alexander flood: artifactual rhythm
Francisco Espregueira
Alexander Flood's ARTIFACTUAL RHYTHM, released last friday via Atjazz Record Company, isn't your typical electronic music affair. Instead, this collection reimagines club and DJ sounds through the vibrant energy of a live band, all viewed through a distinctly jazz-tinted lens. Commanding the pace on a set of drums all the way from Naarm / Melbourne, Flood delves into the sonic landscapes of the 90s and 2000s, drawing inspiration from house, UK garage, drum n' bass, and broken beat, yet firmly plants his creative feet in the present and future. The album, recorded live and featuring a stellar lineup of Australian musicians including Erica Tucceri on flute and Finn Rees on keyboards, alongside guest vocals from Cazeaux O.S.L.O, Kara Manasala, and Vivian Sessoms, is crafted for both the dancefloor and the discerning listener - much like its amazing predecessor Oscillate, released in 2023 via Jakarta Records.
The album's title, ARTIFACTUAL RHYTHM, speaks to Flood's core concept: taking inherently electronic sounds and breathing new life into them through the raw, human touch of live instrumentation and jazz improvisation. Engineered and co-produced by Lewis Moody, this project highlights the tangible, "made by human hands" aspect of music creation. From the lyrical flow of Cazeaux O.S.L.O on "LIFE IS A RHYTHM" to Kara Manasala's vocals on the UK garage-infused "DON’T WAIT 4 ME," and Vivian Sessoms' soulful heat on the classic house-inspired "CAN’T GET ENOUGH," Flood and his collaborators deliver a sound that pumps us in the right way. Available on vinyl.