Earlier in 2024 the band - also featuring trumpeter Nick Walters, pianist/ composer Aidan Shepherd and drummer Tim Carnegie - were invited to Mykonos as part of a collaboration between Maera Music and 22a, which allowed the band to spend a few days writing and recording some new music. It was an opportunity for the quartet to spend some time together in a secluded hillside villa without any distractions and ultimately kick start the writing process for a long overdue album. 'Stapodia', named after an isolated island off Mykonos, begins with an infectious downtempo groove in 4/4 accompanied by a catchy horn riff, which leads us to a distinctive Ruby Rushton time signature change - a strident 5/4 beat with punchy horn lines and soaring sax and trumpet solos. These build to a virtuosic drum breakdown, before taking us back to the head of the tune and fnishing with a snappy ending. 'Kalo Livadi', which is also named after a local Mykonian landmark, begins at a frenetic pace and instantly pulls the listener into a kaleidoscopic soundscape of futes, trumpets, synth bass and drums before ending abruptly and slowing down to a hypnotic hip hop groove, which sets the scene for a tasty keys solo. But just as you were getting comfortable the drums pick up the pace again and the band deliver some quick-fre flute and trumpet solos in a classic hard bop style, before settling back into a lazy Dilla'esque groove. If this is a taster for things to come, then roll on 2025!