Berlioz merges the womb-like traits of club music with a fondness for jazz improvisation. Initially an enigma, the producer’s breakout EP ‘jazz is for ordinary people’ was an incredible fusion of sounds, blessed with a unique sense of atmosphere.
Since then, his ambitions have blossomed. A viral phenomenon, Berlioz will play London’s O2 Academy Brixton on October 17th, and his eagerly awaited debut album ‘Open This Wall’ is out now.
Songs of connection, reference points on the record include the producer’s wife – naturally – and jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Going in-depth, reference points might include those early Barry Can’t Swim releases or Romare, but in truth Berlioz is following his own path.
The start of something very special, the producer has kindly crafted this track by track guide – check out the album in full, then read it below.
ascension
there are so many tracks that could have been the opening song to my album, I feel like this is the perfect beginning to sweep you off your feet and into the world of ‘open this wall’.
open this wall
the affirmation we all need… ‘I am, and I’m wonderful, and I know there’s this supreme power, that gives me the ability to be everything if I just allow it to happen’ – I want these words to be a balm for every listener, Sam Miles took my breath away when he played sax on this song.
peace
my wife Joycelyn quotes Alice Walker, talking on the power and peace one can gain from introspection and the acceptance of our external reality – then this ensemble cast of musicians – Sam Crowe and Robin Phillips playing keys, Mark Kavuma on trumpet, Chelsea Carmichael on sax, Edison Herbert on Guitar and then James Larter doing his thing on percussion.
hot slow
man, this was a demo for the longest time, I created it in 2017 I’m so glad I re-made it and brought it to light… that moment at 2:02… damn.
ode to rahsaan
the first song I wrote after ‘jazz is for ordinary people’, it opened me up to the possibility of an album, the possibility that I had more to share… It’s important that I nod to the origins of jazz music, the music that I take so much inspiration from. I couldn’t think of a better voice than Rahsaan Roland Kirk – a true jazz pioneer – to make clear that jazz is ‘black classical music’ at its root.
nytmp
‘in new york, tokyo, milano and paris, you have to feel that music, you have to understand – baroque to jazz to modern to world music…it’s fantastic’ – my little joyful ode to music and the cities berlioz has taken me. Lovely rhodes chords from Robin Phillips on this!
joycelyn’s dance
Joycelyn’s song, her dance – thank you J for being my co-producer/arranger/mixer/creative director and partner in crime with this album, and berlioz, my love, forever.
indigo dream
ah, you just have to listen – I remember playing this out for the first time at my street party in Shoreditch – it’s bliss in WAV form – it took so long to get it ‘just so’ and now it is, and forever will be.
free fall
the inevitable love song on the album, if this doesn’t make your heart sing, what will…?
something will happen
listen when you don’t see a way forward, when life isn’t making sense and you’re searching for purpose… thank you imminent sound for the gorgeous backing vocals, thank you Beni Giles of helping me work out some of the tricky bits on this…
this song holds such a special place in my heart, and will for my whole life.
and breathe…
That moment where Jihad Darwish plays the double bass line at 1:09 – man, it was so meditative composing this one at home and bringing it to the studio to be played by such talented musicians – thank you Sam Crowe on keys and Mark Kavuma on trumpet – a journey back home to close the album.
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