THE ETERNAL NOW - INDIES VERSION by CHIP WICKHAM

Indies only version - Black Limited Edition BioVinyl LP, with foiled artwork on coated board sleeve, packed in a resealable protective bag

Saxophonist, flautist and producer Chip Wickham casts a formidable shadow across the UK jazz landscape. Originally from Brighton, Chip Wickham first came to prominence in the UK breakbeat scene playing with the likes of Rae & Christian, The Pharcyde, Nightmares On Wax and Graham Massey. But at heart Chip has always been a jazz musician (he played on Matthew Halsall’s debut album Sending My Love in 2008 beginning a relationship with Gondwana Records that now spans 17 years) and now dividing his time between the UK, Spain and the Middle-East, he has made a name for himself with a series of beautifully crafted solo albums that draw equally on hard swinging spiritual jazz, the classic sounds of 60s British jazz and the more contemporary sounds of artists such as Jazzanova, The Cinematic Orchestra and Nicola Conte.

‘The Eternal Now’ is Chip’s fourth release for Gondwana Records and follows his EP of Lonnie Liston Smith covers, Astral Traveling, soulful hardbop longplayer Cloud 10 (both released in 2022) and the gorgeous melancholic four-tracker Love & Life (released in 2023). A beautifully crafted record, ‘The Eternal Now’ is Chip’s most progressive recording to date and represents a heartfelt ode to submitting oneself to the practice of creating art, and the freedom that’s derived from letting go.

On ‘The Eternal Now’ Chip has collaborated with two mainstays of the Manchester scene, legendary drummer Luke Flowers of The Cinematic Orchestra and well-loved bass-player Sneaky who played on Mr Scruff’s classic Keep it Unreal. Largely flute-led it’s his most rhythm heavy offering to date taking the listener on an expansive journey that touches on the influences of Lonnie Liston Smith, Sven Wunder, David Axelrod and even library music as Chip pushes his sound into exciting new spaces without ever losing the soulful groove and heartfelt melodies that make his music so loved. Co-produced by Matthew Halsall, the album also marks the first time that Chip has worked with renowned mix-engineer Greg Freeman (Matthew Halsall, Portico Quartet and Hania Rani among others) as Chip explores a more contemporary sound.

Opening with the rolling hand percussion and floating notes of ‘Drifting’, the record quickly finds its footing, and dives headfirst into a propulsive and splashy rhythm section. A tasteful drum fill ushers in the commencement of second single ‘Nara Black’, which features the sultry vocals of Peach, whose dreamlike lyrics intertwine with uplifting flute motifs and sweeping strings. The album’s title track is up next, channeling curious and alluring melodies through a swirling portal of sound. ‘Lost Souls’ is a restful and nourishing track, giving time for the spirit to breathe amidst rich woodwinds and soulful shakers. On ‘No Turning Back’ pensive atmospheres ease into torrents of melody, twisting like the banks of a great river. ‘The Road Less Travelled’ finds wandering keys traverse vast undulating expanses of sound, before ‘Falling Deep’s’ winding motifs beckon the listener to venture deeper within. Penultimate track ‘Ikigai’ (translating to ‘a reason for being’) harnesses a potent moment of beauty, as spectral flute dances amongst lush strings before the flourishes of ‘Outside’ bring the album to a poignant close.

A captivating and emotive listen, ‘The Eternal Now’ sees Chip at the top of his game, creating an other-worldly dreamscape with enchanting sound. He says ‘This album is about giving lost souls a home, falling deep in love with the mspiritual joy of music and making something that will last like a Japanese tattoo made with Nara Black ink. Giving me balance and flow in life, my Ikigai.’

Pressed on high quality black BioVinyl at Optimal in Germany for maximum sound quality.

Tracklisting:
A1. Drifting
A2. Nara Black
A3. The Eternal Now
A4. Lost Souls
B1. No Turning Back
B2. The Road Less Travelled
B3. Falling Deep
B4. Ikigai
B5. Outside