About

Three years on from their debut album ‘Could We Be More’ which peaked at No.30 on the UK Albums Chart and received acclaim from The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times, Jazzwise, CRACK Magazine and Downbeat Magazine, ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ sees the London band with careless abandon expand their wide-ranging palette and influences.

While the afrobeat jazz of their previous work is still a core part of the record’s sonic design, the new album largely pulls from British R&B from the 80s, neo-soul, West African disco, bossa nova, lovers rock and funk. Sonically taking cues from the likes of Loose Ends, Don Blackman, Common, Sly & Robbie, William Onyeabor, Patrice Rushen, Ofori Amponsah and Cymande. Throughout this instinctive evolution, the septet's seasoned musicianship preserves the essence of who Kokoroko are as masterful jazz artisans.

The unveiling of the new album comes alongside the LP’s lead single ‘Sweetie’, a tantalising first taste of the new record that bridges the gap between where the band has been and where they’re going. A tribute to the playful bond between lovers, ‘Sweetie’ is a horn-led and wonky-sounding tune saluting West African disco. It expands upon the band exploring more electronic sounds and toying with obscure drum machine and synth sounds.

‘Sweetie’ marks Kokoroko’s first dose of new music since their EP ‘Get The Message’. Released last November, the project spawned ‘Three Piece Suit’ featuring Azekel - their honouring of Nigerian elders contemplating home, lineage and ancestry in 1960s London.. Upon its release, the EP earned praise from Rolling Stone Africa, Bandcamp Daily, The Fader, YAMS, OkayAfrica, TRENCH, Official Charts, NOTION, CLASH, DMY, Rough Trade and The Stranger. — (via Label)

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The London collective’s second full-length encapsulates just about everything that’s made this nascent wave of UK jazz so endearing and soulful. It’s both an effortless genre-blender, fusing jazz, afrobeat/highlife and neo-soul with intuitive ease and feels quietly radical in its profoundly upbeat and compassionate tone. Like last year’s albums by their peers Ezra Collective and Nubya Garcia, these 11 tracks are celebrations of life; optimistic reminders that, while things may sometimes feel bleak, there’s also radical merit in celebrating our existence. The album title sums it up perfectly.

A restrained, sunset-textured collection of warm delights, Kokoroko do a remarkable job of elegantly under-playing, the kind of understanding that can only be achieved by seasoned musicians. There’s no show-boating or soloing here, just subtle beats and simple keys (“Time and Time”), pretty guitars (“Together We Are”) and spacious funk grooves (“Just Can’t Wait”) that are unfurled with such restrained danceability you feel like Kokoroko are coming up with the finest jams you’ve heard right there in the room with you. — (via Treblezine)

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Label: Brownswood Recordings
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Released: 2025
Genre: Jazz
Style: Afrobeat

File under: Modern / Future Jazz
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