Kokoroko : Tuff Times Never Last
How apt to be writing about Kokoroko’s new sun-kissed Afro-jazz banger on the hottest day of the year here in the UK. We don’t get lengthy periods of sun and warmth that much on this wet, windy island. However, right now, we’re experiencing a rare extended period of truly glorious sunshine, the kind that will probably drive us all crazy and ignite riots, as happens alarmingly frequently during British heatwaves.
Cynicism begone! The sun is out, the vibe is high and Kokoroko have this gorgeous new record to dive head-first into. Although the spectacular recent development of the UK jazz scene has been much acclaimed (check out this fantastic book if you’re interesting in knowing more about it and the wider genre), over the last year or two its incredible exponential development has cooled just a little bit, in spite of some great new releases this year from scene big-hitters like Emma-Jean Thackray, Joe-Armon Jones and now Kokoroko.
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.
This (carefully disguised) sense of spontaneity is best viewed through the band’s approach to song structuring. In the best way possible, Tuff Times Never Last just sort-of happens. No track utilizes anything close to familiar pop structuring, yet they also all feel completely instinctual and engrossing. “Sweetie” features pretty much the same vocal line being repeated over and over again, while “My Father In Heaven” is a rapturous vocals and keys-only stunner that feels like you’re being gently carried up towards the heavenly realms.
It may seem a bit hyperbolic, but this is an album that everyone needs in their life right now, even for just a brief period of (summer) time. It’ll pacify your soul and make you feel like you’re at an all-time great house party; Kokoroko are in full flow in the garden, the beers are flowing and the BBQ is smelling divine, your friends and family are all here, dancing underneath the summer sun as it sets over the distant London skyline.
Label: Brownswood
Year: 2025
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Kokoroko : Tuff Times Never Last
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