Cloud Michaels
Cloud michaels

Limited to 1000 copies world wideORB's debut release, remastered for vinyl for the very first timeTransparent orange with brown and white twister effect waxPrinted on heavy 400gsm matte finish sleeve with deluxe embossingComes housed in a hand stamped, 100% recycled custom cardboard sleeve as an alternative to single use shrink wrap What began as three former garage band mates Zak Olsen, Daff Gravolin and Jamie Harmer (The Frowning Clouds) experimenting with a heavier sound, quickly evolved into a project that has been expanding exponentially ever since.From the great enveloping cosmic dark, ORB realised their maiden long player ‘Birth’. A bio-engineered, proto-metal payload of dystopian sci-fi. Electrodes attached by starlight to a petri-dish, allows pathogens to infect pickups and synthesizers to awaken synapses on ORB’s sophomore project; Naturality (2016).Riding the inertia of Naturality, ORB successfully navigated a massive run of international shows, including huge tours of Europe and a US tour with King Gizzard, including an impressive 11 shows in 5 days at Austin’s South by Southwest.Beautiful echoes of the past/warnings of a dark future permeate ORB’s fourth and most recent release ‘Space Between the Planets’ (2018). Fans of their previous releases feel an immediate pay-off with waves of wah and fuzz drenching globular bass lines and the punchiest of rhythms, poignantly struck. ‘Space Between’ sees the ORB sound diversify, a new face/a new phase of their alchemical sonic signal.

Trumpeter and composer Nick Walters returns to 22a with his second album for the label - a free and spiritual journey into avant-garde jazz!'Active Imagination' is the result of the bringing together of musicians for a day in the studio, with minimal rehearsal, to collectively experiment and improvise in the moment - in contrast to the more composed and structured recordings of the Paradox Ensemble album 'Awakening' released on 22a back in January of this year. All musicians contributed their distinctive and individual voices, creating a united force of spiritual, free-form jazz. Each composition is based on a different mode, all with their own unique flavour:‘So Long Chef’ is a nod to jazz legend John Coltrane, with its chords jumping by major thirds, before a more static middle section, offering a chance for Walters and Jeff Guntren (tenor sax) to explore its Lydian mode.‘Ahimsa’ is a meditative reflection and group improvisation, based around a simple theme in the Mixolydian mode, resulting in a spiritual journey steered by Rebecca Nash’s hypnotic piano solo.‘Gordian Knot’ was conceived as a vehicle for Ed Cawthorne (aka Tenderlonious) to cut loose on soprano sax in the Phrygian mode, which he achieves with devastating effect, backed up by Nim Sadot’s infectious bass hook and complimented by an equally striking trumpet solo from the band leader.Finally ‘Dansoman Last Stop’ uses the Dorian mode to channel the spirit of a bustling travel interchange in southern Accra, Ghana. Inspired by Walters journey through West Africa several years ago it features another exquisite trumpet solo from the leading man.This one off session perfectly captures the essence of Walters’ experiences and influences in life. In his first album, ‘Awakening,’ and with this new record, you can hear this is a man at the top of his game, inspired by his life experiences. His playing with West African fusion bands and travelling the world can be felt in each ofthese compositions. He is arguably one of the most sought after and respected musicians in the UK Jazz scene, ‘Active Imagination’ will further enhance those claims!

First release on Melbourne drum and bass label Plasma Audio.