Astigmatic Poland Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Highly-anticipated debut LP from Polish quartet Bloto. Heavy, instrumental hip-hop inspired jazz. Killer release!

Review: Polish group Bloto are emblematic of the adventurous spirit which drives Astigmatic forwards as a label. There's a strong, instrument-oriented jazz backbone to the music, but it equally functions as daring, inventive club music. Drop the needle on 'Szlam', the A-side of this new 7" from the Wroclaw-based outfit and you'd think you were hearing some DMZ-informed soundsystem pressure. That's as much about the looping flute refrain as the breakstep roll of the drums and one note bass drops, but there's still the scintillating energy of a live band powering the sonics. B-side workout 'Scieki' is a moody strutter with a dash of acidic snarl in its stomping bassline and some eerie keys on top, coming on like horror jazz for dimly lit dancefloors.

Review: While Americans often get much of the credit for pioneering jazz work, there are outliers like Polish jazz trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stanko who also deserve plenty of plaudits. He was right at the vanguard of the avant garde jazz scene in Europe and this album of his is one of his homeland, and the wider scenes, greatest records. He played with a quintet that was shrouded in mystery and they constantly evolved their sound throughout their careers. Wooden Music is an album that pulls together some of their finest work from free and vigorous sounds to more structured explorations of jazz.

Review: London-based quartet Uniri takes a unique approach by composing as a collective and bringing in new-beat aesthetics while steering away from traditional jazz band and "bedroom production" concepts. Founded by Chiminyo, Uniri, meaning 'one unified dream,' came to life in his private studio, inviting jazz peers Amane Tsuganami, Al Macsween, and Luke Wynter for spontaneous collaborations. The result, Infinite Reflections, delivers a psychedelic, rhythmic journey infused with cosmic synths and hip-hop beats. Embracing a global trend in jazz fusion, Uniri's debut album promises an innovative aesthetic akin to artists like Flying Lotus and Ras G.