released: june 13, 2025

genre: jazz

from: london, uk

label: aquarii records

a few thoughts: the talented pianist has released his second album of the year, and the follow up to all the quiet (part i). the double album is a rich and immersive body of work that combines lush and colourful moments through incredible piano solos, intricate drumming and stunning wind instrumentation, with more mellow and reflective moments that capture the melancholia and angst of today’s world. all the quiet (part ii) is noticeably darker than its predecessor. “acknowledgement is key” is an intricate and lush track that kicks the album out poignantly, with a reflective spoken word piece from hak baker, who proclaims “this is my journey and i cannot save a fucking soul, not even myself, the acknowledgment is key”. in a way, this album is about surrendering to the bullshit around us, the destruction, the chaos. or at least acknowledging it and working towards building new alternative futures. the growling basslines of “lavender”, as well as the slow-paced energy make it a reflective listen, while on “westmoreland”, asheber’s smooth vocals are reflective on love and the state of the world as he sees it. “psr orchestra” is a colourful piece, with angelic synths and a welcome lightness to it. the groovy piano melody on “paladin of sound & circumstance” is one of the highlights on the album, with a rhythmic energy that is just incredibly infectious from start to finish. “another place” featuring greentea peng and wu-lu has this incredibly infectious drum and bass-led groove, with stunning vocals and verse from both features that capture this emotive and emphatic energy, combined with joe’s intricate composition. there’s a moodiness and unsettling nature about the grooves of “war transmission”, as they perfectly capture the energy of a world in disarray. the wind composition on “505 standby” is stunning, while the upbeat “journey south” is a colourful and beautiful composition with a lot of life and infectious energy. “one way traffic” featuring yazmin lacey is another gorgeous track, with stunning piano and bass-led grooves, and vocals that are as sweet as honey. the drumming and the pockets of groovy goodness makes this such a beautiful track, and one which closes the album out beautifully. all the quiet (part ii) is an excellent album that completes his ambitious vision for an apocalyptic and disorienting body of work.

the album: