The Breakdown
The latest compilation from the artist-produced mix series, Late Night Tales, has been curated by multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer Jordan Rakei. Rakei’s edition marks the first release of Late Night Tales’ 20th year, with Fila Brazillia in 2001 serving up the first of many mixes for music connoisseurs the world over. Subsequent compilations were released by artists including The Flaming Lips, Floating Points, David Holmes, Bonobo, Jon Hopkins, Röyksopp and more.
With the New Zealand-Australian soul extraordinaire at the helm, this offering sees an effortless blend of jazz and hip-hop woven into a selection of handpicked tracks. Exclusive to this particular collection is a cover of Jeff Buckley’s Lover, You Should’ve Come Over. Rakei’s wonderfully layered sound is testament to his talent as a gifted songwriter.
Rakei explains that there was so much involved in the song choice than just a random collection of artists. Many selections have a personal connection. “I wanted to try and showcase as many people as I knew on this mix,” says Rakei. “The main idea was to create a certain atmosphere, but also to help some of my favourite collaborators and buddies to give their songs a little push out into the world.”
The result is a register of artists counted as good personal friends and key influences whom Rakei either grew up with, collaborated with – or both. Included are talents such as English DJ Fink, Canadian R&B singer Charlotte Day Wilson, Australian alt rockers Moreton, and Scottish composer C Duncan.
“My idea of Late Night Tales was to distil a series of relaxing moments; the whole conceptual sonic of relaxation.” – Jordan Takei.
The collective narrative of the 17 tracks flows as a relaxing, meditative soundscape – at times kooky and chaotic, then soulfully therapeutic. A standout is definitely Rakei’s own, rainy rendition of Jeff Buckley’s Lover, You Should’ve Come Over.
Rakei made the move from Brisbane to the UK in 2015, where he released his debut album, Cloak, with Australian label Soul Has No Tempo. His two subsequent LPs, Wallflower and Origin, came out via Ninja Tune. The former title landed the #2 spot in Gilles Peterson’s Album Of The Year worldwide poll, while Origin was nominated for Best Album at the AIM Awards.
Listen to Late Night Tales: Jordan Rakei here
[…] single Holding On – a sweetly reflective indie-soul track, mixed by London-based Jim Macrae (Jordan Rakei, Leifur James, Arjuna Oaks) and mastered by Bravo Bonez at Wellington’s PureSound Studios. […]