Atjazz returns with his long-awaited 27-track opus Starbase 17, an expansive, deeply immersive journey through rhythm, harmony, and imagination. The project finds Martin “Atjazz” Iveson at the height of his powers, blending his unmistakable deep-house sensibility with elevated songwriting, lush arrangements, and forward-thinking production. The result is not just an album but a fully realized sonic universe — one where each composition stands independently while contributing to a larger, cohesive voyage.
Drawing on decades of influential releases, remixes, and collaborations, Atjazz distills the essence of his signature deep musicality and fuses it with cinematic scope and meticulous craftsmanship. Starbase 17 feels both retrospective and exploratory: rooted in soulful house traditions yet boldly pushing into new emotional and textural territories. The album unfolds like a space-bound narrative, each track orbiting a central creative vision while exploring its own atmosphere and gravitational pull.
To bring this cosmic vessel to life, Atjazz assembled a remarkable ensemble of globally respected artists. Among those joining him on this interstellar expedition are Fred Everything, Nathan Haines, Sio, Karizma, LyricL, Peacey, Pete Simpson, OVEOUS, Charles Webster, Kaidi Tatham, Clyde Beats, Natasha Watts, Omar, Max Beesley, Josh Milan, Rona Ray, Osunlade, and Clara Hill. Each collaborator brings their own tonal identity and creative spark, ensuring that no two moments feel alike while maintaining a unified emotional arc.
Across its six sides, Starbase 17 traverses soulful house, jazz-inflected grooves, broken-beat textures, spoken-word atmospheres, and lush downtempo passages. The title track, “Starbase 17,” establishes the album’s conceptual framework — expansive, cinematic, and rhythmically assured. “Hold It Tenderly,” featuring Ernesto & The Basement Gospel, channels warmth and uplift, while “L'arrivée” with Fred Everything blends elegance with understated drive. “Horizon,” featuring Jorge Bezerra and Nathan Haines, glides effortlessly between jazz phrasing and deep-house propulsion.
The album continues to shift shape and tone across its sprawling architecture. “Tentative” with Sio delivers introspective depth, “Oceans Apart” featuring Audrey Powne and Karizma explores rhythmic tension and release, and “You’ve Got This” with LyricL and Peacey radiates encouragement over intricate grooves. “Cardiac” featuring OVEOUS pulses with spoken-word intensity, while “Falling Apart” alongside Charles Webster leans into moody sophistication.
Elsewhere, “Change The Rules” with Kaidi Tatham bursts with harmonic vitality, and “Honey Bee” featuring Natasha Watts, Omar, JD73, and Octavio N. Santos exudes classic soul energy refracted through modern production. “Twin Flame” with Josh Milan and “Shine” featuring Rona Ray deliver soaring vocal house moments, while “YOUniversal Love” alongside Osunlade channels spiritual uplift. The closing stretch — including “Endless” with Clara Hill and “World We Know” featuring Imaani — leaves listeners suspended in reflection, completing the journey with grace and resonance.
Despite its ambitious 27-track length, Starbase 17 never feels indulgent. Instead, it unfolds with narrative logic and emotional pacing, each side deepening the listener’s immersion. The album stands as both celebration and evolution — a testament to Atjazz’s enduring relevance and refusal to stagnate creatively.
Starbase 17 is more than a release; it is an odyssey through sound and space, a gathering of kindred spirits, and a reminder that soulful music — when crafted with imagination and intention — remains limitless.
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