On Lock: Jonny Faith

Some welcome additional copies have landed after the first pressing of this jungle funk EP virtually vanished on arrival. With music from his broken beat/hip hop EP Night Lights finding its way into Grand Theft Auto and best of 2020 lists including Gilles Peterson's, Melbourne-based Jonny Faith has taken a surprising turn with an EP of jungle/D&B. But love from Rene LaVice, Hospital, Rupture, Fokuz, Skankandbass and Data Transmission shows him being welcomed by the scene while continuing to get support from broader funk and dance figures like Huey Morgan, Red Rack'em, Bandcamp Weekly, Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts) and Bolting Bits.

The EP is stacked with four killers, each with their own flavour. The massive 'Open My Eyes' is northern jungle soul, owing as much to Amerie's '1 Thing' and Just Blaze's chipmunk soul beats as it does to Peshay and Coco Bryce. The 'Stay in Your Lane' remix sees Jonny rework his own boom bap tune with slinky soulful rap and hooks of US MC Lady K. 'Create' then spaces things out just a touch, with atmospheric but propulsive drumfunk. Vinyl bonus track 'Nuthin' But a Jungle Thang' layers cascading amen breaks, time stretched vocals and a storming double bass-line over the wah guitars and synth whistling of a G-funk era classic.

The HF021VLTD edition comes with 'Nuthin' But a Jungle Thang' die-cut felt sleeve insert (in assorted colours), with Heard and Felt embroidered fabric tag.