James Reeno (SPAZZOID RECORDS/NYC RECORDS/KUPCAKE RECORDS)
Well, well, WELL!! What we have here is some NEW jazz-funk. At times, more on the jazz-fusion tip, and yes..that is a good thing.
Excellent musicianship here, and really not a weak cut on the entire LP.
Grab it before it's gone...
Favorite track: Dragonfly.
Wilsoni Tha' Funk Masta
As I told them, "Ivory Mountain" sounds like Jamiroquai circa '94 - which I consider to be hugely complimentary! - via Headhunters era Herbie Hancock. But the breaks on "Breakthrough" are BAAAAAD. Be part of the Acid Jazz revival!
Favorite track: Ivory Mountain.
Jason Piper
Effortlessly rich and engaging jazz and funk that is musical, warm and approachable. Cuts for the dance floor and for setting a chilled vibe, a real arsenal for DJ's and music-lovers alike.
Favorite track: Pocket 5.
Second pressing of Murmuration + hand made stencil/spray-paint print (25cm x 25cm) made by The Expansions drummer Jonny Drop. A variation of the album cover. Signed & numbered edition of 20 on 220 gsm card. Due to the handmade nature of this work, some variation occurs.
Includes unlimited streaming of Murmuration
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Sold Out
Vinyl LP
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Although we are currently sold out direct, please do look to other record shops worldwide who should be stocking this record.
Includes unlimited streaming of Murmuration
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Sold Out
Special Edition Stencil/Spray Print
Poster/Print
25cm x 25cm Hand made stencil/spray-paint print, made by The Expansions drummer Jonny Drop. A variation of the album cover. Signed & numbered edition of 20 on 220 gsm card. Due to the handmade nature of this work, some variation occurs.
Sold Out
Vinyl 2nd Pressing
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Second pressing of Murmuration. Art work by Jonny Drop.
Includes unlimited streaming of Murmuration
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Sold Out
Vinyl 3rd Pressing
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Third pressing of Murmuration. Artwork by Jonny Drop.
Includes unlimited streaming of Murmuration
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
"I love The Expansions their futuristic leanings inject new life into the form. Fresh material!" Ian Merchant (Black Acre)
“Exudes all the qualities I cherish most in music, warmth, integrity and a dedication to the groove… it’s a hard road to travel when you step in the footprints of giants, The Expansions are treading that path with ease and assurance.” Patrick Forge
"Coming off something like the UK's more jazz-funk fueled answer to BBNG, all four quarters of this monstrous unit are on point on this hugely anticipated release. There's got to be a very special long-player in the works, and I for one can't wait to immerse myself in that!" Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s)
“The Expansions, very funky! Headhunters/Weather Report inspired, and definitely worth checking out. My new favourite band.” Steve White (Style Council, Paul Weller)
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When The Expansions self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, “The Expansions” was the answer.
Although this popularity meant a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance.
Murmuration, recorded over three days at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live.
Debut single Breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. Pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing – particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where Koor and O’Keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return.
Cannonball brings warm mellowness that delicately evolves through beats, touching on bossas alongside their fundamental hip-hop sensibilities. But even here there is a raucous zenith before the band sublimely recede into the silence of the a-side ending.
Colossal album highlight Ivory Mountain is truly an epic. Evoking moments of 4Hero, there is a lightness of groove in the first half of this soulful exploration. But at the halfway point, all restraint is let go as a live string section joins the four quarters of the band for three glorious minutes of soulful disco. Evoking sounds of Quincy Jones, George Benson and Johnny Hammond, all the way through to a beautifully cacophonous finale.
Dragonfly undoubtedly reflects on the work of Herbie Hancock and is the most direct throwback to the band’s earlier work, which is a welcome marker of how far they have come. A quintessential jazz funker.
The album closes with the thoughtful and introverted shuffle of Miles Away. In the final eight minutes of Murmuration, The Expansions allow space and time to take precedence, with once-more-restrained peaks and developments. It becomes clear though, that the band cannot resist one last explosive finale, as they rise with screeching synths, strings and dubs for a perfect race to the finish line.
You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert’s Favourites, to finally share it.
The Expansions are a Jazz Funk quartet hailing from South London. Influenced by the street sounds of the 70's and
Blaxploitation, The Expansions bring a new dimension to a classic sound.
James O'Keefe - Guitar
Dave Koor - Keys and Synths
Jonny Drop - Drums
Matt Summerfield - Bass...more