Alongside being a tribute to the capital’s music and multicultural flavours, the mix is a whole lot more too, encompassing Karriem Riggins’ Detroit beat weirdness, Peven Everett’s funk driven Chi house and Max Graef/Ratgrave’s German future funk. Beats scatter, swing, break and shuffle in a multitude of different ways, mirroring both the protagonist’s dancing keys and his lesser-known background as a drummer. From Seiji’s ‘Buggin’ Out’ to his own ‘Snitches Brew’ to literally every other track, all are deeply individual and rhythmic; this is dance music as boosted by a jazzer’s flex.
Although not traditionally mixed or predictably sequenced, this unique standout set has a high level of narrative and coherence, linking styles like a family tree, with branches including jazz, funk, house, UK funky, broken, Dilla schooled beats, wild jungle-esque drum patterns, nu soul and general spiritual goodness. There’s a level of musicality and soulfulness that’s not found in your average linear mono-genre beat mixes. In fact, there’s nothing standard about the mix, which is why it stands out and shines.
Kamaal‘s inspired work in the studio and live arena has influenced a whole new generation of like-minded musicians, who‘ve helped make London one of the most musically exciting cities in the world.
The Yussef Kamaal album ‘Black Focus’ was one of the most talked about records of 2016. Vinyl pressings kept selling out, it received widespread rave reviews, earned the band the Breakthrough Act award at the 2017 Jazz FM awards and led to spellbinding live shows all over Europe. The follow up, ‘The Return‘, came on Williams’ own new Black Focus label and took his band global, charting highly and making it onto Best Of 2018 lists in The Guardian, The Standard, i-D, Crack, The Wire, DJ, Brooklyn Vegan, The Vinyl Factory, Complex and Bandcamp.
In addition to Kamaal’s much loved urban jazz, he makes more electronic pieces under the name Henry Wu, who – following standout EPs on labels like Rhythm Section, Eglo and 22a – shares here the new exclusive ‘Wivout U’, whilst Kamaal Williams exclusives featured are a live version of ‘Snitches Brew’ plus new tracks ‘Shinjuku’ and ‘Strings ATL’.
TRACK LIST:
A1 Budgie - Sometimes
A2 Kamaal Williams - Snitches Brew (live in Atlanta) **
A3 Steve Spacek - Hey There
B1 DJ Harrison - Moving Up
B2 Ratgrave - Ein Kola Bitte!
B3 Wbeeza - He’s So Crazy
C1 Seiji - Buggin' Out
C2 Freeez - Southern Freeez
C3 Hard House Banton - Sirens
D1 Henry Wu - 117 Careplan
D2 Henry Wu - Wivout U **
D3 Kamaal Williams - Shinjuku (DJ-Kicks) **
