Brownswood 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Contemporary British jazz drummer-master Yussef Dayes returns with Black Classical Music, a monumental 18-track LP that not only contains collaborations with Rocco Palladino, Charlie Stacey, Alfa Mist, and Mansur Brown, but flaunt his compositional chops after the immediate fact of the studio, with the likes of 'Rust' and 'Early Dayes' laying down a heartfelt and clean foray into the nu-est expression of British jazz yet. Predominantly made in collaboration with Black artists, it's an album that aims to chart the history of an entire art form a fresh perspective, evidently tracing the line of his own personal past-present at the same time.

Review: Brownswood have got the debut album from DoomCannon here and it's a doozy. His meticulously crafted record takes us on a journey of awakening that reimagines the young Black British experience. It roams through rich and evocative landscapes, all of which have been inspired heavily by an assemblage of the artist's own experiences over the past four years. Of course, some of the events in that time are the Covid pandemic and the global Black Lives Matter movement in the summer of 2020, so heavy topics indeed.

Review: Having enjoyed a help in hand courtesy of the Arts Council-funded "Future Bubblers" project and mentor Esa (whose Afro-synth band he played in), Forest Law has graduated to the Brownswood Recordings roster. The producer and multi-instrumentalist has a wide palette of influences, but is particularly interested in West African and Brazilian music. These inspirations naturally come to the fore on this inspired debut, which gathers together three tracks bristling with effervescent Latin-percussion, Afrobeat-influenced grooves, Afro-synth electronics and vocals - presumably provided by the artist himself - that sound a little like Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor. It's an alluring blend that results in three fine cuts, of which A-side "New Thoughts New Eyes" - a future dancefloor classic, we reckon - being the pick of a very strong bunch.

Review: Secret Night Gang are poised for greatness, beaming out of Manchester with a dazzlingly sunny jazz funk sound which is right at home on Brownswood. Fronted by Kemani Anderson, this supremely talented band have all the chops you could wish for, melting buttery Rhodes, honey-coated sax, slinky bass and liquid guitar lines into the pot and laying it on smooth. From upbeat party pieces to cosy, baby-making fodder, this debut album rightly places them in the cut and thrust of the contemporary jazz scene, and they brim with more than enough talent to take themselves very far indeed.

Review: Str4ta is a project that harks back to the glory days of the vibrant British jazz-funk scene of the early 80s. Gilles Peterson and his partner in crime Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick are behind the music and the new album is the first new music they have put out in over a decade. Quick on the draw as ever is Dave Lee, fka Joey Negro, who on this 12" on Brownswood serves up two alternative mixes of one of the singles. The fist version of 'After The Rain' is all hip swinging claps, low slung funk and brightly shining, starry-eyed melodies. The second dub version is more scripted back but still with plenty of irresistible percussion and bass.

Review: Str4ta is a joint project that includes Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul Maunick aka Bluey, inspired by 80s Brit funk bands. In 2022, Str4ta released their third album Str4tasfear for Gilles's label, Brownswood Recordings and this 12" stamped white label offers two dance remixes of two tracks from Str4tasfear. For the A-side, 'To Be As One' is remixed by Venom with vocal by Theo Croker. This soulful house version is jazzy and slightly psychedelic, that gives off a tremendous 70s vibe to it, while the second side sees 'Lazy Days' is remixed by Wallace, adding a bit more of a Latin house feel and features Emma Jean Thackray on vocals. Both versions turn the originals into the perfect dancefloor shufflers for eclectic people. This is the perfect 12" for house, soul and Latin DJs to express their more jazzy side.

Review: South African jazz-influenced sounds take the lead on this new companion from the tireless Brownswood label. The collection explores the linage of the sounds and communities who helped it evolve as is spread across the country meaning plenty of subtle synths are taken in. The eclecticism is what makes this so essential as the music ranges from the hugely spiritual (from The Brother Moves On) to more late night and inmate (tasks to a fine entry from Sibusile Xaba) via the neo-soul drenched styles of Thandi Ntuli's beautiful 'Dikeledi' which is a particular highlight.