Review: Emanative - Abstract Intuition (Home Planet Recordings)

For those avid Emanative watchers/listeners, here's the latest on the long awaited next release, 'Abstact Intuition' is out digitally on 30th July and vinyl out first week in September!

After the interview fellow London lover DJ Kobayashi (co-founder of Batov Records) on the B-Side Sessions show (Soho Radio - 14:00 to 16:00, Wednesdays - Dom Servini was on there the other week too!).

Of course we've seen Batov and Nick together before on Sandman Projet's remix release (see review HERE) (with Jessica Lauren) and back in April with the Yellowtail/Mark Murphy remix of 'Seasons In My Mind' (see review HERE) so we kinda know what to expect?

Well, the first thing to expect is some of the best known names in 'modern electronic jazz' being long-time musical partners Jessica Lauren (not wife) and Ben Hadwen (tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute) with Twm Dylan (upright bass), Peter Zummo (trombone), Sarathy Korwar (Tabla - he also featured on the 'Ominous Shanti' release), Magnus Mehta (Congas/percussion), Raimund Wong (Yamaha MT400/electronics) and Nick himself on drums/percussion (of course), vibes and synth.

This might only be 4 tracks, 'Spice Routes' (deep bass driven space jazz with Ben leading(?) the way with sax and bass clarinet as metaphorical walking sticks), 'Messimalism (Above Thought)' is the space-jazz-dub that you've always craved, 'Paradox' (not the challenge that you might expect as all the musicians push themselves deeper within a soup of gong baths) and the magnificent 'Pathways to Presence' but fans like the influencial DJs Patrick Forge and Michael Ruetten are lost for words to describe how good this is.

So you can tell Emanative is as much a band (family) as an individual and if you know your Art Enemble of Chicago from your Kahil El Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble to Amirtha Kidabi's Elder Ones (see review HERE) alond with th Coltrane's spiritual legacy, you'll get this immediately; especially the 18 minute long 'Pathways To Presence' that's includes all of the above and even dips into early Cinematic Orchestra vibe; that said, this is a "proper jazz walk to the cosmos".

This is perfect for the We Out Festival (next year Gilles?) but what with Nick's connections with the Sun Ra Arkestra and Tribe jazz royalty alumni, Ahmed Abdullah and Phil Ranelin, we have our own Carlos Niño & Friends, or could we rename the Emanative family an Emanumni?

The only thing that's missing is Nick's "real" wife of 25 years, Liz Elensky; lets hope that's not caused an argument. 

Artist:  Emanative

Title: Abstract Intuition

Release date: 30th July, 2024

Label: Home Planet Recordings

Catalog Number:

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Batov Artists 3 (Batov Records)

So another stunning release from Batov Records and better than that, it's a nine track compilation of some of their biggest stars... but there's some even better news!

We've love a the sounds from Batov this year; from Eje Eje's 'Five Seasons' (see review HERE) who are represent on this album with 'Black Sea Majic (Autumn)' to some lounge samba for ya Jonny Trunk types with Moriah Plaza's 'Samba Moosh' (see review HERE).

The great news is that the Sandman Project (the Emanative / Jessica Lauren project) is here in the form of  Hamsa Remixes EP (see review HERE) and more proof that there's more to just 'middle eastern' grooves, Muito Kaballa's 'Luna' is 60s jazz proggy and middle eastern. 

Of course, the hous band/flag wavers of the label, Sababa 5 are represented with the new track, 'Aeolus' from the album Aspan' (see review HERE) but the album is all gems like this.

Oh! And the "even better news", this compilation by label co-founder DJ Kobayashi is on Bandcamp as a digital release as a "Thank you" for a mere £1.00 if you get in quick; indeed "Thank you" Batov Records and all the artists and fans alike.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Batov Artists 3

Release date: 15th December, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR090

Format: Digital / Bandcamp