Reframed EP
Pieces of a Man
Released: 18 Aug 2020
Label: Tru Thoughts
“Reframed EP” is the new release from Mancunian soul collective – Pieces of a Man. Following on from the success of their debut album ‘Made In Pieces’ – that was produced by electronic mastermind Zed Bias and praised by the likes of Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Cerys Matthews (BBC 6Music) and Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) – “Reframed” combines self-made remixes of album tracks, with a host of collaborations and cover songs.
Since their debut LP the band have been fine-tuning their stellar live performance, with standout shows at 80 Hertz Studio, Sofar Sounds and headlining Band on the Wall in Manchester – all of which have fed into the construction of this release. “Reframed EP” re-explores and re-imagines the rich, layered and organic materials presented on “Made In Pieces”, pushing the music in new and exciting directions:
“The approach was really a question of deconstruction rather than construction; what could we leave out and which parts can we highlight? It was great to just take a few ideas, condense them, and magnify their impact”, band-leader Illya Gosling aka Pils explains. “Pieces of a Man is a constantly evolving group in so many respects and revisiting ideas and finding something new is very natural for us.”
The EP features a host of guest artists, including Detroit-legend Amp Fiddler on the Gil Scott-Heron cover “Lady Day & John Coltrane”, as well as dear friends – Kiké on the Bill Withers tribute “Use Me”, and one of Manchester’s most talented and insightful spoken word artists, Chris Jam, on the transformed and elusive “Drifting”, taking the song to new heights. While “Running” has the body of the track stripped away, leaving a much leaner, palette cleanser in its place. Influenced and inspired by the likes of remix masters Jordan Rakei, Masego and FKJ, “Reframed” is a statement and testament that is rooted in the ethos of the band: “I always think a good concept withstands multiple reinventions. I guess a good picture looks good in a new frame, and I think the same can be said for music.”
