LP

Firmly bound to Schema Records since the beginning (“Ad Lib”, 2001), in over twenty years of career Gerardo Frisina has released several records that have consolidated his status as a leading name in the international jazz and electronic music scene. Always unique in blending traditional elements (latin jazz, funk, soul) with modern sounds, since “Moving Ahead” (2020) in particular Gerardo has introduced new ‘cosmic’ and ‘futuristic’ elements into his style, in a constant evolution that culminates today with “In Sight”: this new double work, conceived and produced in two separate volumes - the second one available from May 23rd, 2025 - further refines a sound that can be clearly recognized from the first notes of each track.“In Sight Vol. 2” is first and foremost characterised by four new compositions, more structured than in the past, with a distinct psychedelic and minimal- dance vein that makes them more expansive and thoughtful; among them all, “Ya’aburnee” stands out, thanks to influences ranging from Four Tet to Trentemøller. There’s no shortage of more ‘club-oriented’ episodes too, thanks to the new arrangements of “Mindoro”, “Tarab” and “Mystical Funk”, the latter already released on 45rpm and here expanded into an ‘Extended Version’ by Fender Rhodes and electric guitar solos, perfectly closing one of Gerardo Frisina’s most complete and eclectic productions ever!

Isle of Jura teams up with French digger Switch Groove on the next compilation titled ‘Archipelago – Cosmic Fusion Gems from France (1978-1988)’.Switch Groove explains the concept “When I seriously began to search for and collect records, I was mostly interested in sounds from african-american, afro-latin and UK contemporary scenes. Sounds from distant territories, faraway from my native Massif Central, a highland region in the middle of France. The grass is always greener, I guess however, as I was digging in fleamarkets in the early sunday morning light, as well as spending regular sessions in second hands record shops, I began to discover hidden treasures, underground gems and side-projects of an unknown French musical repertoire.French music is often reduced to its most famous musical forms, characters and signatures : French songwriting and voices, 60s yéyé, prog rock concept albums and soundtrack explorations, 80’s indie rock scene or more recently electronic French touch. All these sounds have a common feature : a geographical link, forged on mainland French territory, following the contour of the so-called Hexagone, the border that shapes the grounds for an homogeneous cultural expression. But beyond this showcase lie more complex, hybrid and global French productions. From French Caribbean Antilles to Parisian suburbs - especially during the ‘Sono Mondiale’ era -, in French areas outside urban cultural centers, musicians have created fusion and cosmic musical expressions. As the mid-seventies meant a greater freedom to make and record music, a wider use of electronic instruments like synthesizers and drum machines helped to deliver some magical projects you could only find lost in the middle of cheap records during a sunny record digging session. I selected these tracks, in an attempt to shape an ARCHIPELAGO that highlights significative contributions of African diasporas and ultramarine territories into French musical borders. It is the map of a land I have gradually drawn, thanks to deep listening of amazing cosmic and fusion tunes. I hope you enjoy the journey.”

Neapolitan composer, producer, and keyboardist Giorgio Lopez sets sail on Berlin-based label Cosmic Romance with his “Sud des Îles”. Navigating between 80s-inspired grooves, French boogie, and sun-kissed atmospheres, the record unfolds like a musical travelogue, following fictional skipper Georges Taty and his crew of musicians aboard the sailboat “Sud des Îles”, caught between racing waves, late-night jams, and dockside dreams.From the whirling groove of "Voyager Sans Bouger" to the breezy atmosphere of "Toujours Distante", the eight tracks on Sud des Îles invite listeners to drift away in rhythm and reverie through a songwriting that is both infectious and evocative. Stories of escapes (real or imagined), romantic illusions, and nostalgia-tinted euphoria weave together, propelled by Giorgio Lopez’s arrangements and distinctive keyboard work, as well as by the well-crafted production, carried out together with Executive Producer and label owner Ed Longo.Featuring lead vocals by Stella, Master Phil, Amanda Roldan, and Bernardino Femminielli, together with the “équipage de Sud des Îles” itself - a tight-knit ensemble of acclaimed musicians from Berlin and Naples – “Sud des Îles” is an invitation to ride the waves to a neon-lit night on a faraway island: no passport required.