PREORDER
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ARTIST
TITLE
The Love Pretender
FORMAT
2LP
LABEL
CATALOG #
AX 122LP
AX 122LP
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
3/14/2025
Jeff Mills' Spiral Deluxe collective unveil their second album. Driven by the free expression and creativity of improvised performance, Spiral Deluxe is an electronic jazz fusion project comprised Jeff, along with legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter/Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer and the Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji "Jino" Hino - son of Terumasa Hino, the world famous jazz trumpeter. With each musician proficient in their specialism and, of course, an all-out music lover, the communication between the group members became almost telepathic. Very little preparation was needed, and their performances flowed naturally and organically. This can be heard, and felt, throughout The Love Pretender. Tracks like "The Soloist" evolve effortlessly, each new shift subtly influenced by one of the musicians nudging the conversation into a different phase, and the rest responding accordingly, or vice versa. It's music that embodies the true nature of mindfulness and letting go of fear. In their unstructured, liberated cocoon the artists thrive and create musical moments that have, fortunately, been captured for us all to immerse ourselves in. Jazzy notes fill the air, combined with electronic bass, synthesized beats, sparkling keys and an all-round warm and welcoming atmosphere, with the slight edge you can only get from improvised performance. Sylvain Luc's posthumous appearance on the album is of significance too. The French guitarist died in March 2024 at the age of 59. His natural flair adds another dimension to the album, bringing a touch of that laid back 1980s American California Coast feeling to tracks such as "Society's Man." These contributions to the LP, recorded separately, add character -- a final sprinkling of humanity to complement the aliveness and presence of this body of work. Three other musicians also added their creative energy to the project. They were; TOKU, a Japanese jazz musician who specializes in wind instruments, especially the cornet, trumpet and flugel horn. And there's Masa Shimizu, who also has wide-ranging with the guitar, as well as being a producer. Themes on the album include the optimism one can have by simply trusting the process and trusting that everything will work out in the end. By playing together in the way they do, Spiral Deluxe place their trust in the mystery of what will happen next.
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