Tru Thoughts レコード& CD

Review: Anushka's 'Bad Weather', previously released as a one-off track on Tru Thoughts' massive 2021 retrospective compilation, now gets its own single release via the same label. While the band's original jazz-house cut - soul-melting in its Kaytranada-style surround-claps and chiptune flourishes - makes a clear appearance on the B-side here, it's really a new remix by STR4TA that takes centre stage here. And who makes up that outfit, you might ask? Why, none other than curator and radio extraordinaire Gilles Peterson, teaming up with Mauritian guitarist Jean-Paul 'Bluey Maunick'. Together, they render Anushka's original into a booming brit-funk bastardization, readying a series of experimental electronic flourishes and licks that venture far beyond that of your average reworker.

Review: Bryony Jarman-Pinto's album Below Dawn is a deeply personal and transformative diary, reflecting her experiences leading up to becoming a mother. Produced by Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77), the album's jazz-inspired melodies and Bryony's harmonious vocals create an emotionally resonant atmosphere. The album's inception during the pandemic captures the emotional turmoil of the times, with tracks like 'Water Come' serving as a cathartic release for societal tensions. Bryony's introspective lyrics on tracks like 'O' and 'Leap' confront societal challenges and personal experiences, urging listeners to address ignorance and take action. As the album progresses, Bryony delves into her inner world, exploring themes of love, family, and nostalgia. 'Deep' and 'Frida-Rae' express the joy of falling in love with her newborn daughter, while 'Station Road' reflects on cherished childhood memories spent with her grandmother. Overall, Below Dawn is a poignant and introspective album that beautifully captures Bryony's life's most important parts.

Review: Much loved soul, jazz and hip hop fusionists Moonchild are back on their home label Try Thoughts with another magnificent and widescreen album. Reflections builds on their sonic foundation with subtle evolutions in sound but plenty of the recognisable tropes that have made this outfit so well loved as they, inspired by their own Tiny Desk performance, revisit, rework and reimagine their old songs. There are acoustic versions of their hit singles and overall the record finds the laid-back LA based trio once again epitomise a mix of intricate, progressive musicality with a chilled out vibe.

Review: Rider Shafique, Nadia Latoya (MELONYX), Charlie P and K.O.G ankle feature on this new and hard hitting project by Nottingham's producer, engineer and songwriting talent Origin One. Step In Time is an album that documents the struggles and experiences of the artist's finds and peers as Covid-19 unfolded and lockdown hit. It was funded by Help Musicians UK who set out to help artists impacted by the pandemic and now comes on limited edition vinyl and maps out the evolution of reggae across the decades with vocal stylings and instrumentals from Origin One at the heart of it all. Crucial stuff from what were still weird times.