Endlessness (Warp)
Nala Sinephro
Released September 2024
NPR Music Best Albums of 2024
AllMusic Favorite Jazz Albums 2024
Jazziz Critics’ Picks 2024
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ktVJqWV32-rmct0pB-aCF6vu4lk85lWI0
Spotify:
About:
Endlessness’ is a deep dive into the cycle of existence. The 45-minute album delicately spans 10 tracks with a continuous arpeggio playing throughout, creating an expansive, mesmerising celebration of life cycles and rebirth. Following Sinephro’s critically acclaimed 2021 debut album ‘Space 1.8’, ‘Endlessness’ further elevates her as a transcendent and multi-dimensional composer, beautifully morphing jazz, orchestral, and electronic music. Performing on the album are Sheila Maurice-Grey, Morgan Simpson, James Mollison, Lyle Barton, Nubya Garcia, Natcyet Wakili, and Dwayne Kilvington, joined by Orchestrate’s 21 string players.
Track Listing:
1. Continuum 1 (Nala Sinephro) 07:13
2. Continuum 2 (Nala Sinephro) 07:01
3. Continuum 3 (Nala Sinephro) 04:07
4. Continuum 4 (Nala Sinephro) 02:30
5. Continuum 5 (Nala Sinephro) 01:26
6. Continuum 6 (Nala Sinephro) 04:34
7. Continuum 7 (Nala Sinephro) 04:05
8. Continuum 8 (Nala Sinephro) 04:10
9. Continuum 9 (Nala Sinephro) 03:20
10. Continuum 10 (Nala Sinephro) 06:53
Personnel:
Continuum 1
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Modular Synths, Synthesizer) James Mollison (Saxophone), Morgan Simpson (Drums)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David and Nala Sinephro
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 2
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Modular Synths, Synthesizer, Harp), Sheila Maurice-Grey (Flugelhorn), Nubya Garcia (Saxophone), Lyle Barton (Piano), Natcyet Wakili (Drums), Additional Composing by Wonky Logic
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David and Nala Sinephro
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 3
Performed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizer, Harp), Lyle Barton (Synthesizer Lead)
Composed, Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded by Nala Sinephro and Rick David
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 4
Performed, Produced, Recorded by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizer, Piano)
Additional Bass Sample by Alice Sinephro
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 5
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizer, Modular Synths), Nubya Garcia (Saxophone)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded by Nala Sinephro and Rick David
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 6
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizer), Nubya Garcia (Saxophone), Lyle Barton (Synthesizer Chords), Natcyet Wakili (Drums)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David and Nala Sinephro
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 7
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizer), Lyle Barton (Synthesizer Lead)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David and Nala Sinephro
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 8
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizer, Modular Synths), Sheila Maurice-Grey (Trumpet), Lyle Barton (Synthesizer Lead), Wonky Logic (Synth Bass), Natcyet Wakili (Drums)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David, Nala Sinephro, First Section Recorded by Marc Broer, Vera Kraaijkamp
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 9
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizers), James Mollison (Saxophone), Lyle Barton (Synthesizer Lead)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Continuum 10
Performed, Composed by Nala Sinephro (Synthesizers, Piano), Wonky Logic (Synth Bass), Natcyet Wakili (Drums)
Produced by Nala Sinephro
Recorded, Engineered by Rick David and Nala Sinephro
Mixed by Nala Sinephro
Painting by Daniela Yohannes
Design by Maziyar Pahlevan
Review:
Harpist Sinephro deepens her artistic exploration with Endlessness. Her visionary second album merges spiritual jazz with ambient soundscapes, blending traditional instrumentation with ultra-modern production techniques. Despite its intricate nature, the album maintains a sense of openness, drawing inspiration from Afrofuturism, life cycles and natural patterns. Comparisons to Pharoah Sanders’ Karma and the legendary saxophonist’s collaboration with Floating Points, Promises, are well-earned; all three works share a similarly adventurous spirit. Like Promises, Endlessness centers on a shifting arpeggio, flowing through 10 interconnected movements of a cohesive “Continuum.” Encompassing a wide emotional spectrum and balancing soaring mystical moments with more chaotic passages, Sinephro creates a rich, atmospheric soundscape and narrative throughline that is among the most compelling and exciting in recent memory.
Matt Micucci (Jazziz)
