Review: Twelve-piece jazz, funk and soul ensemble outta Leeds in the UK swiftly follow up their Jungle Run LP - released on Strut in 2019 - with their brand new album Freedom Fables. Taking in guest contributions from the likes of Cherise, Ego Ella May, Soweto Kinch, Pat Thomas and more, each vocalist on this record is said to explore their own memoir in a move that Nubiyan Twist says reflects on the power of narrative. With some beautiful artwork evoking images of exploration, allow Freedom Fables to take you on a trip through an exotic highlife of broken beat, blunted hip hop, Latin jazz, afro soul and UK love.
Review: UK hip-hop/soul/Afro fusionists Nubiyan Twist return with their first new material since their 'Jungle Run' album earlier this year. 'Portraits' features Cerise on vocal duties and is a luxuriant, melancholy and jazz-tinged neo-soul cut that should please fans of the likes of Amy Winehouse or Quantic Soul Orchestra. Ruby Wood then takes over mic duties for 'If Only', a livelier affair with intricate beats that veers into the nebulous zone where R&B, soulful house and broken beat collide - expect the latter to be big with the likes of Gilles Peterson, Mr Scruff and Snowboy, thanks not least to a haunting performance from Ms Wood.
Review: Finally... The long-awaited sophomore from freeform 10 piece collective Nubiyan Twist has landed and y'all better have your seatbelts serviced because this is going to take you places. The bruk-meets-jazz-meets-techno-meets-soul title track is a perfect example of the energy and fluidity at play once again as we're exposed to high levels of fusion throughout the journey; the dreamy hip hop sass of "Brother", the psychedelic feels of "Addis To London", the middle eastern twangs and mysticism and cosmic grime of "They Talk"... Every track a different destination but all within the same trip, this will keep you twisting for a long time to come.
Review: With a new album on the way before the end of the year on Strut, their new home, Nubiyan Twist unleash two tracks to whet the appetite. 'Tell It To Me Slowly', featuring the almost crooner-style vox of Nick Richardson, is a near-broken soul-jazz workout that's likely to find favour with the likes of Gilles Peterson and Snowboy, while the Nubiya Brandon-sung 'Sugar Cane' takes us into laidback, late-night jazz pastures. Both cuts may be a little polite-sounding for mainstream club tastes, but the specialist spots - and the jazz-dancers - will lap them up.
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