RECORD OF THE WEEK – JOE ARMON-JONES – TURN TO CLEAR VIEW – Republic of Music

The wildly-talented keys player returns with a luminous jazz-funk masterstroke

JOE ARMON-JONES – TURN TO CLEAR VIEW OUT NOW ON CD, LP & LPX

Tracklisting:

Try Walk With Me Ft. Asheber
Yellow Dandelion Ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow
Gnawa Sweet
Icy Roads (Stacked)
(To) Know Where You’re Coming From
The Leo & Aquarius Ft. Jehst
You Didn’t Care Ft. Nubya Garcia
Self:Love Ft. Obongjayar

Bass-heavy dub and contemporary club culture are the foundations for Joe Armon-Jones’ phenomenal second album. “Turn to Clear View” builds on the celebrated keys player’s singular vision, exhibiting a sound with flourishes of R&B, hip-hop and p-funk, and featuring regular bandmates Oscar Jerome, Moses Boyd and Nubya Garcia. He builds on his close-knit core personnel with guest spots from artists he’s long admired, including Georgia Anne Muldrow (Brainfeeder, Stones Throw), Obongjayar (XL) and Jehst.

From character-fuelled raps to Afrobeat-influenced jams, Armon-Jones channels the diversity of the ascendant scene that surrounds him. Co-produced with longtime collaborator Maxwell Owin, the record has a carefully plotted feel that reflects their meticulous approach. The duo carefully perfected every touch, with Armon-Jones ever-present throughout the mixing and mastering processes.

Between his highly acclaimed solo career and his work with the influential Ezra Collective, Armon-Jones is building on a rush of acclaim – winning Session of the Year at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards and being nominated for UK Act of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards. His electric, open-ended live shows have brought him to Glastonbury, SXSW, Boiler Room and a sold-out headline show at London’s Village Underground.

Joe Armon-Jones featured in Spindle:

What can people expect from your upcoming album?

People can expect to get the most out of it by listening to the whole thing. All the way through. No stops.

How does making music for your solo sound differ from when you make music with the Ezra Collective?

All of my solo project music is written in my living room or bedroom pretty much. The seed of each tune comes from me and I will arrange and develop the song before it’s been seen or played by anybody else. Same after the song has been recorded, the recorded stems go back to me and I work on them on my own in my room for months! Ezra is a group project , we write our songs all together for the most part, even though people bring ideas to the table.