kuna maze: night shift
Francisco Espregueira
Brussels-based artist Kuna Maze (1/2 of the amazing Nikitch & Kuna Maze duo) has unveiled his highly anticipated debut album titled Night Shift on the esteemed Tru Thoughts label. With Night Shift, Kuna Maze takes listeners on a bouncey-jazz-electronic journey into the nocturnal realm of broken beats and groovy affairs, crafting a concept record centered around the enigmatic allure of the night. Drawing inspiration from the nostalgic ambiance of smoky jazz clubs and blending it with modern electronic music, Kuna Maze creates a hypnotic and immersive sonic experience over 13 tracks.
The album showcases Kuna Maze's evolution as a producer, exploring diverse influences ranging from broken beat and UK jazz scenes to the sounds of iconic labels like Apron. Infused with elements of UKG, Jamaican dub recording processes, and 70s jazz-funk, Night Shift is a tapestry of intricate sonic textures and captivating rhythms that features high-class collaborations, including the haunting vocals of creative polymath Steve Spacek on lead single "I Told U" and the ethereal and layered voice of Belgian singer Reinel Bakole on "Reflections." The album also welcomes guest contributions from esteemed musicians such as Midva, Dorian Dumont, Pierre Spataro, Victor Pascal, and Jan Janzen, adding their unique flair to Kuna Maze's sonic trademark. Available on vinyl, via Tru Thoughts.