James Knight & The Butlers
Black Knight

Absolute classic.

Surely one of the all-time greats of instrumental reggae reveries, Ernest Ranglin is widely adored for a very good reason. He was there at the very beginning, and stayed relevant throughout successive decades of Jamaican music. In 1982, Ranglin teamed up with the mighty Noel Williams in Florida and recorded a sweet cover of The Dramatics' R&B classic, 'In The Rain'. It's a heady, dreamy version with a sumptuous, widescreen sound, as romantic and immersive as the original version was and this is the first time ever on a 45. But that's not all - on the flip, as played by Gilles Peterson Mukatsuku gets busy with a frankly stunning dub which loops up flute licks in a masterful manner.

'Spirit Reflection' is the third album LP from Los Angeles singer-songwriterGaby Hernandez. Blissful layers of instrumentation, electronics, vocal harmonies and folkloric percussion intertwine with west coast feel to create aunique, beautiful and multi-layered album.The album features a stellar line-up of LA talent, jazz star Kamasi Washington, Stuart Howard (AKA Lapalux), Kelis and Gaslamp killer collaborator Dexter Story, plus Ninja Tune, Plug Research and Soul Jazz artist Carlos Niño, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Gabriel Reyes-Whittaker all accompany Gaby, with stunning results. Even before Spirit Reflection had been finished, the demo mixes caught the ear and gained support from Gilles Peterson, Lefto, Toshio Matsuura (U.F.O.) and JRocc (Beat Junkies). Born, raised and based in Los Angeles and of Chilean descent, Gaby Hernandez has been writing and recording since 2001. She was a founding member of the 'creative music ensemble' Build An Ark alongside others including Carlos Niño, Dexter Story and Dwight Trible.Gaby was the only vocalist on Teebs' debut Brainfeeder release Ardour. She made major contributions to AmmonContact's Ninja Tune releases New Birth and With Voices, plus The Life Force Trio's Plug Research album Living Room. She was also the vocalist on Dimlite's Outernational Duet - released as part of his highly acclaimed Sonar Kollektiv longplayer This Is Embracing.Hernandez was invited by Mia Doi Todd to sing on the Jonathan Wilson produced song Canto de Iemanja, which was included on Todd's City Zen record Cosmic Ocean Ship and the Red Hot + Rio 2 compilation, which also featured Beck, Seu Jorge, Aloe Blacc, David Byrne and Madlib. Among her main musical comrades is the prolific multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Dexter Story, for whom Hernandez sang on the track Water Bearer from his LP Seasons, on Kindred Spirits. David and Graham from Mr Bongo met Gaby and Carlos Nino at the end of their hugely successful Arthur Verocai album launch and rare record sale at the RAPPCATS venue in LA. Gaby and Carlos passed us a copy of 'Spirit Reflection'.and we put it on the deck. It immediately grabbed us and we couldn't stop listening to it. When we got back to the UK we got in contact straight away and signed the album. We're very proud to be releasing it'... ...this is a future classic, an 'album' in the truest sense of the word. Brilliant.' says Graham.

Obviously to attempt a cover of classic only works if you go down a different route with the track, the idea came from talking good lovers covers with friends, much to my surprise there was no ‘Date With The Rain’ cover which felt like it would have been perfect (someone please correct me and send me a copy if there is one). I had been chatting to lovers legend Peter Hunnigale often during the making of ‘For The Love Of You’ compilation and asked him if he would be up for doing a vocal on a cover, and he said yes, so we got to work, hope you like the result.