From jazz to soul, from downbeat to outright pop, this Bristol soul boy is cooking up essential new music.
Five years have passed since Pete Josef’s debut album “Colour” caused a sensation worldwide amongst music lovers and critics alike. Since then, it’s hardly surprising that his steadily increasing fanbase have been awaiting its follow up impatiently. “I Rise With The Birds” will be released in October on Sonar Kollektiv and one can say without doubt that the wait was worth it.
The album’s ten tracks offer gold until the last note of music, and an hour of food for thought about life’s ups and downs.
The blue-eyed soul singer from Bristol has come to be a well-respected multi-instrumentalist and producer over the years merging jazz, soul, pop, and electronic music and collaborating with Manu Delago, Rag’n’Bone Man and Roni Size, among others.
Taking all the production reins himself, he brings in long-time Bristol collaborators John Pratt and Ben Plocki (saxes), Nick Malcolm and Gary Alesbrook (trumpets), Rory Francis and Justin Fellows (drums, percussion), Roshan ‘Tosh’ Wijetunge (double bass), Luke ‘Typesun’ Harney (drums) and of course the voice of honey that so compliments Josef’s vocal on ‘Colour’ and beyond, Marie Lister.
Most featured perhaps are Barney Sage (drum kit); the rhythmic backbone behind six of the ten tracks, and the virtuosic Austrian string players that provide so many highlights throughout; Bernie Mallinger (Violin, Viola) and Clemens Sainitzer (Cello). Notable contributions also come from new-found musical inspirations, Blythe Peppino (vocals), Bill Banwell (bass) and Miguel Andrews (drums).
The result is a work of utterly beautiful, layered compositions with lush orchestral arrangements, subtle electronic textures, and heartfelt performances.
There is a broad and grand sense of scale to these songs, but they never lose the intimacy or devotion we’ve come to expect from Pete Josef.
