When Ishmael Ensemble first emerged the Bristol group were viewed through a jazz prism. As time has moved on, and their catalogue has expanded, it’s become clear that no one tag will suffice – true freedom music, they can move from dub to neo-soul via fusion in the same track.

This year’s excellent full length ‘Rituals’ was their broadest work to date, an expansive feast of musicality that remained tethered to the club experience.

Live, Ishmael Ensemble are a force to be reckoned with. Embracing improvisation, each performance is distinct, taking their potent sonic brew from Bristol to the world.

CLASH nabbed Ishmael Ensemble founder Pete Cunningham, who sculpted an excellent DJ mix for your listening delectation. A journey through their key influences, it moves from crunchy techno through to low-end abstraction via the odd spot of vintage jazz-funk.

Pete Cunningham introduces the mix by commenting…

“The new album was very much about falling back in love with electronic music, this mix is full of stuff I’ve enjoyed playing in clubs over the last couple of years – some of it is straight up dance music, some of it leans more towards jazz but it’s this blurring of the lines that I enjoy most when DJing – all of it is music to dance to, and for me that’s all that matters.”

Tune in now.

Tracklist:
Surgeon’s Girl – Clouded Temper
Nathan Fake – The Sky Was Pink (Holden Remix)
Pangaea – Hole Away
Surusinghe – Bad Girls
Debba – Just Wanna
OHARA – Green Lights In The Fog
Benton – Primal Pads
Cosmin TRG – Broken Heart (Martyn’s DCM Remix)
Lamont – Dope
Emma-Jean Thackray – Venus (Black Science Orchestra Remix)
Gil Scott Heron – The Bottle (edit)
MCDE – Raw Cuts #5
Moses Boyd – Rye Lane Shuffle
Jazztronik – Samurai

Photo Credit: Giulia Spadafora