Bleep

This new compilation from The Vinyl Factory has not been left without a title simply because no-one could think of anything to call it. Rather, Untitled is a musical tribute to the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, an artist who frequently sent his paintings off into the world without names. Inspired by the Barbican’s recent Basquiat retrospective, a selection of the brightest young British and (mostly) BAME musical talent come together here for a thoughtful and provocative record.

The features list of Untitled is numerous, extensive and varied. Upstart MC Kojey Radical joins forces with modern luminary Shabaka Hutchings; Joe Armon-Jones and Nubya Garcia put their jazz chops up against Mala’s bassweight beatmaking; Maxwell Owin’s neo-soul is given a curious spin by arty loopsmith Coby Sey. Kwake Bass, Lord Tusk, Wu-Lu and AJ Kwame are among the others who pitch in.

While all of these voices could crowd each other out, it is a testament to the health of London’s jazz, electronic and experimental music scenes that everyone here seems to know their way around a collaboration. Take Hutchings’ playing on ‘No Gangster’ - rather than ripping through the track with his vibrant saxophone playing, he instead provides little licks of melody that give colour to the boom-bap-meets-Afrobeats instrumental. Armon-Jones and Garcia do something similar with ‘Scratch & Erase’, their playing gently prodding at Mala’s dark dubstep beat.

Future generations, take note. This new Untitled compilation takes the personal and public power of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art out of the gallery and on to London’s streets.