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ALBF-7003 | 2017-12-01  
The Expansions are probably one of the most important bands in London, that you don't know about... Not least, for propping up small labels with their collective vinyl-buying habits.

When they self released their first single in 2013, the laid-back jazz funk of Lavender, it quickly gained strong support from soul and rare-groove aficionados including Kenny Dope, Dom Servini, Patrick Forge and Andy Smith. A run of shows followed and before long, when someone was asking if there was a soul-jazz band around to play with, "The Expansions" was the answer.

Although this popularity meant a bit of a hiatus in releasing music, the band have been constantly busy, playing around Europe with legendary British-Ghanaian soul singer, Andrew Ashong and the exceptional, upcoming talent Connie Constance.

There has also been a breakout project from drummer Jonny Drop - the album Sub Plot gained massive support and love from BBC Radio 6 Music's Lauren Laverne. While keys-man Dave Koor has been busy playing shows with Gilles Peterson favourite Hector Plimmer, improvising with Yussef Dayes (Yussef Kamaal) and Nubya Garcia, releasing music as Deoke and collaborating with label-mate Scrimshire on their Modified Man exploration.

But always, The Expansions has remained a central focus and the true home of these four jazz and soul lovers, with occasional trips out to the country to form ideas and practice new music for the eventual album.

As Jonny Drop says:

"Conceived in a barn somewhere deep in suffolk, and as the title suggests, Breakthrough was a revelation in the bands writing process. A hybrid of Jazz Funk with a positively hip hop backbone, Breakthrough represents a moment for us where we felt we had much clearer direction with our writing."

The forthcoming album, recorded at Big Noise in Southend, is constructed of single takes, with minimal overdubs, as the band attempt to capture the feeling and energy they create live. The original eight-minute album version of Breakthrough is no exception. But sensing how infectious the melody and vibe was, and knowing an edit wouldn't do justice to the music, they returned to the live room discussed their "edit" and after a few run throughs, grabbed this unique 7" Version.

You can hear the influences of Idris Muhammad, Grover Washington, Herbie Hancock, and even parallels with South London peers Yussef Kamaal and Ruby Rushton. But The Expansions have tirelessly worked to create a sound of their own and are very proud, along with label Albert's Favourites, to finally share it.

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