It's easy to hype new artists as if they are the best thing since sliced bread. You read a lot of that out there about the UK scene when there is an understandable pride among local writers about its strength. Add that to a certain lack of context and writers trying to make a name for themselves as tastemakers. After all does this new generation negate what previous generations achieved? And actually while at it does it even compare qualitatively? The jury is out on that. However, while stepping back and being cautious from overstating I am thinking of last year hearing saxist/flautist/vocalist Emma Rawicz for the first time and listening now to her debut. Is it as good as I had thought? Certainly she can play brilliantly live. Most of the compositions here are new to me. She had played some other originals that 2021 night at the Vortex that aren't here while some are. They are strong, metrically ambitious and complicated in a structural sense but not overly oblique. I'm less sure of the Wayne Shorter comparison I made at the time. Now I'd add a certain affinity with Trish Clowes although Rawicz's approach is less pastoral and more modernistic while not throwing out melodicism. ''Rocket science'' guitarist the boffin-like Ant Law she played with that night I heard her live back in September and he is excellent soloing on 'Mantra' and when he rocks out on 'Wishbone' otherwise the rest of the band are new to me. Among these I was impressed most on Incantation by pianist Scottie Thompson. But it's Rawicz who leads from the front, injects a knowing personality that even extends to vocalese, vocalising wordlessly to instrumental lines, on 'Omen' and as at the Vortex that night also playing flute. I'll publish a list soon of the best UK jazz albums so far this year. With the coolest head on my shoulders today this will certainly be high up, guaranteed. A notable achievement so early in her career for composition especially – and then there is everything else. SG

Link to stream and download the album and which is also available on CD via Bandcamp