BeatCaffeine’s Weekly Record Rundown 05.02.25
Catching up on some recent standout releases, here is BeatCaffeine’s weekly record rundown (just a few days late) featuring the latest by Melbourne-based “future-jazz” collective Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange, Emma-Jean Thackray’s highly personal and eclectic album Weirdo, Italian saxophone great Emanuele Cisi’s brilliant new offering on the Right Tempo label, and Ten Lovers Music latest Best of Various EP.
Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange — ‘Inspire // Radicalise’
(Energy Exchange Records)
The Melbourne-based “future-jazz” collective Zeitgeist Freedom Energy continues to turn up the heat as the expansive group returns with another great recording, titled Inspire // Radicalise. Led by drummer and percussionist Ziggy Zeitgeist, this massive 18-track 2xLP release takes straight aim right to the dancefloor as they fuse together jazz, cosmic grooves, disco and soul. This record should get plenty of rotation during this year’s festival circuit.
Emma-Jean Thackray — ‘Weirdo’
(Brownswood Recordings)
Turning a tragic situation and dark period into a channel for self-expression, resilience and individuality, highly talented producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray has released her most personal album to date. Titled Weirdo and out now on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, this expansive 19-track record evolved after the unexpected loss of her long-term partner from natural causes in January 2023 and the depression that followed. Using this album as a coping mechanism to move forward and explore selfhood, grief, and gratitude, Thackray has put together one of the year’s most eclectic and original recordings. Blurring the lines between the sounds of pop and soulful dance grooves, p-funk, jazz and grunge with some heartfelt and at times, playful humorous vocals, Thackray continues to show why she is one of today’s most forward-thinking musicians and songwriters.
Various — ‘Best of Various TLM038’
(Ten Lovers Music)
UK-based producer, DJ and radio host Steve Conry and his Ten Lovers Music label celebrate their 50th vinyl only release since 1996 with the latest edition of their superb “mini-compilation” series ‘Best of Various’. Featuring five brilliant tracks, the EP includes deep and jazzy house cuts from Canada’s Mike Perras, England’s Craig Bratley, and Mark Turner, a more laid back jazz track from Argentina’s DFRA Experience Jazz Band, and the return of Markus Enochson’s early 2000’s era project, Suedojazz, which is presenting their first original work. At this point, it’s safe to say that this series and label just keep delivering with each and every release.
Emanuele Cisi — ‘Rushin’‘
(Right Tempo)
Milan-based Right Tempo label has recently released an incredible new album from Italian saxophone great, Emanuele Cisi. This 11-track recording pays homage to that classic 60s spiritual jazz sound mastered by legends like John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Jackie McLean and others, while still having a forward-looking approach. The session, which also includes a superb supporting cast in pianist Dado Moroni, bassist Nicolas Thys, drummer Jorge Rossy and guest trumpeter Cesare Mecca, features a number of standout tracks, including Cisi’s original compositions “Pharoah’s Message” and the title track, “Rushin'”, new renditions of Hank Mobley’s “My Groove Your Moove”, Jackie McLean’s “Little Melonae”, Randy Weston’s “Hi-Fly”, and a homage to Lee Morgan’s soul-jazz classic “Sidewinder”, titled “Boogaloop”. Highly recommended!
Leave a comment