The rare talents of Maddalena Ghezzi and Ruth Goller come together for the fifth in Maddalena’s ‘Minerals’ series of releases - a remarkable multilingual odyssey about the journey of water through the Tyrolean mountain range. Reflecting on grief, climate change and shared personal histories, this is improvisational music at its most beautiful. Strange, magical and earthy, ‘Dolomite’ deserves your immersion. Read / Listen.
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MORRR 'Marrow Weavers' (MFZ Records) - a review
The Italian musician MORRR aka Dario Gatto released his EP ‘Marrow Weavers’ on MFZ Records back in July but its aching post-rock beauty stands up better in the cold months of winter in our opinion. Songs of grief and heartbreak shrouded in beautiful melodies and FX heavy drones make this a strangely comforting record. Read / Listen.
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Woxow 'How Many Ancestors Do We Have' (Little Beat More) - a review
DJ and beatmaker Woxow’s new E.P. for his own label Little Beat More is a hip hop-jazz-dub release that hits all the right notes. Boom bap drums, live horns and bass with masterful vocal turns from Reggae Roast MC Natty Campbell, US MC’s Azeem and Raashan Ahmad alongside remixers Luke Beats, Deela, Koralle and Paolo Baldini Dubfiles make this a must for fans of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Roots Manuva or Doom. Read / Listen.
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Ilario Ferrari 'Be Yourself' (Cadiz Music) - a review
The Italian pianist and composer Ilario Ferrari has collaborated with Naples’ Ondanueve String Quartet and produced this jewel of an album that flawlessly traverses Indian and European classical idioms, improvisational jazz and experimental Baroque moods - creating two suites of deep emotion and intoxicating moments of high drama. A really special record. Read / Listen.
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Lorenzo Morresi & Le Isole 'Pop Flop' (Space Echo Records / Dialogo Records) - video single
Italian musician, producer and DJ Lorenzo Morresi follows up his revered and sought after ‘Cosmica Italiana’ LP with a fresh collection of infectious, funk heavy, jazz-fusion jams that pay homage to the 70s Library Music sound. Vintage synths, slick drums and atmospheric moods for those who want to live a groovy life. Check the video as well for ‘Pop Flop’ featuring 22a’s Tenderlonious! Read / Listen
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Luke Beats 'Knobs E.P.' (Little Beat More) - a review / label focus
With this impressive 5 track E.P. of musically rich instrumental beats, Italian bassist and producer Luke Beats (possibly not his real name) has showcased his mastery and deep knowledge of hip hop beatmaking. These sonic vignettes may be short in length but they are packed with emotion and serious production chops. Out now on Little Beat More! Read / Listen
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Tell No Lies 'Hide Nothing' (Aut Records) - a review
Tell No Lies are an Italian avant-jazz outfit led by pianist and composer Nicola Guazzaloca and they have a new studio album that traverses modal, free and South African inspired jazz with ease, fire and substance. We asked our friend Mauro Ferreiro, a producer and writer from Dominican Republic to share his thoughts on this excellent new recording. Read / Listen.
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MD. AFTER HUSSAIN & PAQ 'MATIR GAAN (SONGS OF THE EARTH)' (Hive Mind Records) - a review
Hive Mind Records once again give us something we never knew we needed. A stunning collaboration between Bangladeshi migrant MD After and Italian electronic artist Andrea Rusconi offers a meditative collision of cosmic synths and ancient Baul songs that are as mystical as they are psychedelic - a great release. Read / Listen here
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Nilza Costa - an interview
Nilza Costa is a singer/songwriter from Salvador de Bahia living in Italy and her new album ‘Le notti di San Patrizio’ is an uncommon combination of traditional Brazilian rhythms and melodies and European jazz forms. It’s a beautiful thing so I pinged her a few questions.. Listen / Read here
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