Tom Skinner – Kaleidoscopic Visions (2025 Brownswood / International Anthem Limited Edition Yellow Vinyl LP)

Released in 2025 on Brownswood Recordings in collaboration with International Anthem, Kaleidoscopic Visions finds Tom Skinner expanding far beyond the drum seat. Known for his work with The Smile, Sons of Kemet, and London’s restless jazz underground, Skinner builds an album that feels alive in every direction — part ambient suite, part avant-soul record, part rhythmic meditation.

He handles drums, percussion, vibraphone, guitars and synths himself, layering textures that move from fractured beats to still, suspended moments. The cast around him reads like a who’s who of boundary-pushing players: Robert Stillman on reeds, Chelsea Carmichael on tenor and flute, Meshell Ndegeocello lending voice, clavinet and synth bass, Adrian Utley on guitar, Kareem Dayes on cello, and Tom Herbert anchoring the low end.

Across tracks like There’s Nothing to Be Scared Of, Kaleidoscopic Visions, and Extensions 12, Skinner threads melody and pulse through electronic haze and acoustic warmth. Still (Quiet) glows with a kind of spiritual hush, while See How They Run closes the record in a blur of groove and reverie. It’s a record that feels handcrafted, alive with air and intuition, the sound of a musician exploring without boundaries.

Pressed on yellow biovinyl and housed in a heavyweight reverse-board sleeve with obi strip, insert and poly-lined inner, this is a deeply considered physical edition — tactile, sustainable, and beautifully presented. Kaleidoscopic Visions sits comfortably beside both modern UK jazz and experimental soul, another forward step from one of Britain’s most inventive drummers and producers.