Following last week’s blog, Ashley Beedle kindly got in touch to update us on his current manoeuvres.

The good news is that there’s a stack of new material coming out including: a solo EP and LP; a debut album from Afrikanz on Marz (Ashley’s partnership with former Massive Attack keyboardist Darren Morris); and the first new material in 10 years from Black Science Orchestra.

“Not sure what format the Black Science Orchestra project is going to be,” Ashley confides. “The Afrikanz on Marz LP is nothing like the remixes – it’s an improvisation LP – very cosmic with narration by [Lambchop singer] Kurt Wagner.”

Here’s a video of Lambchop at their most cosmic – expect similar but with “very jazzy” vibes.

Here’s a lovely Afrikanz on Marz remix from November last year. Liotia (pronounced Ly–Oh–Sha) is singer/songwriter Abigail Hubbard and producer/engineer Matt Smyth. Bringing the Massive Attack vibes, this mix features melodica from Dr Rey.

Liotia have another track coming out on Jo Wallace’s Ramrock Records in July.

Ashley continues: “Everything is organic with me and it’s the music I pull from the air which is the direction the spirit moves me at that time. I can be working on anything from wildly commercial productions to dark, deep house and then across to electronica, reggae, jazz, hip hop and improvisation.”

Amen to that.

And just to prove that my Beedle/Weatherall comparison in last week’s blog wasn’t too far off the mark, here’s a tribute from Ashley to Weatherall, which was broadcast after Andrew died in February. Such was the outpouring of tributes at the time that I missed this show. It’s a lovely tribute combining memories and tunes.