– GUERRILLA WARFARE –

Jazz pianist. UK broken beat pioneer. Collaborator on more than 200 records (alongside the likes of Pino Palandino and Lauren Hill, no less). Mark de Clive-Lowe has been many things in his near-15-year music career.

But he’s never been this.

And yet, this is always who he’s been.

A born-and-bred New Zealander, he’s never before fully explored his mother’s Japanese roots in his work. Until, that was, this year when he released Heritage – a series of compositions (mostly recorded live at three LA shows), “inspired by childhood folk stories, the mythology of his motherland and his own personal experiences in Japan”.

O-Edo Nihonbashi is one of two interpretations of traditional Japanese folk songs across the collection; the ancient melodies haunting the piece right from its opening bars.

Thereafter comes the signature MdCL drum programming, grandiose piano lines and electronica-inflected jazz. It is a voyage that feels as epic as the myths of warriors, dragon palaces and Heavenly Kings of which it speaks.

This track comes from Heritage II, which was released last week through Ropeadope. It’s predecessor, the more zen-like Heritage I was released in February.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

SHAFIQ HUSAYN FEAT. HIATUS KAIYOTE | CYCLES
GAIKA | SEVEN CHURCHES FOR ST. JUDE
DANIEL THORNE | FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
BALKAN TAKSIM | ZALINA

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 –