Record of the Week
Julie Campiche is a multi-award-winning Swiss jazz harp pioneer. A vocalist, composer, sound designer and musical director, her work is an on-going process of musical innovation in jazz, classical, electronic and avant-garde exploration. Duos, trios, quartets or quintets, Julie Campiche is in constant movement. She is both a visionary and virtuoso, but above all she is profound, poetic and sensitive.
Following the release of two highly acclaimed albums with her long-standing quartet, Onkalo (2020) and You Matter (2022), she releases UNSPOKEN, her debut solo album on Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin Rhythm Records on 13 February 2026. Ahead of the release, she shares two singles: Rosa (out now) and Grisélidis Réal, released 5 December.
UNSPOKEN is a celebration of women and the force of feminine power. Campiche paints musical portraits of women—past and present, famous and anonymous—whose work confronts universal social issues. From filmmaker Andréa Bescond to poet and sex worker Grisélidis Réal, from activist Tarana Burke to author Virginia Woolf, she honours women whose voices have been silenced, minimised, or anonymised and the causes they have championed.
Campiche transforms these women’s stories into music that is playful, bold and brilliant. Her solo performances layer harp, voice and electronics creating rich, multi-dimensional soundscapes that shift from atmospheric to abrasive, lyrical to delicate always with powerful impact.
Released as a single on 5 December, Griselidis Réal is named after the Swiss artist, writer, sex worker and world-renowned political activist. “Her life was a constant quest for freedom, challenging the comfort of conformity,” says Campiche. The track blends an organic groove with layered sounds — footsteps on cobblestones symbolising prostitution, a photocopier for activism, laughter of children for mother — alongside fascinating audio clips from Réal’s interview for the French documentary ‘Prostitution’. Campiche continues, “The emotional intent of the track conveys her revolt, silent sigh of pain, lust for life, and the fatigue of a tormented daily existence. She is a powerful inspiration, and her vision of humanity fills me with hope.”
Rosa (out now) represents the women who work in society’s shadows. Their labour frees others from domestic burdens while leaving the social order unquestioned. Perhaps a migrant worker, she leaves her own family to send them money to survive. Rosa is everywhere: indispensable yet must remain invisible. The piece uses repeating melodies that intensify tension and melancholy, while Campiche’s voice weaves with her string ostinato to highlight the theme’s universality.
UNSPOKEN reveals Julie Campiche as an authentic, singular talent, delivering an intimate, and politically engaged—a socio-historical jolt that reminds us of women’s place in our world and of the inner landscape that drives Campiche’s art.
Featuring vocals and horns from long-time collaborator Polly Meyrick, Cornish production duo Kerrier Collective return to Colour and Pitch with atmospheric deep house single 'Somatic Tick', featuring a silky smooth remix from BiG AL.
With their previous output receiving support on BBC 6 Music, NTS and Jazz FM here in the UK, Kerrier Collective (DJ/producer Ben Tidy and multi-instrumentalist Alfie Gidley) have a series of stunning releases ready to unleash over the next few months, as well as a live set ready to hit the road soon.
Earning his stripes on the U.S. East Coast and Montreal, Canada in the late 80's and a fine ambassador for his native Levant region across the globe ever since, DJ and producer BiG AL turns in a typically rolling and hypnotic reworking of 'Somatic Tick', showing love for the original while adding subtle flourishes all his own.
An overcast day, a beat and a chopped up sample were the starting point for 'Somatic Tick'. It began in Ben Tidy's off grid cabin in the corner of a field in Cornwall. "It forces you to work fast when you're relying on the power of the sun in the UK" says Ben. "When you don't think about it, all of your influences can come out to play; 90s New York house, Jungle, Hardcore and later disco when adding handclaps and the Rhodes. 3 hours after starting this track there was an arrangement. Flow state had done all the work and at the end of this short session it was like someone else had written the track. Just vibin'."
Alfie Gidley, returning from a tour, soon pitched in. "I felt the vocals asked for a harmonic lift in the chorus sections so I sat down with my bass guitar to try and pull out the chord change required" he explains. "Ben's original track (which became the DJ version) has a constant pedal note which isn't the root of the key, so it sort of flies above the ground, never landing. With the studio version I experimented with grounding the track so that it could lift off for the chorus. We liked the two different effects so much that two distinct versions have made it onto the final release."
"When I listened to the track I immediately had a clear idea for the vocals" Polly Meyrick adds, "and most of the vocal ideas came out there and then in one session. I enjoyed picking percussive and satisfying words for the lyrics and writing the horns with a kind of sleazy disco feel. The track talks about a feeling of overwhelm with the pace of life and internet culture. It's an expression of frustration with smartphones and how these devices have created a new culture around dating and social interactions."
The yearly tradition is here, Colombia's Tra Tra Trax label's utilitarian bass-on-the-floor compilation 'no pare, sigue sigue' is on its fourth edition, and.. this one is quite special. Eighteen tracks, first-time collaborations, label staples, plus new exciting talent from the global south and beyond. A packing sharp percussive bomb, a techno ensamble, a revolving bass blender and a punch in the ears and la cadera. This is it; essential club tools for the season.
Tracks for the sun-risen dancefloor, the midnight peaktime, the afternoon benders, the dembow aficionados, the sweaty boats or the drum addicts. From São Paulo to Mexico DF, Bogotá to NYC, Montevideo to Paris, Montreal to Milan: a snippet of the current state of sound design-fueled club music is contained within the four corners of this release. Enjoy its power, nos vemos.
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Sheffield multi-instrumentalist and producer Yarni presents the first collection of singles from his forthcoming album "Anemoia," showcasing three distinct facets of the project's ambitious sonic palette. This initial sampler features the disco-soul of "Temperature's Rising" (ft. Nathaniel Short), the hypnotic instrumental jazz-funk of "Silent City," and the soul-stirring "Sealed With A Loving Kiss" (ft. Scarlett Fae).
As a purely self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Yarni (aka Benjamin Harris) continues to draw praise from influential voices, with Gilles Peterson describing his work as "lovely," Luke Una calling it "a beautiful gift to the world," and huge support from BBC Radio 6's Huey Morgan & Deb Grant who declared “Pigna” as "chef's kiss delicious." His previous release "Boro" landed on Spotify's Class of 2021 for Fresh Finds UK and Ireland.
The sampler opens with "Temperature's Rising," where Nathaniel Short's soulful vocals meet Yarni's first-ever string quartet arrangement, creating a perfect blend of classic disco and modern production. "Silent City," an instrumental piece inspired by Malta's ancient city of Mdina, featuring James Atashroo's evocative trumpet work against a backdrop of psychedelic funk. The collection closes with "Sealed With A Loving Kiss", evolving from a simple two-chord idea first recorded 24 years ago into a sweeping epic that channels both Fleetwood Mac's timeless songcraft and LCD Soundsystem's building intensity.
This trio of tracks offers the first comprehensive glimpse into "Anemoia's" exploration of nostalgia and time, demonstrating Yarni's ability to craft authentic, innovative music across multiple genres while maintaining a coherent artistic vision. From string-laden disco to epic soul and jazz-funk instrumentals, each track reveals a new facet of this ambitious project.
Temperature’s Rising is released 16th July 2025. S.W.A.L.K lands August 13th 2025
Silent City arrives with the Anemoia album - full release 3rd October 2025
Dynamic Dallas-born, LA-based artist Liv.e and renowned drummer Karriem Riggins are joining forces as the spirited new collaborative duo GENA. Short for “God Energy, Naturally Amazing” and loosely inspired by Gina from Martin, the GENA collaborative project channels the instinctive musical prowess of both musicians while colliding their jazz-inspired styles. The result is a playful, soul-laden improvisational body of work that captures Liv.e’s raw vision to reconstructing R&B her way and Karriem’s masterful percussive universe that spans jazz improvisation and beat-making alchemy. The two first met through a mutual musical acquaintance and quickly recognized each other as kindred musical spirits, playing shows together under the mysterious GENA moniker beginning earlier this year.
As their first offering of original music as a duo, GENA is sharing new single “CIRCLESZ”, an analog, rhythmic track cradled by the measured layers of Liv.e’s vocals. The song speaks to the intoxicating connection you can build with another person and small moments that color that romantic bond.
Liv.e’s musical journey embodies the freedom of experimentation that she first showed with critically acclaimed debut album Couldn’t Wait to Tell You…. Her subsequent followup, the widely celebrated Girl in The Half Pearl marked a breakout year for Liv.e in 2023, receiving praise from Billboard, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Vulture and more, and making surprise appearances at last year’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival to join both Earl Sweatshirt and Andre 3000 on stage for their respective sets. Liv.e has continued to tinker with her place in music and has allowed her creative moniker to exist as a conduit for her ideas, most recently venturing into synthwave with her PAST FUTURE.e project released in 2024. Liv.e is currently on Earl Sweatshirt’s Live. Laugh. Love. world tour, joined by ZelooperZ and Cletus Strap.
Detroit native Karriem Riggins has solidified himself as one of the most respected drummers and beatmakers in music today. Over the course of his career he has played with and produced for the likes of Common, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Madlib, Paul McCartney, Norah Jones and formed a close kinship with the late Detroit legend J Dilla. In 2017, Riggins won an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and lyrics for his work with Common and Robert Glasper on “Letter to the Free” from Ava Duvernay’s film 13th. Most recently, Riggins reunited with Common and collaborated with James Poyser to create the NBA on Prime theme music for the 2025/2026 NBA season.
Gasper Lawal - Ajomase
Ajomasé is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal. Originally released in 1980 on his own label CAP, Strut are proud to now bring this unique album back to the racks.
Lawal’s style was forged through decades of high-level percussion work with the likes of Stephen Stills, Barbra Streisand, George Clinton & Funkadelic, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Vangelis and Ginger Baker’s Air Force band. Dissatisfied with existing genre labels and production norms, Lawal began recording his own album in 1976 at Vangelis’ own studio in London’s Marble Arch before switching to long, drawn-out night shifts at Surrey Sound Studios, using downtime between The Police’s sessions for Outlandos D’Amour.
Lawal meticulously self-produced, composed, and overdubbed the album over four years, assembling an elite group of musicians from both Nigeria and the UK. The instruments used were often hand-built, including a powerful one-of-a-kind drum carved deep in the Nigerian bush. “This music is not about trends, about what is commercial or a “sound” of a particular moment,” explains Lawal, “it is about music to be felt, that gives pleasure. It is nurturing and meditative."
Although record executives didn’t know how to categorise Ajomasé, the people responded. Legendary DJs like John Peel and Janice Long gave it UK radio play – a rarity for African records at the time. Demand skyrocketed and, with Rough Trade stepping in to distribute the vinyl, the album found an international audience.
In 1982, Peter Gabriel personally invited Gasper to perform at the first WOMAD Festival, leading to a new era of live performances and global recognition. Yet despite its impact, Ajomasé has never been reissued – until now.
This new edition brings a spiritually resonant, rhythmically rich and genre-defying work to a new generation of listeners. featuring liner notes by Gasper himself and audio remastered from original tapes by Whitfield Street Studios and The Carvery.
Taken from Ronnie Herel's excellent double vinyl compilation Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 2, Lukas Setto's Can You Feel The Love is an exclusive track recorded for the compilation and available now as a digital download.
Hailing from London, Lukas Setto is a vocalist, songwriter and producer who was inspired by his DJ father's record collection. Having been inspired by Michael, Marvin and Stevie, Lukas has gone on to write songs for Omar, Terri Walker, Kele Le Roc and Taio Cruz as well as perform alongside Omar and Floetry at the Jazz Cafe. Oh, and just for good measure Lukas has also supported major US stars Ne-Yo and Timbaland. With a CV like this it's no wonder Can You Feel The Love exudes serotonin levels of ecstatic soul.
Ronnie Herel's curation of Neo-Soul Sessions Vol. 2 includes six exclusive tracks especially created for the compilation and reflects Ronnie's status as a towering stalwart of the British Black music scene. Whether on radio and in the clubs, Ronnie Herel has led the way since the 1980s. He has a radio CV that includes BBC 1xtra, Radio 1 and is currently on Mi Soul.
As one half of the Quartz production duo, he scored hits with Dina Carrol and was recognised in the Blues and Soul, MOBO and Urban Music Awards for his DJing and radio careers.
Pre-empting the release of Ronnie's Neo-Soul volume 2 compilation, Lukas Setto's Can You Feel The Love is a digital release that any fan of Soul and Neo-Soul will want to own.
Following the success of his previous release 'House of Desired Funk', mysterious electronic artist Tryangle Man returns with self-released single 'Lemon Squeeze', a groovy, fun-filled and jazz-fuelled instrumental jam.
Tryangle Man is an electronic artist and live performer whose music blends jazz, ambient, deep house, and visual arts into immersive sonic journeys. A self-described “peace-seeking space being,” he crafts concept-driven albums that explore themes of discovery, memory, and cosmic connection.
Trained as a classical pianist and jazz drummer, Tryangle Man later pursued a master's degree in music, eventually attending Berklee College of Music. His releases have garnered over half a million streams across platforms and have been featured on the BBC and 5FM Radio, among others. He has also performed on stages across Europe and the Middle East, including Afrikaburn, Sofar Sounds, Rituel Festival, Madame Loyale, Souq Festival, Fire Club London, Phonox, and many more.
Following the success of his previous release 'House of Desired Funk', the next single I 'Lemon Squeeze' is the 2nd song taken from his upcoming album (title TBA), which will be coming out at the beginning of 2026. A fun experience that captures Tryangle Man in his element. This new single is filled with grooviness, jazzy licks, and entertainment throughout.
Fun fact: the whole track is a perfect loop and can be repeated forever. Beware.
Following a debut EP praised for its freshness and boldness, S-Pazz returns with Birth of Light, a second release that fully confirms the potential of the Parisian duo. Blending elements of house, jazz, broken beat, and ambient, the record sees them refine their musical identity with a more intimate and introspective approach, yet always deeply rhythmic and luminous. Composed four-hands during a moment of personal transition, the EP feels like a rite of passage where music becomes a space of unity, resilience, and imagination.
“This EP reflects a major transition in our lives, as it was written during Nathan’s move out of the shared flat where we also had our studio. Despite the change, we managed to preserve the unique creative world that defines the identity of S-Pazz. We deliberately infused it with a wide range of influences, spanning different eras and cultures. ‘Birth of Light’ builds on the foundations laid with our first EP: crafting music at the crossroads of our respective influences, always driven by our love for cinematic soundscapes.” - S-Pazz
The opening track, “Ce Matin-Là”, unfolds with a dreamlike atmosphere, led by lush string arrangements from Nathan’s father, a double bassist already sampled on their first EP. “We wanted to get closer to those tracks that bridge electronic and orchestral music, like what 4Hero, Bonobo, or even Air have done,” explains S-Pazz. The track also gets a reinterpretation from Tour-Maubourg, who delivers a deep house remix tinged with bossa nova, infusing the piece with a warm, summery, and organic tone that extends the EP’s globe-trotting spirit.
With “Together”, the Parisian duo pays tribute to the UK broken beat scene through a syncopated and generous track where analog synths and live grooves coexist with subtle balance. “We wrote it in the summer of 2024. It combines a lot of sampling and a growing passion for synths we’ve developed over time. For the percussion, we drew a lot of inspiration from producers like Da Lata, 4hero, and Chaos in the CBD.”
“My Heart” captures the EP’s dancefloor soul, a hybrid of broken beat, jazz, and funk. Warm brass, Prophet 5 bass doubled with a Rhodes, and a breathy vocal that bridges groove and emotion. “It’s a blend of jazz, dub, and funk. Club music that speaks to the body as much as to the heart.”
The fruit of a year-long process, “Bees Die After Stinging” brings together afro-influenced 6/8 rhythms, field recordings of beehives, and finely crafted jazz arrangements. The illusion of a live band is meticulously constructed in-studio. “We’re especially proud of this track, it really captures the meeting point between our two musical worlds.”
The closing track, “Ocean Reflections”, deliberately breaks away from classic house structure, embracing a freer, more ambient form. It brings the EP to a contemplative and fluid end. “We wanted to close the EP with something special, no four-on-the-floor kick, but a preserved groove that invites introspection. We invited our friend Claire Grunenberger to sing, and Grégoire added a jazz solo as a tribute to the early days of St Germain.”