Esencia Vinyl & CDs

Review: Learning To Let Go offers a profound meditation on release, acceptance, grounding, and surrender, moving forward along life's current. Like previous albums, it is both inward and outward-facing, catering to individuals and groups alike. 'Becoming Present' is peaceful, with percussion and devotion encouraging listeners to embrace the present moment. 'Reactive State' contrasts sharply, featuring hard-hitting percussion and decimated drums, complemented by a serenading flute. The mood shifts with 'Attachments,' a tale of two halves that twists between hypnotic and swirling. This track requires time and patience, as listeners witness an enthralling interaction between drums and keys, eventually drifting into the soul-inflected 'Grounding.' The time you invest in this album is well worth it. 'Letting Be' unfolds naturally, with majestic string and harp arrangements complemented by rhythmic percussion, each musician finding equanimity and peace within the composition. 'Letting Go' speaks for itself, embodying the album's theme. The album concludes with 'Forward, Only,' showcasing a group of musicians comfortable in their stride and confident in their thinking, ready to move with whatever happens. Learning To Let Go is a beautifully crafted journey, emphasising the importance of release and acceptance.

Review: The prolific Kieron Ifill continues to gift us with truly expressive, elevated house music drawing from the well of soul music and Black innovation that birthed the genre in the first place. After a recent 7" drop on Sounds Familiar, he's back on his own Esencia label with Rituals, a four-track meditation on sweet, synth-led grooves with melodious expression, harmonic interplay and a certain melancholy magic in its bones. The 12" is bookended by mellow, beatless reveries, with 'Ritual IV' in particular closing the record out in a beautiful flourish of piano and trickling water, but the jams at the heart of the EP have more than enough presence to get a floor moving in unison.

Review: K15's long-awaited album, Hope Is Perseverance, is a testament to his two-decade-long journey in music. From the dreamlike essence of 'life interrupted' to the intricate textures of 'hollowed' and 'new territories', the album captures K15's distinctive cinematic style with a nod to beat culture. The title track is an expansive nine-minute exploration featuring soulful string arrangements and captivating drum programming, hallmarking K15's artistry. A compelling ode to hope, the album also highlights K15's multifaceted identity in the music landscape.

Review: London-based beat smith K15 is a UK answer to the likes of Kyle Hall - his house music is steeped in jazz, soul and funk. His drums are dusty and loose - and louche - and his moods are deeply meaningful. His latest EP is another case in point with three more sublime and seductive sounds. 'Still Devoted' is a downtempo cut with analogue drums and gorgeous female vocals soaring up top with the elegance of a church choir. 'State Of Play' has a fantastically cosmic outlook and a nimble bassline that rides its own ride as the synths soar and 'Time Reveals' then closes down with a more melancholic but no less beautiful vibe.