Cerca:co fusion

A new year, a new signing : Life Recorder! The man from the south of France is well know for his releases on Visions, Hizou or his own Life Notes label and represents a very Detroit and Chicago inspired house sound. What does that mean? Just listen to tracks like «Natural instincts» or «Dreams»! There’s deepness, there are melodies, there’s a groove! To complete the full french package, another hot producer adds the remix : Aleqs Notal, well know for his Industrial Light label and releases on Sistrum or Phonogramme. Just follow your natural instincts !

Constant Sound is one of the very many labels that is headed up by Burnski and one that he reserves for club-ready tech house and minimal. Wodda steps up for the latest outing and brings some future garage energy to the opener, 'Reggae Fusion' (Deep mix) which is lit up with lithe synths and smart vocal samples. 'On My Way' has more infectious garage vibes to it with the squelchy drums and hits and some nice heady melodies up top. 'Changing Faces' gets more twisted and brings intergalactic drama to the ass-wiggling cyborg tech beats and last of all, a Tuff Mudda mix of 'Reggae Fusion' shuts down with a silky thump and throwback UKG bass.

‘Colours Revisited’, a revision of Adam F’s MOBO Award-winning 1997 debut album is a story of musical rebirth and passion. Adam F, realising that ‘Colours’ had found a new audience—partly thanks to artists like PinkPantheress—decided to recreate the album. Instead of simply remastering the tracks, Adam went all in. Over two years, he meticulously reworked the original music, from restoring vintage instruments like his Fender Rhodes piano to enlisting UK jazz legends like Julian Joseph. Vocalists including Kirsty Hawkshaw and the late MC Conrad re-recorded their parts, while new solos from world-class musicians added fresh life to the tracks.

“Colours holds a special place in my heart because it was not only my first solo album, but also because I had the opportunity to collaborate with diverse talents,” says the seminal producer on his ground-breaking album. “Musicians of a calibre such as Dave Ital (Guitars), The Jazz Great Julian Joseph (Keyboards and Fender Rhodes), MC Conrad (MC/Artist), Roni Jordan (Jazz a guitarist who had a hit with Miles Davis’ “So What”), Tim Philbert/Tim the Bass (Bass), Greg Leicester (Bass), Maurice Capillaire/MC MC (Live MC)…”

Adam continues “We were honoured to be nominated for MOBO “Best album of the year” alongside renowned acts of that time, including Hinda Hicks, Des’ree, Lighthouse Family, and Massive Attack. In fact, I was so convinced that we wouldn't win that I didn't prepare a speech, and that definitely showed in my genuine surprise. Colours also went on to be a top 20 UK National Chart hit which lead to Metropolis winning Tune of the Year at the Underground Awards. Music In My Mind from the same album was inspired from Herbie Hancock ‘Rocket’ and ‘I Thought It Was You’.

“Fast forward to 2020, I never thought of ever revisiting ‘Colours’. But it seems that time has come round full circle, the interest is there.” The revisited album deftly weaves together the energy of new live instrumentation with the 80’s British electronica and jazz fusion inspired sounds of the original.
The result is a project which not only brings the album into the glistening present but somehow manages to add further depth and sense of understanding of the original ‘Colours’, the influences latent within it and how and why it has gone on to influence so many others since it’s inception throughout the world. This is a must have album which pays homage to what has become a cornerstone of British electronic music history.

‘Colours Revisited’, a revision of Adam F’s MOBO Award-winning 1997 debut album is a story of musical rebirth and passion. Adam F, realising that ‘Colours’ had found a new audience—partly thanks to artists like PinkPantheress—decided to recreate the album. Instead of simply remastering the tracks, Adam went all in. Over two years, he meticulously reworked the original music, from restoring vintage instruments like his Fender Rhodes piano to enlisting UK jazz legends like Julian Joseph. Vocalists including Kirsty Hawkshaw and the late MC Conrad re-recorded their parts, while new solos from world-class musicians added fresh life to the tracks.

“Colours holds a special place in my heart because it was not only my first solo album, but also because I had the opportunity to collaborate with diverse talents,” says the seminal producer on his ground-breaking album. “Musicians of a calibre such as Dave Ital (Guitars), The Jazz Great Julian Joseph (Keyboards and Fender Rhodes), MC Conrad (MC/Artist), Roni Jordan (Jazz a guitarist who had a hit with Miles Davis’ “So What”), Tim Philbert/Tim the Bass (Bass), Greg Leicester (Bass), Maurice Capillaire/MC MC (Live MC)…”

Adam continues “We were honoured to be nominated for MOBO “Best album of the year” alongside renowned acts of that time, including Hinda Hicks, Des’ree, Lighthouse Family, and Massive Attack. In fact, I was so convinced that we wouldn't win that I didn't prepare a speech, and that definitely showed in my genuine surprise. Colours also went on to be a top 20 UK National Chart hit which lead to Metropolis winning Tune of the Year at the Underground Awards. Music In My Mind from the same album was inspired from Herbie Hancock ‘Rocket’ and ‘I Thought It Was You’.

“Fast forward to 2020, I never thought of ever revisiting ‘Colours’. But it seems that time has come round full circle, the interest is there.” The revisited album deftly weaves together the energy of new live instrumentation with the 80’s British electronica and jazz fusion inspired sounds of the original.
The result is a project which not only brings the album into the glistening present but somehow manages to add further depth and sense of understanding of the original ‘Colours’, the influences latent within it and how and why it has gone on to influence so many others since it’s inception throughout the world. This is a must have album which pays homage to what has become a cornerstone of British electronic music history.

The Young Mothers return with their third album, Better If You Let It, blending a genre-defying mix of jazz, hip-hop, punk, experimental rock, and electronic music. Formed by Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten in Austin, Texas, the band’s sound is shaped by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members, hailing from both the U.S. and Norway. With influences spanning from Texas’ vibrant hip-hop and punk scenes to Norway’s experimental jazz traditions, the band creates a powerful fusion that feels cinematic and unpredictable.

The lineup includes Jawwaad Taylor (trumpet, rhymes, electronics) and Jason Jackson (tenor and baritone sax) from Houston, Stefan Gonzalez (vibraphone, drums, percussion, voice) from Dallas, Frank Rosaly (drums, electronics) from Chicago and Amsterdam, and Håker Flaten (bass) from Norway.

This global roster brings together a dynamic, cross-cultural sound, with Better If You Let It showcasing their most cohesive and wide-ranging material yet. Recorded in Oslo and set for release on Sonic Transmission Records, the album is a bold statement, proving The Young Mothers’ ability to push musical boundaries across genres and geographies.

Finnish-born producer and pianist Idealism (800K Spotify Monthly Listeners) and French transplant Lucid Green (175k SML) are no strangers to each other’s subtle, yet potent productions. Having worked together on „Untold“ their Sophomore, fully collaborative LP “Unsaid” is a natural journey into the beautiful ambient, downtempo, lo-fi worlds they’ve each created. Through visits to Lucid’s flat in Paris and ideas being exchanged remotely, the duo experimented with different sounds, instruments and aural environments, in the process crafting a natural partnership that sits in a comfortable, melancholic pocket.

With lulling guitar and poignant piano progressions that provide a pillow to rest your ears, and downtempo percussions that keeps you ebbing and flowing along on a subtle current, unsure where one wave ends and the next begins, only the albums progressions dictate the head-nod. The album soars, reminiscent of life’s simple, yet wholly memorable moments.

As with all 823 releases, the project is a visual one as much as it is a musical project. The first singles visualizers are a fusion of Hopes & Dreams Club & 823’s design aesthetics with personal super8 footage captured by Idealism & Lucid Green, beautifully expressed from Hopes & Dreams Club membersi. Each visualizer and single art will easily stand on its own, transporting you to worlds familiar, yet undeniably groovy and sonically comfortable.

823 is a multifaceted Perth-based record label, fashion brand, and artistic community, founded by Australian producer and all-around creative, Ta-ku (630 SML). With an astute attention to detail and an ethos that appreciates the everyday things in life, 823 doesn’t stick to any particular genre. Past 823 releases include “So Far To Go” EP via Cabu (500k SML), Ta-ku and matt mcwaters’s duo project “Black and White,” featuring Masego collaboration “Flight 99” (38mil streams on Spotify), the “All Things Considered” compilations, a curated, collaborative series featuring both budding and well-established artists around the world and have included Idealism, Wun Two, pastels, L.Dre, Flobama, SwuM, Jinsang, Tenderlonious, among a host of others, as well as multiple sold out clothing capsules.

"With their dulcet fusion of ‘60s French ye-ye pop, slinky Studio One reggae, and liminal Brazilian tropicalia, Claude Fontaine’s songs embody the best kept dreams of a globally connected world. The second album from the Los Angeles artist reflects the dream of creating the soundtrack for this utopia by the sea.

Released on Innovative Leisure, La Mer is a mesmerizing portal. It’s impossible for it to exist outside of the modern moment, but it floats on the gilded dust of the past. At times, Fontaine channels Jane Birkin as backed by Jorge Ben. Francois Hardy locked into sonic reverie with Mulatu Astatke, or Margo Guryan making lovers rock.

None of this is a happy accident. For her second opus, Fontaine assembled some of the most gifted musicians of the last five decades. First and foremost is her co-writer and producer, the multi-platinum Grammy-Award winning Lester Mendez, whose resume includes everyone from Grace Jones and Baaba Maal to Shakira and Nelly Furtado.

As with Fontaine’s self-titled first album, the legendary Tony Chin appears on guitar, bringing the orphic tones expected from someone who has played with some of the greatest reggae musicians of all-time (King Tubby, Dennis Brown, Lee Perry, Jackie Mittoo, Max Romeo, Sly & Robbie). On bass, there’s Ronnie McQueen, one of the co-founders of Steel Pulse. Sergio Mendes’ percussionist, Gibi Dos Santos, supplies propulsive locomotion. So does Ziggy Marley’s drummer, Rock Deadrick. And that’s just the abridged list of storied instrumentalists who appear on La Mer."

Welcome to 'Instrumental Dubs #3', the ongoing series that delves into the world of the Dub Version and beyond. Side one explores the axis of UK Street Soul and Reggae with the opening two tracks produced by Howard Hill and originally released on his Passion Enterprises label in the late eighties. Both 'Versions' have a machine lead rhythm section paired with a reggae skank and snippets of soulful vox. The Proto House of Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' featured on a Jura Soundsystem DJ Mix for Planet Trip, a one off single from the now sadly deceased Errol Parkes that's been re-edited with love by The Nightlark from Edinburgh.

The B side features The Cool Notes 'Natural Energy', which isn't strictly speaking a Dub Version, but it has that vibe with a primarily instrumental backing track featuring sparse vocals and spacey FX. The album closes with a secret weapon of Ilija Rudman 'Dub 4 Love' that pays homage to a famous track from Acid House's heyday.

Pressed on 180g Heavyweight Vinyl with full sleeve jacket design by Bradley Pinkerton.

REPRESSED !!

Vibraphone and keyboard player, master arranger and bandleader, Mulatu Astatke is one of the all-time greats of Ethiopian music and the creator of his own original music form, Ethio jazz. Through the acclaimed Ethiopiques album series and through featuring on the soundtrack to the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers, his music has belatedly reached a global audience and a new, younger generation of fans. In November of last year, he recorded an inspired new album with London psych jazz band The Heliocentrics for Strut's 'Inspiration Information' studio collaboration series. Now, Strut are proud to present, for the first time anywhere, the definitive Mulatu career retrospective covering his landmark 60's and 70's recordings.
Mulatu is a true pioneer of African music. He was the first Ethiopian musician of his generation to travel extensively and to record abroad - he studied in the UK in Wales and at Trinity College Of Music in London, cutting his teeth on the buoyant London jazz scene of the early 60's. He became the first African student to attend Harvard and he lived and recorded in New York, developing a unique sound that fused Western jazz with traditional Ethiopian melodies.
Tracing the progression of his Ethio jazz experiments with full access to all of the labels for whom he recorded, Mulatu Astatke: New York-AddisLondon is the essential Mulatu. Covering his first recordings in the UK during 1965, his groundbreaking fusions for the small Worthy label in New York and his key '70s recordings back in Addis on Amha, Phillips and Axum, the album features comprehensive sleeve notes by Miles Cleret, boss of the excellent Soundway Records imprint, and rare, previously unseen photos from Mulatu's personal archive.

John Patitucci stands as a towering figure in the global jazz scene, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to modern jazzfusion and beyond. His bold new album, Spirit Fall, marks an exciting new phase in his career as a leader, featuring his trio withthe extraordinary Brian Blade and Chris Potter, and stands as one of the most significant new signings to Edition Records.Patitucci’s exceptional versatility across acoustic and electric bass has set a new standard in contemporary music, influencinggenerations of bassists worldwide. Collaborating with icons like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, his work hasdefined the sound of jazz for decades, particularly his role in Corea’s Elektric Band, which helped shape jazz fusion’s evolution. Amultiple Grammy Award-winner, his virtuosity and ability to span genres have made him a vital force in jazz.His past solo works, including Line by Line and Songs, Stories and Spirituals, have already showcased his profound ability toblend jazz, classical, funk, and world music. Spirit Fall continues this tradition, bringing a fresh perspective to his ever-evolvingartistry while reaffirming his position as one of the most creative forces in contemporary jazz.

Chapeau Music presents its second vinyl release, this time by Resonances (IT). "Signal" is a record that connects diverse shades of electronic music: from jazzy undertones to industrial techno, from punchy and intricate rhythms to straight and clean grooves. It's a collection of tracks that showcases the vision of the "man behind the Octatrack".

The title track "Signal" develops naturally, immersing the listener in its dynamic layers of piano stabs and synth elements with a fast-paced groove. The subtle distortion of the rhythmic elements injects raw energy without compromising the track's underlying elegance. It reimagines the genre's darker roots, offering a bold and innovative perspective.

Gene Richards Jr's remix of Signal intensifies the journey, delivering a high-impact, hard-groove edge that perfectly complements the EP.

"Please" concludes the A-side with a pulsating rhythm and a cadence that keeps the dancefloor in motion. Its energetic progression completes the A-side with an undeniable dancefloor weapon.

The flip side begins with "Randomizer", an exploration of atmospheric and industrial textures. The track builds around a solid kick drum and spatial synths, with scattered elements orbiting like satellites to create an extraterrestrial experience.

To close, "The Stand" merges classic influences with melodic, Detroit-inspired elements. Wide, reverberated synths fill the space, crafting a fusion of rhythm and melodies to deliver a standout closing track that feels timeless.

South-London, British-Bengali musician Tara Lily shares her debut album 'Speak In The Dark'. The LP is about "speaking your truth" and combines alternative R&B, jazz, electronica and traditional Indian sounds into a unique fusion. The record, produced by Dom Valentino, features American jazz trumpeter Theo Croker, UK rapper Surya Sen, and Archy Marshall (aka King Krule) on guitar.

Growing up in Peckham as part of a British Bengali family has given Tara Lily a unique perspective on music and global culture. She has spent her life absorbing a multitude of sounds and genres from her surroundings, ranging from electronica to jazz and RnB to traditional Bengali folk music. From training at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music (where she studied jazz piano and voice) to learning Indian classical music and being the first act signed to Motown Records UK. Tara is a musical anomaly.

Debut album from South-London, British-Bengali musician and rising star Tara Lily, featuring American trumpeter Theo Croker & UK rapper Surya Sen
LP produced by Dom Valentino with additional contributions from Bad Sounds, Jaz Lee, Archy Marshall, Chiranjeeb Chakraborty, Akash Parekar, Mei Kerby, Ian Stratford
European Tour supporting JP Cooper (1st week of October, 2024)
UK Tour w/ Juabi - Manchester, Barbican (London) - Sept 2024
Artwork by Jay Vaz (Dreaming Vinyl)
"No Way Out" video shot in association with The North Face in the Himalayas, Nepal. Directed by Siddanth Ghosh
Press support - The Guardian, Evening Standard - "One to watch", Wonderland, ID, Notion, Clash
Radio support - 'Double Time' was track of the week on BBC Radio 1, other spots plays - BBC 6Music, Jazz FM (playlisting), BBC Asian Network, NTS
Recipient of the FAC x Amazon Music - Step Up Fund
Tours - UK, India (Echos Of Earth / Vh1 Supersonic festival / Jazz
Weekender), Nepal, Bangkok, Hong Kong, EU
Festivals - Glastonbury (3 sets - BBC introducing - Televised / Leftfield B2B Billy Bragg / PRS), We Out Here, Shambala, Daytimer Dialled In, Wilderness, Cross The Tracks
Career highlights - SHAKTI JAZZ NTS show, joined King Krule on stage at Apollo Theatre and supported RAYE at the Royal Albert Hall, Jazz Cafe w/ Mahalia, playing live on TV on BBC2 (The Kia Oval)

Collector, seeker and storyteller Charles Bals brings his curatorial finesse to Hamburg"s Bureau B with "Ambientale", a journey into otherworldly sounds from the years 1983 - 2000.

Drifting effortlessly between digital exoticism, mellow fusion, new age groove and library electronics, the pieces range from largely obscure to utterly un-google-able, and coalesce into a stunning soundtrack to tranquil seas, desert sand and starlit skies.

Cinematic & enigmatic, "Ambientale" is a stranger you"ve only just met but can"t stop thinking about.

Grammy-nominated artist, producer and label-head TOKiMONSTA and prolific composer, producer and songwriter, Suzi Analogue have officially released their collaborative mini-album, Analogue Monsta: BOOM via Young Art Records. Originally released in limited quantities exclusively on vinyl in 2012, the 11-track project has now been remastered. Analogue Monsta: BOOM serves as a time capsule to the eclectic sound of the early 2010’s beat scene, which both TOKi and Suzi’s futuristic production styles helped champion out to a broader audience outside of the world of “bedroom producers.” Suzi Analogue's smooth R&B vocals pair perfectly with TOKiMONSTA's glitchy beats and pulsating bass, demonstrating their versatility and flair for pushing sonic boundaries. The album lays one of the early foundations to the fusion of future bass, alternative R&B and electronica, highlighting the pioneering spirit of two acclaimed female artists.

Analogue Monsta: BOOM marks an important milestone for the two as they reflect on the prescient nature of their early collaboration. “This special project with Suzi Analogue is one of my favorites. It never had a formal release so it feels right to share it with the world a decade later with fresh ears,” states TOKiMONSTA. Both Suzi and TOKi’s journeys converged early in their careers as the two paved the way for a groundbreaking era of femme-identifying producers and songwriters within the music industry. Speaking on the project’s significance Suzi Analogue adds, “​​The Analogue Monsta project was truly ahead of its time. We felt a strong calling to propel it into the future, recognizing the trailblazing potential it held. It provided a vital space for femme-identifying producers and songwriters to fearlessly explore beats, lyrics and tempos with us. This experimental journey not only influenced the current musical landscape but is poised to leave a lasting mark on the soundscape of the future."

The result is a record that very much is its own world. Where chaos is carefully organized, where being able to ever actually chill out is totally illusory, a trick mirror.

Smart dresser and dedicated beard groomer Manuold - real name Emmanuele Macagnone - has notched up some excellent releases since making his bow in 2017, including admired EPs on House Puff and Madhouse Records. Here he brings his classy brand of deep house to GLDOM for the first time. With its squelchy synth-bass, loose-limbed garage-house drums, gospel vocal samples and warm pads, opener 'Jersey' sounds like a long-lost Kerri Chandler gem. He continues the retro-futurist theme on the low-slung and jazzy 'Hot & Crunchy', before doffing a cap to deep house/tech-house fusion on the Tenaglia-influenced 'Zanzibar'. Over on the flip, 'Night Long' is a chunky slab of 21st century New Jersey deep house with an Italian twist, while 'In The Clouds' sees him successfully lean into his Italo-house influences while retaining a dreamy and chunky deep house flex.

Special edition repress of the groundbreaking ‘Nigeria 70’ compilation, now available on translucent green vinyl 3LP to celebrate the label’s 25th Anniversary.

Originally released in 2001, the collection set the benchmark for a new generation of archive labels and releases mining the vaults for rare Afro funk and Afro jazz fusions and helped to paint the wider picture of the 1970s Lagos scene beyond Fela Kuti's catalogue for a legion of soul, funk and dance music enthusiasts. Check!

Bringing new life to the electrifying sounds of Peru’s golden era of cumbia, *CHICHA POR FAVOR Vol. 1 is a highly anticipated limited edition vinyl release, featuring 12 rare tracks from the historic El Volcan label, known for its groundbreaking cumbia in the highlands of Cusco, Peru. This curated collection, spanning the 1970s and 80s, delivers listeners an immersive sonic journey into the heart of Peru's tropical music heritage.

For vinyl collectors, cumbia enthusiasts, and aficionados of Latin American musical history, this album is a rare treasure, packaged with an exclusive insert detailing the cultural origins of each track and offering in-depth insights into the socio-musical evolution of Peruvian cumbia. This release is the inaugural volume of CHICHA POR FAVOR, a project aimed at preserving and celebrating the defining sounds of Peruvian tropical music.

The tracks featured in CHICHA POR FAVOR Vol. 1 offer a uniquely authentic perspective on Peruvian cumbia’s intricate layers, capturing the influence of coastal rhythms, Andean folklore, and Amazonian beats, fused with elements of rock and psychedelia. From the driving electric guitars of *Grupo Atlantic*’s “Danza Atlantic” to the lively, Amazonian-infused grooves of *Los Invasores* and *Los Tigres*, the album reflects a diversity of styles that arose during a transformative era in Peru’s music scene. Notably, the release revives the distinctive sound of *El Volcan* a Cusco-based label that became a beacon for cumbia in the Andes and beyond.

Peruvian tropical music emerged in the 1960s as a fusion of traditional Andean sounds with electric guitar-driven interpretations of Afro-Caribbean and American rock influences. The insert, included with each vinyl, presents a well-researched narrative of the genre’s genesis and evolution, from early instrumental adaptations of huayno rhythms to the psychedelic Amazonian sounds that became its signature.

This compilation is not only a celebration of Peru’s cultural legacy but also an educational experience, designed to give listeners a comprehensive understanding of the geographical, cultural, and musical landscapes that shaped this genre.

Pedro Vian Vian and Maalem Najib Soudani "Mogador": A Fusion of Analog Electronic Music and Traditional Gnawa Sounds
"Mogador" stands as a compelling exploration of the intersection between seemingly irreconcilable musical worlds: the experimental realm of analog electronic music and the deep-rooted tradition of Gnawa. This project is more than just a juxtaposition of styles; it’s a meeting of minds where the ancient and the modern, the analog and the organic, are woven together into a seamless auditory dialogue.

What truly sets "Mogador" apart is the way Pedro Vian’s use of the EMS AKS Synthi and Buchla doesn’t overpower the mix but instead forms a perfect synergy with Maalem Najib Soudani’s qrebeb and guimbiri. Rather than competing, the analog pulses intertwine with the hypnotic lines of the traditional instruments, amplifying the trance-inducing qualities inherent in Gnawa music. The Maalem’s vocals, steeped in history and spirituality, float over layers of synths that feel both ethereal and tangible, crafting a soundscape that is as cinematic as it is visceral.

This is not just a collision of cultures or a superficial fusion exercise. "Mogador" represents a genuine dialogue between two ways of understanding sound and space, where every element—from the syncopated percussion to the serpentine modular waves—contributes to a sonic landscape that is both haunting and profoundly resonant. Here, tradition isn’t a museum piece, and analog electronics aren’t a rootless futurism; instead, they transform each other, creating something greater than the sum of their parts.

First Word Records is extremely proud to welcome aboard Takuya Kuroda.

A highly-respected trumpeter born in Kobe, Japan, Takuya is a forward-thinking musician that has developed a unique hybrid sound, blending soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and hip hop music.

After following the footsteps of his trombonist brother playing in big bands, he relocated to New York to study jazz & contemporary music at The New School in Union Square; a course he graduated from in the mid-noughties. It was here that Takuya met vocalist José James, with whom he worked on the 'Blackmagic' and 'No Beginning No End' projects.

Following graduation, Takuya established himself further in the NYC jazz scene, performing with the likes of Akoya Afrobeat and in recent years with DJ Premier's BADDER band (also including acclaimed bass player, Brady Watt). Premier said "The BADDER Band project was put together by my manager, and an agent I've known since the beginning of my Gang Starr career. He said, 'What if you put a band together that revolved around a trumpet player from Japan named Takuya Kuroda? He's got a hip-hop perspective and respect in the jazz field…"

Takuya Kuroda is already incredibly prolific, releasing five albums in the past decade and fortifying a solid reputation in the global jazz scene. 2011 saw the release of Takuya's independently-produced debut album, 'Edge', followed by 'Bitter and High' the following year and 'Six Aces' on P-Vine in 2013. Takuya was signed to the legendary Blue Note Records in 2014 for his album 'Rising Son', as well as appearing on their 2019 cover versions project, 'Blue Note Voyage'. He released his 5th album 'Zigzagger' on Concord in 2016, which also featured Antibalas on a reimagining of the Donald Byrd classic 'Think Twice'.

Late Summer 2020, Takuya Kuroda returns with his sixth album 'Fly Moon Die Soon'.

In his words, "this album is about the irony between the greatness of nature and the beautiful obsceneness of humanity. Melodies and grooves fly back and forth from being spiritual to being vulgar."

It took two years to make this album. In 2018, I decided I just couldn't make albums the same way I had been in the past anymore. As a birthday treat to myself, I booked a studio in Brooklyn for two days, with only myself and an engineer, Todd Carder. I brought along some tracks I'd been building at home to see if we could complete them within that time. We began replacing sounds and adding texture, sampling noises from all over the studio; me sipping coffee, hitting a 26" kick drum, speeding up snares. At the end of the two days we were like "wow, I didn't know we could make tracks this good in this way". This is how the process of the full album started. Everything was based on my beats I made at home, inviting musicians in one by one, adding or replacing parts. I was very careful when developing these tracks; just note by note, part by part. I wanted to make the music effectively from a blend of two different recording methods; one very slickly produced part and one very organic part played by live musicians. I remember mixtapes from when I was kid, and wanted to make an album that wasn't just a bunch of flashy singles, trying to catch people's attention in the first 30 seconds, or full of guest features. Instead, I'm essentially just trying to let the grooves breath."

The album consists of nine tracks of excellence. The uptempo jazz-funk of 'ABC' and 'Moody' sit alongside soulful jazz cuts like 'Fade' and 'CHANGE', also featuring Corey King on vocals. The title track is a downtempo groove lead by a heavy Moog bassline, whilst 'Do No Why' contains an infectious piano riff throughout. Aside from Takuya's original compositions, he revisits two classics from Ohio Players ('Sweet Sticky Thing' featuring Alina Engibaryan on vocals) and Herbie Hancock ('Tell Me A Bedtime Story') whilst the album closes with the epic 'TKBK'.

Takuya adds "this special cover was inspired by the Golden Moon I saw during a photoshoot in Death Valley with my homie Hiroyuki Seo".

Takuya Kuroda is a truly unique talent, and this album is a realisation of the evolution of his sound.

'Fly Moon Die Soon' is released on Worldwide Award-winning UK label First Word Records on vinyl & digital in September 2020.

As we journey Fred P continues to go further into his singular sonic landscape with long player Bliss Filled Passages. Depth and emotive intensity of Uplifted Vibes keeps the energy flowing with what has been a stable of Private Society vinyl arm, trippy fusionhouse. Rounding the proceedings with laid back roller Smooth and Real.

Another ace outing by the futurist Fred P.