Bliss – Turiya
Turiya—an eclectic jazz trio comprised of harp, double bass and drums—stuns with 50 minutes of ethereal sounds and dreamlike tapestries. Frontwoman Michelle Smith leads the way on harp with a virtuosic display of glissandos and trills, colouring otherwise traditional fusion compositions with a distinct and refreshing sound. Drummer Talya Valenti and bassist Kate Pass similarly prove to be extraordinary players, shining both as a compelling rhythm section and as talented soloists in their own right. The album is a result of the trio’s unique individual musical journeys, drawing from a range of jazz, classical and R&B influences. Not once, however, does this sonic diversity seem to clash. Rather, as Pass aptly puts it, Bliss is the wonderful product of “the magic that unfolds when great friends come together”.
Things Are Getting Better – Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation
For most, the idea of blending house music and gospel would sound like nothing more than a fanciful gimmick. For Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation, however, it represents exciting uncharted territory. Things Are Getting Better, fusing techno beats with soulful choirs, is the album none of us knew we needed—beneath the novelty of all its genre-bending is a purer desire to give new life to old feelings, to deliver “new mantras and new prayers for this new day that we find ourselves in that is so stark between the dark and the light“. The album’s title track is immediately captivating, driven by a gripping funk groove layered over a gospel choir that tugs at your heartstrings. Rose’s voice, raw and sincere, cuts through it all in a soulful declaration of faith, reminding us of the unwavering power that lies in our hope for brighter days.
