{"id":33029,"date":"2026-07-14T11:55:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T10:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/castthedice.org\/?p=33029"},"modified":"2026-07-14T11:55:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T10:55:34","slug":"skyjacks-fourth-album-let-the-sky-open-under-your-feet-out-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/castthedice.org\/?p=33029","title":{"rendered":"Skyjack’s fourth album, Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet<\/em>, out now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Jeremie Luke<\/p><\/div>\n

We’re a little late catching this one, but Skyjack<\/a>‘s Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet<\/em> is simply too good to let slip by and it has now firmly settled into our hearts. Formed in Cape Town in 2013, Skyjack is a five-piece collective spread between South Africa and Switzerland, featuring Kyle Shepherd (piano), Shane Cooper (bass), Jonno Sweetman (drums), Andreas Tschopp (trombone) and Marc Stucki (saxophones). Released earlier this month through Kujua Records<\/a>, Let The Sky Open Under Your Feet<\/em> brings together South African jazz traditions, European improvisation, chamber music, deep grooves and an adventurous spirit. \u201cThis record is a very articulate representation of our sound, having grown deep roots into the earth with high branches reaching upward and outward\u201d, says bassist Shane Cooper. \u201cMy desire is always to create sonic universes that can envelope the listener.\u201d<\/p>\n

After exchanging ideas remotely across two continents, the group reunited in Johannesburg, developed the new material on tour across South Africa, and then headed to a secluded studio outside Stellenbosch, where most of the album was recorded live in first takes. Across twelve pieces, the music moves effortlessly between meditative passages, rich orchestration and exhilarating improvisation, inspired by South Africa’s cultural and natural landscapes.<\/p>\n

For a taster of what’s on offer here’s two sublime and exhilarating tracks, the title track and ‘Radiate’.<\/p>\n