– GUERRILLA WARFARE –

London-based jazz fusion band Brother’s Testament follow up 2018 debut EP, Ascent and last year’s single Deborah II with yet another slice of marvellous mayhem.

The four-piece, led by Munashe-Caleb Manyumbu (MD, keys, vocals), are prepping us for their upcoming 4:7 album.

And what better way to do that than releasing a track influenced by Robert Glasper, Yussef Dayes and Kamaal Williams… and written in 15/8 time.

Yeah, I know, right?!

KINGDOM is an odyssey.

A magical, mystery tornado through a range of moods and styles reigned in to a mere nine minutes and 13 seconds. A display of musical dexterity rarely paralleled.

Part drum & bass rave, part jazz freak-out, part… fucking… prog rock extravaganza, it’s Floating Points on steroids. It’s DragonForce on acid. It’s anything but on the fence.

Pivotal is the performance of guest vocalist Joe James, whose deadpan delivery on the first half of the track give it Saul Williams-level seriousness. One day I’ll listen to the lyrics properly and probably find the meaning of life hidden in there.

Until then, I’ll just enjoy wigging out to one of the alt-jazz scene’s rising talents.

4:7 will be released later this year through archForm.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

ULY: PAK IT IN
ARLO PARKS: SOPHIE
NICKI WELLS: MOOLADHARA
NEIL COWLEY + BEN LUKAS BOYSEN: SOLITARY REFINEMENT

P.S. You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –