Josh Cohen - We Are Home [T.Sound 004]

Scheduled for release on September 25th, 2k26 via the Canadian T.Sound imprint is "We Are Home", the latest album outing by bass player and composer Josh Cohen. Usually focusing on extensive and intricate solo bass techniques Cohen switches things up - not only a little but a lot - for his new longplayer and acts as the lead figure of a five, on two tracks even six piece ensemble and fully embeds his instrument in this extended and expansed setting over the course of eight pieces and roughly 53 minutes. With the opener "Supernueve" the group lays out a path of groove driven Jazz fusion tracks featuring extensive electric guitar solo rides as well as beautiful piano lines and dense, slightly 80s informed arrangements whereas "Five On The Floor" follows up with a more intricate musical setting, long build ups and ethereal, almost Trance-like key pads and overall Dancefloor Jazz vibes, yet presents a raw and slighty unhinged edge towards the end, especially when seen in contrast to the beautiful and intricately meandering piano intro and almost psychedelic guitars of "Next Steps" before the group explores a deeper, inward looking late night vision of mostly solo piano led Jazz with the aptly titled "Newborn". Furthermore we see the "Operation Mexi-Can" bringing forth a bit of an 80s-infused and surely summer sun soaked Jazz Funk vibe once again followed by "Inner Embrace" and its tender full on late night romanticism whilst "Elevate" earns the title of the most uplifting and, in the best of all possible meanings, easy and genuinely unbothered cuts on this album whereas the closing cut named "My Lima" waves goodbye on an almost krautsy and enchanted tip before building up towards an electric guitar-driven climax and finally riding out an intricate array of interweaving melodies towards the very end. One for the dedicated collector of Jazz Fusion sounds.