South London producer and multi-instrumentalist Neue Grafik returns with socially conscious cosmic jazz EP ‘Foulden Road Part II’
South London-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Neue Grafik follows-up his breakthrough 2019 Foulden Road release on the Total Refreshment Centre label with Foulden Road Part II, an equally brilliant EP that speaks to racial injustices and the global pandemic.
This superb seven-track release was recorded in 2020 using a combination of both live ensemble and isolated solo production sessions, reflecting the challenging environment that COVID created around music collaboration. Present throughout the EP, are extremely important and timely topics that have been front-and-center for more than a year. Grafik adds, “In 2019, we released ‘Foulden Road Part I’, which was a transitional album, exploring a new culture and navigating between two worlds: Paris and London. ‘Part II’ is a bit darker, closer to realness with a sprinkle of hope. I couldn’t have predicted that I’d finish it encased in my flat, between four walls, in December 2020 after a year of lockdown, Brexit, George Floyd protests, and without London’s brilliant culture mesmerizing my mind. Everything was sad and closed. Hills were difficult to climb. But it also gave me the time to work hard and deliver this second part of Foulden Road, pushing it forward”.
The EP is dedicated to Adama Traoré, a black man who died in police custody in Paris. Neue Grafik explains “His name is not well known outside of France. I was shocked, devastated even, to learn that his story didn’t cross the Channel”.
Musically, the recording blends together cosmic spaced-out jazz melodies and textures, with heavy horns, funky broken-beat rhythms and hip-hop influenced percussion grooves. A number of tracks also include powerful thought-provoking poetry, spoken word vocals, and social conscious rap lyrics.
With the ensemble consistently featuring some of the best UK musicians, this session includes Matt Gedrych, Benjamin ‘The Chief’ Appiah, Jack Banjo Courtney, Chelsea Carmichael, Dougal Taylor, Yahael Camara-Onono, Xvngo, Rebekah Reid, Dan-Iulian Drutac, Jamie-lee Glinsman and Zara Hudson-Kozdój.
Overall, this is an outstanding follow-up release that continues to show the continued growth of Neue Grafik as a visionary artist and bandleader. Highly recommended!
‘Foulden Road Part II’ is out on Total Refreshment Records on March 25, 2022.
Neue Grafik Ensemble — ‘Foulden Road Part II’
(Total Refreshment Records)
- Black Bodies (feat. Ma.Moyo)
- Queen Assa
- Step To It (feat. Lord Apex)
- Breathe (feat. JJ Akinlade)
- For Adama
- Officer, Let Me Go To School
- Running On A Flame (feat. Brother Portrait)
