Some of the most powerful, energized, and memorable music of the U.K.'s potent post-punk era of the late '70s and early '80s came from the trailblazing band Gang of Four, and it all started with 1979's stellar Entertainment! Dave Allen, Hugo Burnham, Andy Gill, and Jon King fused punk, funk, explosive prog-rock, and literate and often incendiary lyrics into a signature, groundbreaking sound that would influence countless bands to come. The original album's brilliant 12 tracks are now remastered and bolstered with four tracks from the rare Yellow EP, plus four never-before-released-songs-making this watershed disc sound bigger and better than ever.

On her stunning debut, the tenor saxophonist and rising member of the London jazz scene meditates on her humble family heritage, the continuum of jazz history, and the power of collective action in our present moment.

With that mentality in mind, it’s no surprise that his talents have trickled over into fashion, producing original compositions for the Louis Vuitton Foundation x MoMa Archive film (2017) and most recently scoring the Men's Dunhill Paris Fashion shows in both 2018 and 2019. A double MOBO & Jazz FM Award winner, Boyd’s live and studio collaborations have been as varied as they have been prolific, from touring with Sampha & Kelsey Lu, to drumming on Sons of Kemet’s Mercury-nominated album, to his recent collaboration with South African Gqom king DJ Lag, which made its way onto Beyonce’s official soundtrack for The Lion King. He produced Zara McFarlane 's 2017 full-length, Arise, in its entirety, for Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, and released several acclaimed solo projects though his Exodus record label. Boyd has produced original scores for major Paris fashion shows, and with saxophonist Binker Golding, he’s co-leader and co-producer of the ferocious semi-free group Binker and Moses.

“What happens after that point when life as we know it can’t continue.” Jazz saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings is releasing a new album with his The Ancestors collective, We Are Sent Here By History, via Impulse! Records this March. Conceptualised as an hour-long sonic poem, with lyrics written and performed by Siyabonga Mthembu, We Are Sent Here By History explores African and Afro-Caribbean traditions, drawing parallels between the album and the modern-day griot, or storyteller. Joining forces once more with his band The Ancestors, with whom he released Wisdom Of Elders on Brownswood in 2016, Hutchings describes the album as a “meditation on the fact of our coming extinction as a species. It is a reflection from the ruins, from the burning.” Recorded in Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2019, the album also features contributions from Mthunzi Mvubu on alto sax, Ariel Zamonsky on double bass, Gontse Makhene on percussion and Tumi Mogorosi on drums. Nduduzo Makhathini (Fender Rhodes), Thandi Ntuli (piano), Mandla Mlangeni (trumpet) also appear on selected tracks. The album follows Sons of Kemet’s Your Queen Is A Reptile, and The Comet Is Coming’s Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery, both previously released on Impulse!. ——The Vinyl Factory

是Nick Drake過世前最後一張專隻 是只得一支結他一把歌聲的音樂(除主題曲Pink Moon有鋼琴過門) 是在深夜時用兩個小時錄好的專集 是直指人心的音樂 是這個世界上其中一張包含最哀傷音樂的專集

With the release of "Tapestry," Michael Hoppe has once again bestowed upon the world a recording of stunning beauty and incredible emotional depth. Hoppe has been one of my very favorite artists since I first discovered his music in 1998, and he seems to just keep getting better with each new release. Hoppe has created a trademark of sorts by including photos taken by his grandfather, E.O. Hoppe, to illustrate the music. This time, in addition to the photos in the twenty-page booklet, there are poems written for each piece by Therese Tappouni AND a video short film, Nous Deux Encore, which Hoppe scored. The British-born and Grammy-nominated Hoppe has released at least seventeen other albums over the past twenty or so years and is one of the most well-respected artists recording today. Several of his earlier albums were recorded with other artists including Tim Wheater (flute), Martin Tillman (cello), and Joe Powers (harmonica), and he has also collaborated on spoken-word albums with artists such as Michael York and Tim Wheater. Over the past several years, Hoppe has realized a life-long dream by recording several of his compositions with The Prague Symphony. While Hoppe's music is very calming and soothing, it is much too nuanced and evocative to relegate to background music. Although I have listened to "Tapestry" at least ten times, I keep pausing while writing about it to drink in the beauty of the music. "Tapestry" begins with the sweeping "Prairie Moon," a piece we were given a sneak-preview to on last year's Nostalgie. This time it is fully realized by The Prague Symphony, painting landscapes of gently blowing grasses, endless skies, and nostalgia for a simpler life. Violinist Alyssa Park appears on three tracks, the first of which is "Sanctuary." With Hoppe's ethereal keyboard washes behind the soulful violin, peaceful warmth envelops the listener. "Maxie's Theme from Nous Deux Encore" features Mitsuki Dazai on koto. Oboe and guitar create an unusual but spellbinding trio. Strings are added, but the koto carries the enchanting melody from start to finish. "Moonflower," for piano and keyboard, is simply gorgeous in its elegant simplicity. "In Paradisum" is the only vocal piece, and features contralto AnDee Sanchez, whose graceful voice reaches right into your soul. "Impromptu" is the first of three piano solos, all of which are perfect in their simplest form. I love all twelve tracks on this album, but I think "Tears and Roses" is my favorite. It also appeared on Nostaglie, but this time it's a soulful duet for violin (Alyssa Park) and guitar. Joe Powers makes another appearance on "Embers," again demonstrating that the harmonica can be so much more than a campfire instrument. "Pastoral" is a shimmering symphonic masterpiece presented (this time!) on keyboards. Reflective and oh so peaceful, it makes me wonder why Michael Hoppe isn't a household name. "Tapestry" closes with the solo piano "Grace" - tender, honest, and gently embracing.