I remember a conversation with Stu “Chuggy” Leath, of Emotional Rescue / Response. Stu was trying to convince me to start a record label. Explaining that one of the best things about running a label is the contact with artists / musicians whose work you`ve long admired.
Something similar is true of writing / keeping a blog (I don`t think I can call Ban Ban Ton Ton a website). The biggest reward has been people getting in touch. Folks taking the time to say thank you for my attempts at translating their music into prose. It has made such a difference. Matt Sewell – acclaimed illustrator, author, ornithologist, and curator of the Caroline True-sponsored A Crushing Glow series – is one of those people.
In 2016 A Crushing Glow released Anuradha & Kavita Paudwal`s Gayatari Mantra. Fifty minutes of music that you`d ideally listen to at least once a day. A record which made everyone`s end-of-year lists. In 2017, Matt followed this with the positive message and equally mediative pastoral Kosmische of DrumTalk`s Out Of The Blackness, Into The Blue.
Three Tracks For Dancing
Il Bosco – Bridge Theory (Il Bosco & Metrodome Fabric Of Time Rip) (Red Laser Disco)
Blackbones – Malukayi (Blackbones)
Edits from the Sputnik Quadrant – Mumataka (Edits From)
Three Tracks For Chilling
Noveller – Deep Shelter (Fire Records)
Tafi All-Stars – Deka Wor Wor (Autonomous Africa)
DrumTalk – Out Of The Blackness Into The Blue (A Crushing Glow Presents/Caroline True)
Three Long Players
James Holden & The Animal Spirits (Border Community Recordings)
Tiny Leaves – Notes On Belonging (Pegdoll)
Rick Tomlinson – Phases Of Daylight (Voix)
Three Re-issues
Ozo – Anambra 12″ (Isle Of Jura)
The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso (Mr Bongo)
Twinkie Clark – Awake Oh Zion 7” (Athens Of The North)
Three Compilations
The Beauty Of The Sound Approach (The Sound Approach/EC100)
The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda (Luaka Bop)
Venezuela 70 (Soul Jazz)
