [Rhythm Section International]
Melbourne's finest, the 30/70 Collective, return with their third album 'Fluid Motion' released through the UK's Rhythm Section International.  'Fluid Motion' serves as the perfect project to showcase the band's converging styles and inspirations - almost like masterfully straddling this middle ground whereby the music features these precise concoctions of soul, R&B and jazz without falling too far into any one genre.  With production by Horatio Luna and guitarist Tom Mansfield, and highlights too numerous to name, 'Fluid Motion' currently stands as 30/70's masterpiece and an absolute standout for future soul fans whether they be in Melbourne or the world over.

'Distant Voice' by Sean Khan [BBE Records]
Saxophonist Sean Khan follows up last year's exquisite 'Palmares Fantasy' with an excellent four-track EP released through his new label home of BBE Records.  Khan's is a unique and rare talent - one of the few with the ability to effortlessly flit between the broken beat world then jump into solo projects displaying his vision for contemporary jazz.  'Distant Voice' is the continuation of Khan's vision through an excellent four-track selection worthy of the already world-class BBE catalogue.

'For My Sanity' by 14KT [First Word Records]*
Spearheaded by the single ‘The Power of Same’ released late last year and featuring vocals by Muhsinah, guitar by Stro Elliot and piano & synthesizer by James Poyser, the track (along with the brilliant Kaidi Tatham remix) beautifully set the tone for the album that would follow. Over the course of the album's 12 tracks, KT tackles themes of love, faith, hope, as well as social and political angst.  Currently intended to be the first of several jazz-inspired projects from 14KT/IAMABEENIE which is an incredibly exciting premise and while we’ll await those with great anticipation, we have this sublime effort to tide us over in the meantime.

'Constellate' by Tensei [Tokyo Dawn Records]*
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the production duo of Tensei – consisting of Chris Kramer and Midas Wells – release their brand new project, ‘Constellate’, thus adding their names to the city’s rich musical tapestry established by icons including Curtis Mayfield, Louis Armstrong and Earth, Wind & Fire.  ‘Constellate’ serves as an exciting melting pot of musical styles with a sound rooted in hip-hop just as much as it is in jazz and the spectrum of styles in between, from soul to house and nu-soul. Thus far, Tensei have taken pride in never delivering the same project twice – each of the duo’s releases showcase an entirely new direction with Kramer and Wells seeming to relish the opportunities to navigate between genres and styles. In this case, Tensei’s vision is realised by an eclectic array of vocalists, rappers and musician.

'Liquid Saloon' by Liquid Saloon [Raw Tapes]*
The self-titled debut project from the super group that comprise Liquid Saloon unites long-term collaborators, and Raw Tapes Records stalwarts, Amir Bresler, Nomok and Sefi Zisling for an exciting and versatile jazz record released through the independent Israeli record label.  Label-mate Jenny Penkin, who herself had an excellent release with last year’s ‘Him, on the other hand’, appears on the album’s only vocal track, ‘Won’t Be Led By Fear’, which is a real highlight, as is the 1970’s style soul of opener ‘Naive By Choice’ and the eclectic genre-mash of ‘Polaroid Banana’, along with its accompanying video.

*I have the distinct pleasure of writing for the revered UK Vibe so for the asterisked albums, please visit ukvibe.org for my complete review for each of these projects - Imran Mirza

'Fluid Motion' by 30/70 Collective

Melbourne's finest, the 30/70 Collective, return with their third album 'Fluid Motion' released through the UK's Rhythm Section International.

The same way music fans and critics marvel at the wave of young and innovative jazz musicians that have spearheaded a jazz revival in the UK, Australia - and specifically Melbourne - have generated that same level of buzz and excitement when it comes to the wave of progressive, neo-soul-inspired projects that they have been releasing.  Hiatus Kaiyote are the obvious names that spring to mind but there is also the excellent output of Hopestreet Recordings' Leisure Centre who released the glossy, digital and synth-inspired project in 2018 'Mind Full', and the lush sounds of the quintet Cacartu who released their fantastic 'Habitat' last year also.  With past releases 'Cold Radish Coma' (2015) and 'Elevate' (2017), 30/70 have steadily built upon their reputation as flag wavers for this thriving hub of soul music of which their contributions couldn't possibly be overlooked.

And those contributions continually bring the group that bit closer to cementing the Collective to wider audiences but also to evolving them into something of a super-group.  Headed up by powerhouse vocalist Allysha Joy, who released her solo project 'Acadie: Raw' through Gondwana Records in 2018, the solo productions of bassist Henry "Horatio Luna" Hicks also warrant mention - check out his mind-blowing remix of 'Pieces' by James Wright Trio featuring fellow 30/70 contributor Danika Smith for starters!

'Fluid Motion' serves as the perfect project to showcase the band's converging styles and inspirations - almost like masterfully straddling this middle ground whereby the music features these precise concoctions of soul, R&B and jazz without falling too far into any one genre.  Taking the title track as the example - a soulful-house-esque beat is pulled into jazz territory with Josh Kelly's sax [a prominent instrument used throughout] and pulled in further directions with Joy's quick-fire delivery which leaves the whole project in this joyous genre limbo which is absolutely a blissful place not many can call home. 

With production by Horatio Luna and guitarist Tom Mansfield, and highlights too numerous to name, 'Fluid Motion' currently stands as 30/70's masterpiece and an absolute standout for future soul fans whether they be in Melbourne or the world over.