Maisha - Open the Gates

London seven-piece Maisha return with new single Open The Gates, a 16-minute epic that draws deep rhythmic and musical tangents out of a simple melody and bassline. It comes backed with a beautiful live recording of Osiris (taken from 2018 album There Is A Place), where the band amp up the original’s energy even higher, the track’s lyrical refrain pushed to maximum effect. Released on Brownswood Recordings, the record is manufactured in partnership with The Vinyl Factory, who will be pressing it on 100% recycled vinyl.

The recording of Osiris is taken from the band’s final show of 2019, in Lille, and sees bandleader Jake Long joined by the original line-up from the album sessions – Amané Suganami, Twm Dylan, Tim Doyle, Yahael Camara-Onono, Shirley Tetteh and Nubya Garcia (plus the bonus addition of regular band member Al MacSween on organ). It followed a heavy period of touring where they played sell out shows and festivals across the world. This included a series of shows with legendary saxophonist Gary Bartz, where they played a headline slot at Gilles Peterson’s debut We Out Here Festival and a show at Royal Festival Hall for the 2019 London Jazz Festival.

These two new recordings pay tribute to the group’s evolving make-up and style. On Open The Gates, regular touring band members Binker Golding and Tamar Osborn were in the studio, bringing their unique styles to the recording. While the live version of Osiris is a document of how the way they play the song has grown and changed as they’ve toured and switched up the line-up.