footshooter: the oasis
Francisco Espregueira
Footshooter's The Oasis, a new offering on Tru Thoughts, stakes its claim at the fertile intersection of jazz and broken beat, a sonic sanctuary built through collaboration. This album, a collection of moods from the past three years, showcases Footshooter's dynamic production style, which tastefully borrows from jazz, house, and beyond, all while maintaining a forward-thinking vision in his musical output. Featuring previously released gems like "Here To Learn" with Andre Espeut and "Obelisk" featuring Natty Wylah & brother portrait, the album also introduces fresh collaborations, including the latest single "Cycles" featuring the distinctive vocals of James Mollison. For Footshooter, The Oasis represents a personal refuge found in music, creativity, and the energy derived from working alongside friends. It is also a brilliant follow up to his previous works that are always worth revisiting.
Across this ‘monster’ record, the British producer explores the theme of finding solace, exemplified by "What You Saw" featuring MA.MOYO and the delicate guitar work of Mahon, creating a space between dream and reality. The album also highlights his versatility, moving from the soothing interlude "Reverie" with Cynthia's vocals to the uplifting spoken word of "Boomerang" featuring Native & Wilf Petherbridge, a poignant snapshot of a father-son bond. James Mollison of Ezra Collective makes another appearance on "Surrey Canal Road," an ode to the creative spirit of Footshooter's studio location, his saxophone weaving through the layers. Culminating in the reflective "Sermon" with Sara El Harrak and the Parisian-inspired "Parc de Belleville," The Oasis on Tru Thoughts is one of the records of the year so far for us. This guy has just immense skill in crafting soulful sounds that resonate both emotionally and rhythmically. Available on vinyl. Yes, yes.
“The title refers to a wish for everyone to find their oasis among whatever desert is surrounding them – mine has been and always will be music, creativity and collaboration.”