Searchlight - Searchlight (Album)

Jazz/soul duo Searchlight, consisting of Cian McCann and Dom Purcell have released their debut self-titled studio album, via Goldie’s label Fallen Tree 1Hundred. Searchlight became a highly-anticipated record, with the duo garnering support from the likes of Gilles Peterson and Mary Anne Hobbs.

Searchlight is an exceptional blend of jazz, soul, funk and hip-hop stylings; these influences are meshed well enough to a point where it’s difficult to tell where one starts and one ends. The duo weave seamlessly between them from track to track, going from cavernous and melancholic soul on ‘Can We Go Back’, to nocturnal hip-hop-tinged jazz on ‘Line of Sight’, to BADBADNOTGOOD-esque instrumentalism on ‘Sat On A Wall’. Searchlight show a willingness to collaborate, crafting textured soundscapes that complement their features. The feature spots are one of the record’s biggest strengths - [ K S R ] has a pair of expressive performances on ‘We Could Be More’ and ‘Journey’, Tolü Makay is given plenty of much-deserved shine with three features, Illaman & Lariman deliver a confident edge on ‘Line of Sight’, and finally PAV4N & Steo come together with Searchlight to serve an emotive and powerful message on ‘Out Of Order’. Musically, this record primarily ventures into atmospheric territory, while also showcasing the deep talents of McCann and Purcell. What the duo have delivered here with their debut album under the Searchlight moniker is a fully realised body of work, comfortably cementing themselves within the realms of modern jazz and soul.

Searchlight is available on all platforms now, via Fallen Tree 1Hundred. You can listen to the full album below.