Gondwana Vinyl & CDs

Review: Matthew Halsall's Gondwana label is seeing a busy August what with the imprint flooding our jazz charts with reissues and, of course, new releases such as this wonderful collaborative effort from The Gondwana Orchestra and Dwight Trible. Trible's voice is like silk, running up and down the delicate waves of melodies from the collective, with "Colors" and "The Creator Has A Master Plan" both capable of making the toughest of audiences feel utterly uplifted. On the flip, "Love Is Everywhere" shines bright amid a flurry of flutes and intricate drum percussions, while "You've Got To Have Freedom" rides off a much smoother, deeper sort of vibe that's got a little funk at its core. Wicked.

Review: Reissued on Gondwana after an unexpected sea-change, Matthew Halsall's Bright Sparkling Light was originally conceived as a tour-only exclusive, its three exquisites, averaging seven to ten minutes per suite, serving only the most loyal and dedicated of fans eager enough to clasp their mitts around the limited edition at the time of his EU and UK tour in October-November 2023. Now, its rarefied airs get dropped; so too do the folk scramble to lend it a second listen, discovering Halsall's preference for hypnotic drones, tenor sax progressions crafted around lush flute loops, and portrayals of the artist's favourite rural location: Newborough Forest, both at daytime and nighttime. 'The Tide And The Moon' is the closing highlight, nicely closing the gap between dewey morning and crept-in crepuscule.

Review: Phi-Psonics, a contemplative jazz ensemble from Los Angeles, is helmed by bassist Seth Ford-Young and features the talents of Sylvain Carton on woodwinds, Mitchell Yoshida on electric piano, and Josh Collazo on drums. Their music, rich in soulful depth, weaves together influences from jazz, classical, and Ford-Young's personal journey through spirituality, yoga, and philosophy, creating a soundscape that is both unique and profoundly meditative. Hailing originally from the Washington D.C. area, Ford-Young relocated to California in the early '90s, where he developed a deep affection for the upright bass and the works of jazz legends like Charles Mingus, John and Alice Coltrane, and Duke Ellington, alongside classical composers such as Bach, Chopin, Part, and Satie. His musical journey has been one of continuous exploration, marked by collaborations with artists like Tom Waits and Beats Antique. The recently announced limited 12" 'Morning Sun/Arrival', drawn from sessions that produced Phi-Psonics' second album Octava, showcases the group's introspective and innovative approach to meditative jazz. These tracks offer a space for serene reflection, encapsulating a spiritual journey through warm melodies and intricate instrumental dialogues, embodying Ford-Young's vision of personal evolution and higher vibrational states.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


The split 12" from East London's Portico Quartet and Polish pianist Hania Rani exemplifies how simple ideas can yield remarkable results. Each artist reworked the other's track, with impressive outcomes. Portico Quartet transforms Rani's 'Nest' into a dreamy, ethereal jazz piece, featuring undulating analogue synths, immersive chords, and floaty vocal samples carried by languid jazz drumming. Rani's take on Portico Quartet's 'With, Beside, Against' is even more striking. Her version, minimalistic and sparse, introduces twinkling piano motifs and her evocative vocals, creating a slowly unfolding, cinematic jazz experience. Both interpretations are nothing short of stunning.

Review: The split 12" from East London's Portico Quartet and Polish pianist Hania Rani exemplifies how simple ideas can yield remarkable results. Each artist reworked the other's track, with impressive outcomes. Portico Quartet transforms Rani's 'Nest' into a dreamy, ethereal jazz piece, featuring undulating analogue synths, immersive chords, and floaty vocal samples carried by languid jazz drumming. Rani's take on Portico Quartet's 'With, Beside, Against' is even more striking. Her version, minimalistic and sparse, introduces twinkling piano motifs and her evocative vocals, creating a slowly unfolding, cinematic jazz experience. Both interpretations are nothing short of stunning.

Review: The celebrated 'Live from Studio S2' performance is now available on vinyl once more featuring all four tracks from the session, including the unreleased 'Hawaii Oslo' and 'Glass'. Premiered on the Gondwana Records YouTube channel back in 2021, this session has since picked up over three million views and captivated fans worldwide in the process. It was recorded this session at the Berlinale Film Festival's EFM sessions in Studio S2 in Warsaw, where Hania Rani had previously recorded for her debut album Esja. The set includes new arrangements of beloved tracks that are all sumptuous and beautiful.

Review: Released earlier this August, Brighton-born jazz musician and producer Chip Wickham's four-track EP 'Love & Life' is a multi-instrumental easy-listening record that has a subtle depth to its sloozy production. The opening track 'Space Walk' sets the bar right out of the gate with an incredible flute-driven story, backed by some gentle, brassy drums and jazz lounge piano. There's a distinct lo-fi quality to it in its vibe, but the sound of the xylophone is just so crisp against the tenor sax - it's like you're right there in the studio with Wickham.