released: september 25th, 2026
genre: ambient / electronic
from: manchester, uk
label: dais records
a few thoughts: space afrika have been at the forefront of some of the most exciting electronic music coming out of the greater manchester area for almost a decade now. the duo, consisting of joshua tarelle reid and joshua inyang, create these gorgeous, often meditative and sometimes melancholic soundscapes that capture, as they describe it, “notions of identity, around class and diaspora, and how that is represented across musical genres”. their 2021 album honest labour did that to perfection, creating these stunning compositions that are contrasted with punchy, rhythmic moments, sequenced in a way that feels very cinematic. a quiet storm feels more subdued by comparison, but with an equally striking and emphatic sound that feels intimate from start to finish. from the stunning 8-minute opener “vanity”, featuring operatic vocals from axelle fanyo to the overwhelming closer “regards”, the album meanders between stunning, emotive synth-led compositions, and cinematic, piano-led pieces, along with some really talented artists. “crying never had a voice ~” features sublime vocals from vanessa bedouret, while there is something beautifully haunting about “from the heart of knowing” featuring alto aria. the album starts off in a really transcendent way. after the reflective and empowering “ballad for a ‘g’” featuring rxknephew and klein and the brief “black and gold”, the album dives into the overwhelming and overpowering beauty of “h00d ambient”, another absolutely stunning piece. “validation” featuring a reflection on validation, why we seek it, and why we shouldn’t. “mln” featuring tony njoku is one of my favourites on the album, with gorgeous string arrangements and tony’s ever soulful and soothing voice. kiala ogawa’s vocals on “pretty gospel” are mesmerising, while deuén’s stream of consciousness energy and flow on “if this is hell” make it one of the more dynamic moments on the album, with an infectious drum loop that drives the groove of the track. “regards” closes the album out with a stunning synth and piano-led piece that feels somewhat melancholic, but with a hypnotic, meditative feeling that is also calming and reassuring. a quiet storm is another exemplary album from space afrika, who just continue creating mesmerising, captivating music that capture the energy of diasporic manchester.
