Ishmael Ensemble & Rider Shafique - New Era EP (2023)

Fresh from receiving a standing ovation for their incredible performance at the London Jazz Festival, part of their 5 date UK tour and following comeback single ‘The Rebuke’, Ishmael Ensemble return with EP ‘New Era’, a powerful statement of intent in collaboration with poet, MC and lyricist Rider Shafique.

Shafique’s talent for razor sharp lyricism, keen observation and beautifully woven imagery deliver probing prophetic visions across Ishmael Ensemble’s strikingly emotive soundscapes on this brilliant 5 tracker, weaving jazz, dub and other electronic influences with stunning effect.

Opening with ‘C90 Intro’, (a name which nods to the cassettes Cunningham used to make his DJ first mixtapes) to a backdrop of brooding ambient sonics Shafique introduces the EP in dub poet mode, setting the scene for the personal and political themes of the record: ‘life is a journey we all need to travel… as we navigate into a new age, a new era’.

Track two ‘Polestar’ leads us into more traditional jazz territory via a trip-hop verging beat and hypnotic sax. Mesmerising lyricism from Shafique and intermittent dubby vocal effects give the track a hypnotic dream-like quality.

EP centrepiece and title track ‘New Era’ sets out a hopeful vision for change and a call to arms for fresh thinking. Shafique’s vocal takes centre stage over a swirling instrumental that builds with creeping urgency, swarming with white noise and a near-spluttering bassline demonstrative of Ishmael Ensemble’s boundary-blurring approach to jazz.

‘Salm’ serves as a reflective coda to its predecessor - a haunting ambient soundscape with occasional spectral harps, over which the message of the EP is underlined with a cautionary aside ‘beware when you are fighting monsters, that you yourself do not become what you are fighting against’.

The EP closes with lead single, ‘Reasons’ a brilliantly realised culmination of all the themes and sonics present. Ishmael Ensemble returning to their jazzier incarnation, sax, harp and skippy rhythms propel us once again into reflection with Shafique inviting the listener to engage with the rhetorical ‘what’s the meaning of life?’, showcasing the combination of breathtaking musicianship and compelling lyricism that make this EP and collaboration so special.

‘New Era’ is an absorbing and thought-provoking piece that highlights Ishmael Ensemble’s talent for genre-shifting and taking the sonic conversation well beyond traditional jazz. Coupled with Rider Shafique’s mastery of words, it’s easy to see why audiences have literally been on their feet to praise all concerned at live shows and why 2023 is set to be their most thrilling year yet.