Calabashed is a band consisting of Idehen and Alabaster DePlume, with the help of a considerable cast of collaborators from the network of brilliant artists that surrounds the Total Refreshment Centre in Dalston.
Recorded at the creative hub, rehearsal space and former gig venue, their debut EP Behold A Black Wave is out via Purple City on September 4, and enlists Maria Osuchowska, Donna Thompson, James Howard and Raimund Wong, and is produced by Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming).
Above you can hear a taste of that EP, the absolutely wonderful ‘Ode To Jazzman John Clarke’ which uses a colourful flurry of different textures and styles to energising and inspirational effect, and is named for the
much-loved London jazz poet who died in 2018.
“Maria has the biggest harp you’ve ever seen. It had fx pedals built in," says Idehen of recording sessions. "Raimund with a tape deck in the corner, Alabaster playing sax sideways, Donna whistling, James playing several bass riffs. All this went on for hours whilst I was in the control room providing guide vocals.”
Behold A Black Wave by Calabashed is out on September 4 via Purple City. You can pre-order it here
