I write this as a huge thanks to Fergus Jones and everyone who unified with him to make his new album Ephemera (out now on Numbers) a sonic reality! I’m transfixed by the frequencies that make up every second of this audio event. What strikes me right away about Ephemera is how Dub flows through all of the compositions while crashing up against everything good that I always loved about Trip Hop. As I take in the tune “It Should Be (Free)” with Huerco S., I can’t help but think about the first time I heard Alpha’s “Somewhere Not Here,” and how the world looked brighter with each listen. Fergus Junes has manifested an album that is rooted in Transcendental Bass music, but is willing to point us all to our futures and beyond. No matter who you are, trauma is something we all encounter, and sometimes you need music to uplift and ground you in a sense of self, which is what happens to me as listen to “Heima” with Huerco S. and James K. Fergus Jones also knows the power of creative unity, which is why has brought together his creative comrades to contribute to Ephemera, and at no time do his collaborations sound forced. The song “Tight Knit” features 3 unreal MCs that float on the track: Birthmark, ELDON, and Withdrawn. As I walked through the streets of Brixton in the early 2000’s, I hoped that one day I would experience such an amazing record as this. I want to give a HUGE shout-out to everyone who made this album possible: Huerco S, James K, Koreless, Birthmark, ELDON and Withdrawn of Bristol’s Cold Light crew, Laila Sakini, and Lia T. To Fergus, I want you to know that I will forever be a fan of Ephemera.
“This album was made over the last five years in various studio and outdoor locations around the world, reflecting my ongoing emphasis on natural collaboration as a creative ideal. It’s my most personal record yet, written with experimentation and an open attitude as guiding lights.” – Fergus Jones
