anma & cognitiva records present: outlines v.a.
Francisco Espregueira
ANMA and Cognitiva Records pair up to present one of the best ‘Various Artists’ releases of the year: Outlines. More than twenty artists collaborate in ten tracks, comprising a magnificent snapshot of a new generation of exciting producers across Europe, mixing jazz, broken beat and house music in exciting new ways. Outlines is composed by an amazing cast of talent, featuring ones-to-watch Contours, Werkha, Footshooter, Allysha Joy, Karmasound or Domenico Sanna. ANMA and Cognitiva not only curate new tracks from these artists but have also instigated many of the collaborations present in the record.
Part 1 is the more jazz orientated of the two halves, opening with the broken jazz funk and juno basslines of “Astral Sorcery” by Future Jazz Ensemble and XL Regular. Quiroga and Milanese jazz funkers 291out follow with some mutant funk and a Head-Hunters-type of grease on “Fantasia Mélange”. Tuscany’s Slowaxx masters the mid-tempo groove on “Le Tapis Bleu”, crying for a dance floor to gently warm. On the flip, Cognitiva boss SofaTalk (Piero Paolinelli) reworks “Evidente” by acclaimed pianist Domenico Sanna. Collaborator Shalka Mani draws you in with her poetry over piano licks and scattered snares. Veezo & F2F Project close this side with a broken beat monster in “Anthropocene”.
Part 2 opens up with Aura Safari’s “Velvet Horizon”. Jazz funk synths riffs, a heavy break and a bumping kick. Karmasound and FootNote, a new project from ANMA boss Angelo Mazzone, get behind the wheels, slowing the tempo down enough for Mabreezee’s smooth vocals to cast a spell in “Peace Of Mind”. Next gen bruk soldier and Dance Regular affiliate Footshooter delivers a killer jam, “Hibiscus”, full of subtleties - a two-step beat, a propulsive bassline, and the unmistakable vocals of Allysha Joy, one of the main voices hailing from the vibrant Melbourne scene. Close to the end, Contours trades beats and synths with the incredibly talented Werkha, never finding problems in navigating broken beat, jazz and soul music. Roy Vision closes the record with “4411”, indebted to house, broken beat, classic Detroit techno, jazz and UK garage, replete with a spellbinding trumpet & keys.
“Outlines is an open book, a narrative that looks not only to the future, but also considers the past. Sounds, cultures and colours come together on a mutual path.”