– THE CHARM OFFENSIVE –

Singer, producer, globe-trotter and “pocket trumpeter” (apparently… maybe best not to ask) J.Lamotta returns with new album Suzume.

While her previous offering, 2017’s Conscious Tree, was made using found sounds and samplers, the new record sees the Isreal-born, Moroccan-rooted, Berlin-based songstress beefing up the already-present and wholly evident talent by adding live instrumentation – most notably strings and a horn section.

The result is a denser, more determined selection of tracks and single Back in Town is an excellent introduction to the LP as a whole.

Lamotta’s aim with the album was to create a “beautiful evolution of the neo-soul sound” and it very much feels like she’s achieving that here.

Predominantly impelled by a dance music-inspired rhythms from Martin Bhul’s bass and Ra’fat Muhammad’s drums and bongos, the track benefits from a layer of gloss and sheen being added by Doron Segal’s Rhodes.

Perhaps it was this that initially had the band leader reticent to include the song on the album – stating that she felt it was too ‘jazzy’.

However, having eventually been talked around by her band, the Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and Sun Ra fan, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz admitted; “Suddenly I realized I shouldn’t be ashamed of my musical background, the same way no one should feel ashamed of their heritage.”

Back in Town – along with its wanderlustful accompanying video (above) – is a wonderous exploration of both.

Suzume is out now through Jakarta Records.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

TONI SAUNA: TRIPPIN’
Y LA BAMBA: GABRIEL
STEAM DOWN: FREE MY SKIN
MICHAEL KIWANUKA: LIGHT

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 –