{"title":"Black Focus Records","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"wu-hen","title":"Wu Hen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWu Hen \u003c\/i\u003eis the sophomore album from Peckham visionary Kamaal Williams an invitation to elevate to a higher state. Cinematic strings from Miguel-Atwood Ferguson and virtuoso saxophone from Quinn Mason are textural additions that make for a deeper, multi-layered experience than previous releases. Bringing groove back to the forefront, \u003ci\u003eWu Hen \u003c\/i\u003eoscillates between celestial jazz, funk, rap and r\u0026amp;b reinforced with the rugged beat-heavy attitude of grime, jungle, house and garage \u003ci\u003e– \u003c\/i\u003ea self-styled fusion Kamaal describes as Wu Funk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNew players on this record include LA’s Greg Paul on drums (of Kalayst Collective), Rick Leon James on bass, Quinn Mason on saxophone alongside vocal features from cult rapper Mach-Hommy and Kaytranada collaborator Lauren Faith. Multi-talented renaissance musician Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (who has worked with Ray Charles, Flying Lotus, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Seu Jorge) contributes signature strings, which add vivid colour and rich depth, evoking vintage David Axelrod.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Black Focus Records","offers":[{"title":"Silver | LP","offer_id":50384308109643,"sku":"1094447","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50384308568395,"sku":"1094444","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Red | LP","offer_id":50384308699467,"sku":"1094445","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50384308339019,"sku":"1094443","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/019dc384-2724-45a0-92a7-1c6323fa0988_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726294967"},{"product_id":"the-return-2","title":"The Return","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhether re-defining experimental fusion sounds with the hugley acclaimed Yussef Kamaal, or his catalogue of 12”s for imprints such as MCDE, Eglo, and Rhythm Section as Henry Wu, South London’s Kamaal Williams has been a key figure in his thriving international scene for the past few years. The Return is a natural evolution from the Yussef Kamaal project, mining the influence of visionary jazz but blended with all kinds of texture, sounds and signals from the over-saturated London streets. At times the keyboard work evokes the classic 70s fusion work of Lonnie Liston Smith or Roy Ayers, but underpinned by rhythms more reminiscent of blunted hip-hop and arrangements subliminally laced with the cut-ups of pirate radio. Progressive, funky, cosmic, exploratory and effortlessly musical, this is the sound of a musician honing their craft into thrilling new shapes. In the US the like of Kamasi Washington and Thundercat have made great strides in opening a whole new dialogue between jazz and hip-hop, drawing in a young, highly engaged new audience in the process. Kamaal Williams mine a similar seam on the other side of the Atlantic alongside other exciting London talents such as Ezra Collective, Ruby Rushton and Shabaka Hutchings. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Return\u003c\/i\u003e is exactly that: a return and refinement to the sound Yussef Kamaal were progenitors of, and first set the scene for one of the most exciting musical movements London has had in years. Notable tracks for old and new listeners are\u003ci\u003e Slow, Situations, Medina, London Shuffle\u003c\/i\u003e which features Mansur Brown (of Mansur's Message) and for those die hard Yussef Kamaal fans - they should hear the interpolated roots of \u003ci\u003eStrings of Light\u003c\/i\u003e in the title track \u003ci\u003eThe Return\u003c\/i\u003e. And that signature Wu Funk can be heard on \u003ci\u003eBroken Theme\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHigh Roller. The Return is \u003c\/i\u003ethe debut album released on Wu's new label Black Focus Records.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCD - Digipack.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP - 180 Gram Black Vinyl with Download.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP+ -Limited 180 Gram White Vinyl with Download.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Black Focus Records","offers":[{"title":"LP.","offer_id":50384743203147,"sku":"1032575","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Clear | LP","offer_id":50384744907083,"sku":"1076432","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50384744186187,"sku":"1032574","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50384746447179,"sku":"1032576","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/d7038a3c-47f5-40bd-966e-b9efe16038d9_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726303128"},{"product_id":"stings","title":"Stings","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Black Focus Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50443080696139,"sku":"2206406","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Stings_b4b4e198_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727008588"},{"product_id":"houses","title":"Houses","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe third album on Black Focus continues the South London tradition but this time in the form of one of the originators: a triple OG, Steve Spacek.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpacek recently released a solo record through Alexander Nut’s imprint Eglo, dBridge’s Exit Records as Blackpocket, following on from his work with Ninja Tune under the Beat Spacek moniker and collaboration with Mark Pritchard as Africa HiTech on Warp. He’s also made formative work with legendary artists J Dilla, Raphael Saddiq, Q Tip and Common and made early drum and bass tunes with his brother dBridge. It’s an incredible career resume and an honour to be releasing this new work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHouses \u003c\/i\u003esees Spacek return to his Detroit influences, with house music at the heart of this record as its foundation but as with all Spacek’s releases, it transcends genre and focuses more on swing, melody and feeling. There are elements of soul, jazz and R\u0026amp;B interlaced within the DNA of his electronic music, alongside his signature falsetto vocals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe entire project was produced using iPhone and iPad apps, an approach Steve champions and feels liberated by using technology to join the past with the present.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Black Focus Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50498706735435,"sku":"1084695","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/d24622a8-410d-4876-bfeb-df9d8bf7b620_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727754633"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/black-focus-records.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}