'Leaf Out' by JATOBA

'Leaf Out' finally brings to the life the long-gestating project from vocalist Régine Lanoir and DJ/producer A Cat Called Fritz under the collective name, JATOBA.

JATOBA's versatile interpretation of hip-hop-inspired neo-soul aptly finds its home on the French label, A Night on Canopy, who have long gifted listeners with a thrilling depiction of contemporary hip-hop-tinged projects from a dream line-up of musical creatives.  With some genuinely exciting releases like Dre Trav's 'Omnipresent' two-track release, the sixteen-minute improvisation of 'Innervisions (Holy Smoke)' by Michael Vigneron and Feather Phaser, the beautifully-composed treasure that is 'A Sad Love Song (Wadiya's Song)' by Mumia Abu-Jamal, Alain Jean-Marie and Morena Fattorini, and of course either of the full-length gems from producer As Valet ('Canne à Sucre' and 'Inner Journey') which would go on to lay the groundwork for his own Oioji Records.

The pairing of Lanoir alongside Fritz delivers a project that sits incredibly high amongst Canopy's catalogue.  The always elusive Fritz has cultivated a loyal following thanks in part to the litany of music he has unveiled over the years which range from standalone singles, mixtapes and full-length projects, all showcasing his devotion to golden era hip-hop as much as his devotion to the jazz that provided just as much inspiration.  As a result, Fritz's productions have garnered him an enthralling signature sound that, in the case of 'Leaf Out', provides a captivating and intricate soundscape for Lanoir to continue constructing in her own inimitable way.  

Lanoir's boundless artistic endeavours find her talents employed in a variety of ways - from helming much of the project's artwork for Oioji Records, the singer and songwriter has further graced a variety of projects with her sublime vocal including projects by Mauvais Zèbres ('Libre Échange') and appearing on another Canopy release of this year 'Quiet' from beatmaker Breiss' 'The Indian Bird'.   

With 'I Follow' having been released in late 2023, the album's lead single set expectations very high for the full-length which finally finds its way to listeners via Canopy's hallowed halls.  Over the course of the project's thirteen tracks, the JATOBA duo present a range of songs that capture their dynamic chemistry and affection for dynamic collaboration.  Standouts like the meditative 'We Walk Alone', the dreamy 'I Follow', the infectious bounce of 'Mundane Ritual' and the lush club aesthetic of 'Solar Game', courtesy of The Catillac Cats remix.

We've previously highlighted the incredible releases that A Night On Canopy already has on display and 'Leaf Out' definitively delivers as a fantastic album ranking highly amidst their releases to date.  The pairing of Lanoir and A Cat Called Fritz have delivered a project that was absolutely worth the wait and is demonstrative of their limitless potential as JATOBA and as solo artists in their own right.