Junior Alli-Balogun (JAB) returns w/ highly anticipated cosmic percussion ‘Currents EP’
Following an inspiring tour with Theo Parrish in 2014 and a highly memorable experience at New York’s Soul Summit in 2015, London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Junior Alli-Balogun aka JAB released quite possibly the best song of 2019 in the 10-plus minute dancefloor gem “Directions”, which was eventually released as a twelve-inch single. With much anticipation, JAB returns with an outstanding new EP titled Currents.
This brilliant four-track recording builds off of the foundation we heard on the now considered classic “Directions”, fusing together a layering of percussion rhythms and cosmic meditative grooves, while also now incorporating some epic string arrangements, which only add to the hypnotic sonic excursion. Primed for both the dancefloor or a solo listening experience, this EP is truly incredible from start to finish.
Having spent most of 2019 on tour, the inspiration for this recording was born out of a conversation JAB had with a dancer about the connection between vibrations and movement. Coupled with the overwhelming impact of the global pandemic and racial injustice, he shifted his focus from complex rhythms to displaying raw emotion, tapping into what he later described as “a brief insight of the whirlwind of a journey experienced throughout 2020”.
Overall, this is an remarkable release, continuing to highlight JAB as both a superb musician and a highly innovative producer/arranger that continues to put out music that’s truly a step ahead. This recording, in full, should be in heavy rotation across festival dancefloors, once those can safely return (hopefully sometime very soon), and what joyful experience that will be.
JAB — ‘Currents EP’
(Joon Dada)
- Preface
- 5,6,7,8 (Dance Is Life)
- Currents 06:47
- Game, Set, (Checkmate)
