But I Can't / Suddenly

First Word Records are thrilled to announce the return of London-based ensemble, Teotima. 'But I

Can't' and 'Suddenly' provide the first foray into their second album 'Weightless', which celebrates

friendship, creativity, love, meditation, progress, and the work of being happy.

Once again, Greg Sanders and co artfully hopscotch between regions and sounds spanning the

Atlantic and beyond; from the African continent to Brazil, the Caribbean, the USA and London, all

while sounding completely fresh and singularly captivating. Album opener 'Suddenly' sees the

Chakacha rhythm of coastal East Africa blended with the song-writing sensibilities of close friends and

sometime collaborators Flying Ibex. Meanwhile, although firmly rooted around a Brazilian,

maculele-based core, 'But I Can't' pulsates with funk and Afrobeat sensibilities while Ellie Rose

Rusbridge's winding storytelling providing vocals.

As Greg explains, the latter came to him in a spiritual manner: "I was in a meditation class at the

London Buddhist Centre and the guy taking the class got everyone settled down and eyes closed and

sitting at the beginning, waited a moment, and then started reciting this WH Auden poem I'd never

heard before (If I Could Tell You) in an amazing powerful way. I didn't really understand what the

poem was supposed to mean but the imagery was amazing and intriguing and I liked the central idea

around there being things people can understand of each other that can't be communicated with

words."

'Weightless' is set to arrive on May 24 2019, six years after debut album 'Counting The Ways'. In the

time since then, Teotima members have been making waves as band leaders in their own rights as

well as playing with contemporaries such as James Blake, Jordan Rakei, Waaju, Riot Jazz and more.