Album Review: William ''NuJazz'' Doran aka Chongo - Visions in Non-Retrograde

Visions in Non-Retrograde is the new album by brilliant, multi-instrumentalist William 'NuJazz' Doran released on the Berlin-based Cosmic Compositions label, showcasing his jazzy take on Latin American rhythms. Hearing the album prior knowing anything about the artist, this 8-track EP is like an effortless, soothing journey to the land of slinky samba, lush beats and breezy, luring vocals that go on and on till the next rising of the sun. It's a vivid Bossa-Nova piece with modern, avant-garde touches.

I couldn't find much about Chongo, so I asked him to do a short interview (coming soon) and tell me more about his unique approach to music, specifically Free Jazz, which explains many of the quirky sounds and arrangements. After his brief introduction, I felt grateful to have discovered this multi-dimensional roamer.

The intro song "Cosmic Output" lays out the velvety carpet of harmonic keys, drums, vocals and horns that we're invited to dance or just unwind on. "Sempre em meu coração" and "Chrissi Bossa" are more mellow, lounge songs with soft vocals and hums.

"Vai Siempre" is the first upbeat, more dance oriented track. It is like an adventure seeker and flows energetically into the deep housy, soul jazz "Defao A2" with hypnotising repetitive chants and liquid bassline.

We can notice the experimental, DIY sound of Chongo most explicitly in "Still 1984" where he adds more of the quirky analog machine sounds, new melodic patterns and even styles (I could hear bits of R&B, Funk, Soul, 80s synth and pure ambience). Like someone on bandcamp commented: ''a human soul trapped in a box accompanying the machines. Aural satisfaction of the highest measure.'' The lyrics are quite like a love ode but in a more spirited way whereas ''Lulu's Bossa'' is a passionate, playful praise of togetherness.

All those emotions come to celebrate finally arriving ''to find'' each other in "Super Rio" - a majestic symphony that builds up and then softly touches earth again to continue on the next trip ''to the stars''.

In musical theory a non-retrograde rhythm is a pattern of note durations that is read or performed the same way either forwards or backwards. To me it is like a metaphor of the unity, equality and absolute order in everything.

Please support the artist by sharing or buying (pay as much as you can afford) his album and check out the upcoming interview with the guy forming a new free jazz scene in South London.