Category Archives: Blog

Yazz Ahmed releases 12″ single ‘A Shoal of Souls’

12 June 2019

Two years on from the release of La Saboteuse, Bahrain-raised, London-based trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed has a third album on the way called Polyhymnia. Slated for an October release through Ropeadope Records, Polyhymnia is a suite of music inspired and dedicated to six female role-models, from Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai to civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

Preceding the album release, and bringing her La Saboteuse project to a close, the celebrated musician put out ‘A Shoal of Souls’, a special limited release 12″ single, available on her bandcamp. ‘A Shoal of Souls’ is a tribute to the many lives lost by those who have tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Yazz explains:

“I was already thinking about the migrants who perished at sea when I named the chapter The Shoal of Souls, and this new composition is dedicated to all the people who have lost their lives crossing the sea in search of a better future. I hope the music conveys the strength and power of the human spirit, the bravery to risk everything for their families, the anger I feel at the response of the West, a lack of empathy, a lack of compassion. They are not a swarm, they are us – humans. The music is also inspired by Sufism, the idea of whirling and turning, falling into a trance, a dream. I see a mirror with the whirling, turning ocean, a whirlpool of lost souls, of untold stories, talents and lives unfulfilled, joining together in the eternal dance and rhythm of a vast shoal of fish which seems to beat like a heart.”

‘A Shoal of Souls’ is a staggering piece. Take a listen now.

33-33 to release Keiji Haino & Charles Hayward’s collaborative live album

11 June 2019

Thirty Three Thirty Three have been working with pioneering artists and musicians, plotting and offering unique live performances. Now they launch as a record label, 33-33 Records, and will put out three very special releases this month, including next week Keiji Haino and Charles Hayward’s collaborative record, taking the poem below as its title:

A loss permitted to open its eyes for but three hours
And there glimpsed, finally in focus a mystery
That begs earnestly, “ask me nothing”
Now, once more the problem is yours alone

The Japanese avant-garde guitarist and improvising singer teamed up with South London’s pioneering drummer for an improvised performance at London’s Copeland Gallery in July 2016, which now emerges as a live album. On A Loss Permitted, to open one’s eyes…, we find “a mix of air synths, distortions, improvised Japanese poetry and warped guitar sounds”, as the label describes.

The album is out on June 21st but we can already hear ‘Track 7’ for a beguiling taste of Keiji Haino & Charles Hayward’s latest collaboration.

Ami Dang announces instrumental album Parted Plains

05 June 2019

Photo: Missy Malouff

Baltimore based vocalist, sitarist, producer and composer Ami Dang has announced the release of her new album Parted Plains. An all instrumental affair, the record will see the light of day on August 2nd through Leaving Records. Blending ambient, trance and electronic music, Parted Plains is inspired by South Asian and Middle Eastern folktales. As the press release describes, Dang drew influences from “the four tragic romances of Punjab, Sohni Mahiwal, Sassi Punnun, Heer Ranjha, and Mirza Sahiba; Flora Annie Steel’s Tales of the Punjab: Folklore of India, and selected stories from One Thousand and One Nights.”

Ahead of the album´s release, Dang has shared the single ‘Raiments’ and it serves as a delicate and gorgeous taste from what´s on offer. Take a listen now.

Haiku Salut’s soundtrack album The General out in August

04 June 2019

The magical musical world of Derbyshire based trio Haiku Salut is as enchanting and fruitful as ever, and a fourth album is on the way, following last year’s There Is No Elsewhere. Entitled The General, it first came to be as an original live score to Buster Keaton’s comedy classic The General, commissioned by Nottingham Contemporary as part of the BFI’s Comedy Genius season and they first performed it in Belfast last January.

Preceding the album release on August 2nd through Secret Name, Haiku Salut are enticing us with a double A side, ‘Loves’/’Going Back’. The single is out on June 7th but lucky for us, we can already hear both tracks. ‘Loves’ comes with an accompanying video.

Froth drop new single ’77’ and announce UK live dates in September

03 June 2019

Froth are set to release with their fourth album, Duress, this Friday, following a two-year hiatus. After sharing ‘Laurel’, the Los Angeles trio of Joo-Joo Ashworth, Jeremy Katz and Cameron Allen are teasing the record again with new single ’77’. Frontman JooJoo Ashworth explained how the song came to life, while working with co-producer Tomas Dolas (Oh Sees/Mr. Elevator):

“Toward the end of the album, Tomas and I were really digging deep into my voice memos trying to see what was worth making into a real song. I had him play bass and synth while I sung and played some guitar. Only with Tomas would we ever come up with an odd timing song. The lyrics are mostly about when I was living with my parents for a couple months after I got kicked out of my apartment by an evil landlord.”

Take a listen to ’77’ and watch out for the album’s release on June 7th through Wichita Recordings.


In other related news, Froth are crossing the pond for a handful of live dates in the UK this September. Check all their stops below:

8th September – Komedia, Brighton
9th September – YES, Manchester
10th September – Nice ‘n Sleazy, Glasgow
11th September – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
12th September – Studio 9294, London

Hackney Colliery Band share two tracks from new album Collaborations: Volume One

31 May 2019

We´re only a week away from the release of Hackney Colliery Band´s new album Collaborations: Volume One, following their widely acclaimed Sharpener, released in 2016.
To bring the album to life,the East London collective enlisted a stellar cast of guests, including Mulatu Astatke, James Taylor, Angélique Kidjo, Roundhouse Choir, Dennis Rollins, Pete Wareham, and Bugge Wesseltoft, amongst others.

Today they share two phenomenal new tracks from the album, ‘Crushing Lactic,’ composed by incredibly talented British composer and pianist Tom Rogerson, and ‘Derashe’ featuring Mulatu Astatke. Take a listen to both now.

Collaborations: Volume One is out on June 7th through Veki