Tru Thoughts HHV Records 29 Items

Finally reissued on 180 gram wax!

‘Almas Conectadas’ (Connected Souls) is the sophomore album from renowned British producer Will “Quantic” Holland and Colombian folklore singer-songwriter Nidia Góngora. Bubbling with symphonic flourishes, the release explores the unique, rich, and mystical musical traditions of the Colombian Pacific Coast while being recorded at Quantic’s Brooklyn-based studio and creative powerhouse Selva. Delving into the concept of the album, Nidia explains:

“Almas Conectadas refers to the interrelation of cosmic energies, the aura and the way they manifest from the abstract; we are more than body and flesh and there are countless elements that connect us as beings that interact in the universe, physical contact does not always exist to be connected.”

‘Almas Conectadas’ explores the nostalgia of impossible love, celebrates eternal bachelors, mourns souls lost at sea, and tells stories of dwellers from Timbiquí (whose location and cultural contrasts provides endless inspiration). Protecting the essence of the region’s rich songbook and treating the cultural traditions of the Pacific coast with the utmost reverence, ‘Almas Conectadas’ is the perfect marriage of musical diversity, collective creation and intercultural dialogue. Nidia Gongora’s magnetic voice and captivating songwriting is matched to the unparalleled musicianship and pioneering production of Quantic, across eleven flawless tracks.

“Bad Weather (STR4TA Remix)” is the latest release from future soul and electronic duo Anushka. The 12” will be released on limited 500 press DJ promo style vinyl and features the STR4TA remix, STR4TA remix instrumental and original album track. Taken from the band’s LP ‘Yemaya’ – named after the Goddess of the Sea, protector of women and the Eternal Mother in the Santeria/Yoruba religion – the original of “Bad Weather” was inspired by the life-giving essence of water, referencing the guidance and support Yemaya offers her children, helping them to grow. Transforming the track with their iconic Brit-funk style, Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick AKA STR4TA immerse Anushka’s vocals in a dancefloor groove tinged with explorative electronic melodies and lively instrumentation. “Bad Weather (STR4TA Remix)” is thefirst exclusive remix from STR4TA following the release of their album ‘Aspects’ which saw support pour in from the likes of The Guardian, Jazz FM, Mixmag, The Independent, Echoes, BBC 6Music and Clash Magazine.

“Crazy That You Love / The Letter” is the limited 500 run double A-side 7” from North London’s Aurora Dee Raynes. With tracks pressed to vinyl for the first time, the release includes a download card featuring their debut album ‘Invisible Things’ in full. The album includes singles “Crazy That You Love”, “The Letter” and “Find My Way” which have garnered support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan and Tom Ravenscroft (bbc 6Music), Bandcamp Weekly, Clash Magazine, Thump, Stereofox and NTS.

Rife with emotional openness, A side “Crazy That You Love” explores the volatility of romantic relationships. The starkness of the opening chimes vibrate through the strings and low oboes that replace them, shuddering with the rawness of the track. “For me, it's a story about falling for someone who is important to you. It’s crazy that you can just move into that direction.” Vocalist Danielle Kranendonk adds, “it’s about having the strength as a woman in knowing what you want”.

Sitting on the AA side, album opener “The Letter” again looks at the complexities of relationships and emotions and the importance of honesty in both. With a sparce, funky intro, the track’s layers develop and shift up and down, bringing you back around again, as though the listener is caught in the most fraught and personal conversation between a couple. “The power in the song and the strength in the vocals are me wanting to be a powerful woman. Telling it as it is.”, Kranendonk explains.

Born from ten-hour jam sessions in peeling Brighton bedsits, the technical parameters of a bootstrap recording process and the osmotic, multi-genre influence of internet music archives, quintet Ebi Soda have been steady-cultivating a unique sound amidst the exploding UK jazz scene.

Balancing irreverent musical and technical improvisation with an uncompromising instinct for vibe and prodigious musicianship, the Ebi ascent has been swift. Their eponymous debut EP, follow-up aptly titled “Bedroom Tapes” and debut LP ‘Ugh’ were originally released on Sola Terra, and won international plaudits, major radio plays and performances at Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here, London’s Jazz Re:Freshed, EFG London Jazz Festival and Latitude. Tru Thoughts were excited to pick up Ebi’s back catalogue, repressing their first two EPs – that had long been out of circulation and garnering high prices on Discogs – on limited edition vinyl.

Despite their steep rise – the Brighton outfit have preserved as much as possible of their unique recording process, originating from their very first sessions. With just a two-track recorder around, the band would lay down whole takes, one instrument at a time, then immediately transform the overdub, digitally reshaping the sound with the same mischievous, adderall energy as the musical performance. This call-and-response between performance and production spurs an instinctive development – with musicality, player and producer egging one another on through naturally developing phases and textures.

‘Honk If You’re Sad’, their sophomore full-length album, stays true to these foundations, while bringing more ambitious experimentation, technical mastery and a stellar lineup of guest players to the studio including Yazz Ahmed, Deji Ijishakin and Dan Gray.

In typical Ebi style, while recalling jazz pioneers in playing style, ‘Honk If You’re Sad’ draws from a vast neural network of influences: the Ebi Brain has been marinating in a digital soup of trap, drill, dub, post-punk and no wave to name but a few. The result is a mercurial record that beams in psychedelia, dissonance, serene ambient passages, tough, neck-snapping beats and lush textures, all underscored by the intersection of jazz, hip hop and electronic music.

Across opening heaters, “Tang of the Zest” and “My Man from College”, Will Heaton’s trombone growls in and out of focus over a tight uptempo breakbeat. Deji Ijishakin’s tenor sax solo shrieks and shudders between lush layers of sound. Driving basslines, liquid keys, murmuring dissonant brass, delay and hazy reverb tumble into progressive cycles of frenetic climax and oceanic calm.

These patterns recur over the record. “Giraffe Bread” and “Listen, King” opens with a tight funk on the bass; short crisp phrases from drummer Sam Schlich-Davies dissipate in cascading dub echoes and the track opens into an instrumental, psychedelic jam, with rippling synth pads and trombone murmurs peeking out from a deep, reverberating soundscape. Ijishakin’s hyperactive sax solo on “Gated Community with a Public Pool” sits on a glitched-out rhythm section: a rocking, window-shaking bassline and sparse stuttering drums.

From influences as diverse as Kokoroko, Can, Lounge Lizards, BadBadNotGood, Ronin Arkestra, and The Fall, ‘Honk if You’re Sad’ focuses a cohesive whole; an explorative, playful and technically brilliant record that coaxes the listener through immersive phases of fun, chaos and harmony.

‘Starfruit’ is the fifth album from LA-trio Moonchild (Amber Navran, Andris Mattson, and Max Bryk). The result of ten years spent working and growing together, ‘Starfruit’ showcases the respect, musical understanding, and love the trio have, both for each other and for the noteworthy list of collaborators featured on the album. Bringing a host of beautiful melodies and personal lyrics, ‘Starfruit’ beholds offerings from Lalah Hathaway, Alex Isley, Tank and The Bangas, Rapsody, Ill Camille, Mumu Fresh, Chantae Cann and Josh Johnson. “This is our 5th album, which felt like a big milestone to us. They all added their magic touch to the songs and really brought the music to a new and special place,” Amber muses.

Alongside the LP’s extensive list of featured artists, the release sees Moonchild experimenting with new synths and sounds. While still rooted in their trademark tones, these textures and sound palettes elevate ‘Starfruit’ to new and impressive Moonchild musical territory. “Max has this arpeggiator synth patch that makes me so happy every time I hear it, Amber incorporated this super cool octave pedal patch on her vocals and I made a keyboard patch I’m obsessed with,” Andris remarks.

“The magnificent Moonchild” – Gilles Peterson |“Love” – Jill Scott | “Delicious” – Laura Mvula | “I love the way their records sound” – Jamie Cullum | “They make really silky warm music… Perfect” – Clara Amfo (bbc Radio 1) | “I’m obsessed with them” – Sian Eleri (bbc Radio 1) | “Moonchild continues to hypnotize” – THE Fader | “Isn't this the most gorgeous piece of music you've heard?” – Phil Taggart (bbc Radio 1) | “This is stunning” – Jamz Supernova (bbc 1xtra) | “Big fan of Moonchild” – Anthony Valadez (kcrw) | “Voyager” – NPR’s 5 R&B Albums You Slept On (2017) | “This heavenly… more than worth the wait.” – Saint Herononchild…

Out 18th September, ‘What It Is’ is the second LP from Brooklyn- based multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer Sly5thAve; his first new music since the critically acclaimed project ‘The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute to Dr. Dre’. The recording had been first devised as a benefit concert in LA which was attended by Dr. Dre who took to the stage to express thanks for Sly5thAve’s arrangements. Having spent the past three years performing the project with orchestras around the world, ‘What It Is’ sees Sly5thAve retain the high-quality that fans and critics alike have come to expect from him while stepping out with something considerably different, delving deeper into the worlds of hip hop, jazz and soul. Celebrating not only his own versatile musicianship but that of his collaborators and friends, ‘What It Is’ is a collection of tracks showcasing the best of the multi-faceted musician. A sought-after collaborator himself, Sly5thAve has attained much respect from his work with a host of highly fêted musicians including; Prince (as a member of the New Power Generation Band), Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Taylor Swift, Janelle Monáe, Freddie Gibbs and Quantic.

“Impressions / I Am Thousands” is the new release from Berlin-based electronic producer and multi-instrumentalist sUb_modU, aka the brainchild of Italian Romeo Sandri. Both songs form part of the jazz musician’s debut album ‘Descent To The Centre’, a record that is an autobiographical and existentialist account of oneself, blending the electric/psychedelic spectrum of jazz with house, avant-garde and ambient leanings.

Following on from “Pidgin Synths EP”, a releases that entangled a homage to afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti with synth-heavy original material, sUb_modU has amassed an impressive list of tastemaker support through his unique reinterpations, from the likes of Gilles Peterson (bbc 6Music), Ross Allen (nts) and Virgil Abloh (Off White). Alongside the release of his debut album is a special edition, double A side single, 7” featuring an exclusive 45 Centre Edit of the iconic “Expensive Shit” paired with a sUb_modu original “ram Generation”.

A special bonus track edition of much loved soul and blues singer-songwriter Alice Russell’s album ‘To Dust’ will be released with exclusive bonus tracks – including reworkings from Anushka and Sefi Zisling - for the first time on 9th July. Featuring previous singles “Twin Peaks”, “Hard and Strong” and “Heartbreaker” (the video for which stars Harry Shearer (The Simpsons/Spinal Tap/SNL), the LP has received previous support from BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 2, Rolling Stone, The Fader, NTS, Kcrw, NPR, The New York Times, Clash Magazine and more.

‘To Dust’ marks an important step in the remarkable career of this down-to-earth, diminutive Brit universally acknowledged as one of the best soul voices of our time. Whether performing on a huge stage with a 16 piece band, charming 4000 revelers into staying out dancing in the rain (as at Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking an intimate club, Alice’s raw talent and charisma command attention and affection. Unfazed by taking the spotlight after Amy Winehouse, singing with The Roots in Philly, or joining Roy Ayers for “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”, it is no wonder she has attracted worldwide media support, and fans as diverse as Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Dennis Coffey, Massive Attack’s Daddy G and Groove Armada.

Following on from a string of successful releases on Tru Thoughts, CoOperation Records (Co-Op) and Future Bounce (Jamz Supernova’s label), that garnered support from all corners of the electronic and jazz world – including Gilles Peterson, Bonobo, Ben UFO, Emma-Jean Thackray, Laurent Garnier, Avalon Emerson & more – Danny Wheeler, the West-London multi-talented artist behind the pseudonym WheelUP returns to unveil the neo-soul fused single “Good Love”. It’s the broken beat revivalists fourth outing from his highly anticipated debut full-length of the same name, which lands on 23rd April 2021 via Tru Thoughts.Linking up with broken beat pioneer and founder of Bugz in the Attic – Afronaut (a frequent collaborator on the album and the act who knighted Danny with the name WheelUP), Wheeler also enlists the help of Alabamian deep south rapper Brint Story and vocalist Destiny Will on the future bruk anthem. In the artists words: “Good Love is something that I generally want to see in the world. It’s timeless broken beat. Overall, this LP is my pursuit of broken beat excellence”.As an artist, producer and DJ of dual heritage: Zimbabwean and British, growing up in the epicentre of bruk that is West London around the likes of Goya Music, IG Culture and Kaidi Tatham – it was only natural that Danny would gravitate towards the ‘West London Sound’ – as WheelUP puts it: “It’s in my musical Dna”. Originating from the drum and bass world as Danny Wheeler, WheelUP follows the footsteps and lineage of 4hero, evolving from jungle/D&B to broken beat/bruk. Danny’s Zimbabwean heritage is explored through his use of polyrhythms and hyped percussion that he perfected on his Zulu inspired EPs “Ndebele” & “Wanezi” (Jamz Supernova’s top EP’s of the week on BBC 1Xtra).

Limited edition of 300 on red vinyl.

‘Shapes: Sideways’ is the latest in Tru Thoughts’ series of essential label compilations, compiled and curated by A&R, label co-founder, and renowned DJ Robert Luis. After 21 years of independently releasing music, the‘Shapes’ series continues to encompass the best of the Brighton-based imprint’s wide-ranging, eclectic, and international roster. ‘Shapes: Sideways’ features the finest Tru Thoughts classic cuts, recent releases from the new generation of the roster, stirring remixes and world exclusive tracks; released digitally and on limited edition, hand-numbered run of 500 vinyl (that includes a download card with all 32 tracks).

dego & 2000Black Remixes / Fish Factory Sessions” features two remixes from renowned broken beat innovator dego and 2000Black of “Sour Face”. One rooted in Brazilian funk and boogie and the other delving into a deeper Bruk realm, the reworkings showcase the versatility of the original track. Taken from Bryony Jarman- Pinto’s critically acclaimed debut LP ‘Cage and Aviary’, “Sour Face” focusses on the wider frustrations of everyday life; “of break ups, environmental issues, the album and myself” she confesses.

Alongside a selection of beautifully recorded as-live sessions of album tracks from the songwriter and vocalist, performed with a full band at London’s legendary Fish Factory Studios. “The sessions were meant to feel live, like a performance.” Bryony explains, “All the musicians have put their ideas into the songs, transporting them to somewhere beyond the album versions and allowing them to take on a new life”.

Released last summer, the much-anticipated ‘Cage and Aviary’ was written over the course of three years and created with long-time friend, collaborator and Tru Thoughts label-mate Tom Leah AKA Werkha. Tying together personal reflection to wider social issues, the album gives an intimate insight into what it means to come of age in today’s world. Sophisticated song writing layered with jazz, soul and elements of folk charmed many major tastemakers including Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Lauren Laverne, Tony Minvielle, Toshio Matsuura, Laurent Garnier, Clash, The Telegraph, Bandcamp and Earmilk

‘GNAWA ELECTRIC LAUNE’ is the magical collaboration between Moroccan Gnawa-master (maâlem) Rabii Harnoune and Frankfurt electronic producer V.B.Kühl. Recorded at Achim Sauer’s 7V-Studio, collectively Rabii Harnoune & V.B. Kühl have produced an LP which represents entirely new territory, building a bridge from old to new, from Africa to Europe, and from to person to person. This melange of traditional North African Gnawa music and modern club sounds results in a fascinating debut, cross-cultural friction which is electric and otherworldly.

CYAN’ is the third full length LP from San Francisco Bay Area-based band The Seshen. Taking its name from a colour that is both strong and soft, the LP unravels the progression that has been made since 2016’s ‘Flames and Figures’, both as a band and as individuals; “Since ‘Flames and Figures’, a lot has been taking place both internally and externally.” Lyricist and vocalist Lalin St. Juste recollects, “we were on tour for the last album during the 2016 US election. There was an intense heaviness, a familiar one, one that extends generations and it just sunk in even further.”

The battle to overcome this heaviness, felt as a result of political and social issues and through Lalin’s own experiences with combating depression, fuels ‘CYAN’. “I was at the edge of myself,” she confesses. “This album is about pulling back the layers of who I am in order to push through sadness and grab onto what’s underneath”. From the opening lines of the LP on “Take It All Away”, these ideas are displayed - “I think it’s been too long that I’ve been your puppet / Cut these strings, I don’t want any of it”, she sings. Led by exposed yet bold musical endeavours from bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara, the album sees The Seshen delve into uncharted eclectic realms; “I think that there’s a lot more rawness on this record” Aki muses.

Anchored by Lalin’s sly, silvery vocals (which draw frequent comparisons to Erykah Badu) and cerebral yet playful rhythms from producer- bassist Aki, The Seshen’s music pulls from a deep well of electronic influences, R&B, and indie rock. Drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman and sequencer Kumar Butler make the music three-dimensional, blending live and digital instrumentation for a mercurial, transportive sound. Since 2012, the Seshen’s live show has earned them critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase on multiple continents, as they’ve shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Petite Noir, tUnE-yArDs, and Thundercat.

CYAN’ is the third full length LP from San Francisco Bay Area-based band The Seshen. Taking its name from a colour that is both strong and soft, the LP unravels the progression that has been made since 2016’s ‘Flames and Figures’, both as a band and as individuals; “Since ‘Flames and Figures’, a lot has been taking place both internally and externally.” Lyricist and vocalist Lalin St. Juste recollects, “we were on tour for the last album during the 2016 US election. There was an intense heaviness, a familiar one, one that extends generations and it just sunk in even further.”

The battle to overcome this heaviness, felt as a result of political and social issues and through Lalin’s own experiences with combating depression, fuels ‘CYAN’. “I was at the edge of myself,” she confesses. “This album is about pulling back the layers of who I am in order to push through sadness and grab onto what’s underneath”. From the opening lines of the LP on “Take It All Away”, these ideas are displayed - “I think it’s been too long that I’ve been your puppet / Cut these strings, I don’t want any of it”, she sings. Led by exposed yet bold musical endeavours from bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara, the album sees The Seshen delve into uncharted eclectic realms; “I think that there’s a lot more rawness on this record” Aki muses.

Anchored by Lalin’s sly, silvery vocals (which draw frequent comparisons to Erykah Badu) and cerebral yet playful rhythms from producer- bassist Aki, The Seshen’s music pulls from a deep well of electronic influences, R&B, and indie rock. Drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman and sequencer Kumar Butler make the music three-dimensional, blending live and digital instrumentation for a mercurial, transportive sound. Since 2012, the Seshen’s live show has earned them critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase on multiple continents, as they’ve shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Petite Noir, tUnE-yArDs, and Thundercat.

The return of the
godfather of British hip-hop, Rodney P aka The Riddim Killa, with his first
solo release in over a decade. Out on Tru Thoughts, the white promo 7”
represents the Rodney P of today. The two killer tracks embody and personify
the evolving music and culture of his heritage while paying homage
to his contribution to the UK hip-hop canon.

Record is close to NM.

Limited edition for Record Store Day 2014