nubiyan twist: freedom fables
Francisco Espregueira
Led by producer/guitarist Tom Excell, Nubiyan Twist is one of UK’s leading acts in the jazz scene that took over the country in the last half decade. Released by Strut Records their new album, Freedom Fables, is their most accomplished work to date, following a discography that is already magnificent. Freedom Fables includes an impressive set of collaborations, including a diversity of artists that shine in different genres, such as Cherise, Pat Thomas, Soweto Kinch or Ego Ella May. This star list of guests helps the nine piece collective to effortlessly fuse different soul, jazz and global styles with great musicianship and lyrics.
Nubiyan Twist, better than any band, is able to bring together some of the greatest African musicians of all time (Mulatu Astatke and Tony Allen have starred in the past, for example) with some of the most exciting UK vocalists. The Afro energy connects with the urban sounds that hail from London, providing an unique and polished soundscape. Freedom Fables never stops referencing the music that the band was always in touch with; you can hear touches of broken beat, blunted hip hop, highlife, Latin, jazz and UK soul running through the tracks. It’s a trip that takes us into unexpected places of positive feelings. Available on vinyl, Freedom Fables is an essential record for 2021.
“Freedom Fables reflects on the power of narratives. Each vocalist on this record explores their own memoirs, a freedom of expression underpinning our belief that music is the ultimate narrative for unity”