With its boundary-pushing mix of astral jazz, psychedelic dub and electronica drawn from two decades of club culture, Bristol’s Ishmael Ensemble has blasted beyond the ‘new UK jazz’ tag to carve out its own distinct sonic terrain. 

Formed in 2017 by producer, DJ and saxophonist Pete Cunningham, the collective rose to fame with its acclaimed 2019 debut A State of Flow, a record that combined lush, cinematic compositions with left-field dub and electronic sensibilities. They expanded their sound with soaring strings and guitars on 2021 follow-up Visions of Light, a layered epic that drew rave reviews for its “soft-as-silk touch” (The Guardian).

Released in September 2024, new album Rituals marks another significant leap forward for the band, pushing its sound in scope to incorporate everything from left-field electronics and dub to soul and beyond.

"A freewheeling, dub-heavy, psychedelically tinged vibe."

– Jazzwise

★★★★ "Music that’s pitched somewhere between astral jazz, burbling electronica, trippy minimalism, psychedelic dub and 20 years of club culture."

– The Guardian