Alexander IV returns to the musical pot where the Dutch producer, multi-instrumentalist and beat-maker Joris Feiertag presides as head 'Alchemist' on this new 13 track album.
We said in the review of the singles, ' Touch of Gold' / 'All I Have to Say' (see HERE) that those for a mix of Mr. Scruff, Kruder & Dorfmeister, SAULT and perhaps to a lesser degree, upstarts like Emile & The Education's 'Lamad' (see review HERE) or indeed as Joris' other alter-ego Feiertag (see HERE), you can see why his alchemy covers such a range.
And in doing so, the album includes lots of guests "incredients", like the soulful 'This Won’t Do' featuring Cézanne, 'Now, Pause…' (Ursula Rucker, she of original Jazzanova 'In-Between' album: see HERE) another old friend, flute gang regular Pete Josef on the Afrobeat electro-jazz-dub-funker, 'Long Way From Home'.
And just to prove he's got a long range, out of nowhere British vocalist Oli Hannaford turns up on the beautiful, 'Time Of Day' as a Bill Withers does old-skool bossa nova to a Spanish guitar loop; there's your summer radio hit.
'Touch of Gold' opens and sets the tone for the album with it's "cinematic jazz sample, a head-fake of an intro, and a signature beat flip that balances elegance with grit" Joris says, “I absolutely loved making this track and it came together quickly and naturally”.
You'll recall we said 'All I Have To Say' gives in another dusting down of Mr.Scruff's / Moondog's song 'Lament I, 'Bird's Lament' / 'Get A Move On' which is where 'All I Have To Say' comes in as "a smoky, late-night instrumental that fuses dusty jazz textures with Dilla-inspired swing". Sitting somewhere between Roy Hargrove and J Dilla in a seedy Soho basement, it’s a raw, reflective track that continues the album’s jazz and hip-hop conversation".
'Bop' pumps it up in the hip-hop jazz club a la mode a go-go and would you believe 'La Parisienne' is similar mix of slo-mo Paris-Nice spring classic jazz and The French Connection.
So expect lots more alchemy with the album as this is going to be so "Hoxton to Berlin to We Jazz" as more Mr.Scruff, more Gilles Peterson, more Will Sumsuch and even more Gerry Hectic!
BUY LINK: https://sonarkollektiv.lnk.to/Alchemist
Artist: Alexander IV
Title: Alchemist
Release date: 27th March, 2026
Label : Sonar Kollektiv
Catalog Number : SK545 LP
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
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