– THE PEACEFUL PROTEST –

There’s been a bit of a fetishization of London in jazz circles in recent years which is, in many ways, understandable, given the wealth of nu-jazz talent that has come from our nation’s capital of late.

However, as one who experiences “Laaaandan” first-hand on a regular basis, I’m very much out of the honeymoon phase with the city myself. Like any major conurbation, it has its nice parts but it also has its grimy, bloody ‘orrible parts too.

And that, principally, is my issue with San Sebastian duo Reykjavik606’s Endless Summer in Peckham. You see, Peckham is not a part of London I’d be especially champing at the bit to spend an ‘endless summer’ in, nor an endless winter, autumn, spring or any other time of the year in, frankly.

Fortunately, the track’s pretty darn good to make up for it.

And, well, that’s not such a surprise when you find out that the Basque electronica pioneers have teamed up with Tenderlonious and Ismael Ensemble on the new record.

Indeed, on this – the debut track from a forthcoming album of the same name – Mr Cunningham (Ensemble) lends his sensuous sax lines over a groove laid down by the mononymous Carlos (drums) and Xabi (bass) and the whole track comes across as the coolest jam session ever committed to tape.

The sparse keys and electronics from Kino Internacional and Borja Piñeiro only add to the hazy, hedonistic atmosphere. And that’s somewhere I’d be happy to stay – if not endlessly – for a pretty decent spell of time.

The album Endless Summer in Peckham will be released in November via Forbidden Colours.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

PROJECT HILTS: LONELY DAYS
MOSES BOYD: STRANGER THAN FICTION
J RICK: SHORT
SABRINA CLAUDIO: TRUTH IS

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 –