New London based psychedelic-jazz quartet Qwalia, led by drummer Yusuf Ahmed, offer a plethora of influences whilst remaining resolutely itself. Assembled from accomplished musicians linked with Frank Ocean, Sampha, Jordan Rakei, Nubiyan Twist, David Byrne, Joy Crookes, Cat Stevens and more; Yusuf is joined by Tal Janes on guitars and vocals, Ben Reed on bass and keyboardist Joseph Costi.

Like all of the tracks on the album, this song is built up from improvisations. You can clearly hear how the music formed layer by layer, each musician listening and then building upon what is already there.

Yusuf’s heavy drum groove, meets Joseph’s clear harmonic direction with lush pad-like synths, followed by Ben’s hypnotic bass line which ties the harmonic and rhythmic world together. When the band breaks down Tal, on guitar takes the music into a new direction, with a powerful and sonorous riff.

At times contemplative and spacious, and at other times dense and demanding body movement; herein lies a wide range of musical aesthetics culminating funk, folk, ambient and avant-pop into an engrossing, experimental sound.