AFTER 'OURS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Over the past three decades, Auckland has nurtured many generations of musicians, DJs, and producers who have blended jazz, blues, soul, funk, Latin, hip-hop, house, boogie and broken beats into all-new sounds. After 'Ours, a group led by pianist Michal Martyniuk and drummer and guitarist Nick Williams, very much embodies this tradition. Nick, influenced by his DJ mother and musician father, led Auckland's Latin-dub-funk band Tangent while Michal, raised in Poland, immersed himself in Auckland's jazz scene and formed After 'Ours in 2011. Their new album Long Road merges machine funk with vibrant live instrumentation and bridges jazz, neo-soul, electronica, and dance with infectious charm.

Review: New Zealand's After 'Ours, helmed by Michal Martyniuk and Nick Williams, return with Long Road, a remarkable follow-up to their 2016 debut Odyssey. Known for blending elements of jazz, soul, and electronica, the duo has crafted an album that reflects their growth while maintaining the warmth and community spirit that defined their earlier work. Long Road builds on the smooth grooves and intricate rhythms that drew comparisons to the likes of Steely Dan, A Tribe Called Quest, and Robert Glasper. The album sees the duo reconnecting with previous collaborators like Kevin Mark Trail and Ange Williams, while also introducing fresh talent, including British soul legend Omar Lyefook and Jakarta-based saxophonist Kuba Skowronski. The ten tracks on Long Road weave through various genres, from UK broken beat to modern soul and blues rock, creating a rich tapestry of sound. Tracks like 'Looking Glass' and 'Morning Chorus' showcase the duo's ability to create deeply emotive music, while the inclusion of live instrumentation adds a vibrant, organic feel. Long Road is a sublime listening experience that is full of diverse influences that have shaped their sound over the years.