The Comet Is Coming, the breakout Shabaka project that defined London jazz in the 2010s, are digging through their archive for a tenth anniversary reissue of their debut album, Channel the Spirits. The trio — Shabaka, Danalogue and Betamax — are repackaging the Mercury-nominated record with its EPs from the period (Prophecy and Death to the Planet), plus four previously unreleased recordings. One of those tracks, “Late Night Party Jam 2,” was recorded at Total Refreshment Centre, the beloved London venue where the group served as unofficial house band. The reissue, exhaustively titled Exploding in Slow Motion: the Complete Channel the Spirits Recordings 2013-2017CE, arrives November 20 via Leaf.
The reissue runs 28 tracks, spanning the original album, its EPs, live versions, radio sessions and studio outtakes. The trio announced their split in 2023, eventually cancelling their final concert as part of a strike in solidarity with Palestine. Shabaka released his debut solo album, Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace, the following year.
Early Years in London
Channel the Spirits was the trio’s second full-length release after their 2013 EP Prophecy. It cemented their reputation as one of the most exciting bands in British jazz, and its blend of live-wire improvisation and propulsive rhythm sections made it feel like nothing else around.
The band’s history stretches back further than the album suggests. They started playing together as a trio, building a sound that mixed jazz with the energy of the city’s club culture. By the time they released Prophecy, they had become a fixture of the London scene, playing shows at Total Refreshment Centre and other venues.
The EPs were released prior to the album, establishing the template for the full-length. Prophecy and Death to the Planet were part of the same creative continuum. The new reissue brings all of that material together for the first time, along with the four previously unreleased tracks.
Shabaka on the Reissue
Shabaka spoke about the reissue in a press release. He described the archival recordings as a document of the band’s early encounters, but also as a window into the gigs that followed.
“I like that the freshness of that initial encounter is documented and understood as the album, but then the way we related to it personally gig after gig matured,” he said. “It’s a snapshot of a particular energy in London at that time. It takes me to warehouse parties and soundsystems and nights at [Total Refreshment Centre] with near 400 people in a room that would be sweaty with 50.”
That energy is the whole point. The band’s music was never about nostalgia or polish — it was about the moment, captured raw and alive. The reissue preserves that moment, from the earliest demos to the final live performances.
The Four New Tracks
The four previously unreleased recordings add fresh context to the album’s evolution. These tracks show the band working through ideas that would later surface on Channel the Spirits. They are not finished songs — they are sketches, experiments, the raw material that became the album.
For fans who have followed the band since the beginning, these tracks fill in gaps in the narrative. For newcomers, they offer a glimpse of the creative process itself.
Live Versions and Radio Sessions
The reissue also includes live versions of several tracks, alongside a radio session with John Kennedy on Xfm. The live recordings capture the band performing the music that made them a festival favourite.
The John Kennedy X-Posure Xfm session, featuring “Neon Baby,” is a document of the band in a controlled environment. It gives listeners a sense of how the band sounded in different settings.
Tracklist Details
The reissue is exhaustive, and it reflects the band’s restless creativity. The main disc runs 16 tracks, starting with the title track and ending with “Do the Milky Way.” The EPs sit on their own, with Prophecy preceding Death to the Planet.
- Main Disc: 16 tracks, including “Space Carnival,” “Star Exploding in Slow Motion,” “Lightyears” and “End of Earth”
- Prophecy EP: 6 tracks
- Death to the Planet EP: 7 tracks
- Additional Disc: The four previously unreleased tracks, plus live and radio material
The additional disc is where the unreleased material lives. It includes the four previously unreleased tracks plus live versions of “Space Carnival” and “Start Running,” and the X-Posure Xfm session with “Neon Baby.”
Why This Reissue Matters
The reissue is not just a curiosity for collectors. It is a chance to hear the band’s development in real time. The EPs show where the album came from, and the unreleased tracks show where it could have gone. Together, they paint a portrait of a band that was always moving forward.
The live and radio material adds texture. The John Kennedy X-Posure Xfm session, along with the live recordings, gives listeners a sense of how the band sounded in different settings.
For fans who have followed the band since the beginning, the reissue is a chance to revisit the music that defined their early years. For newcomers, it is an introduction to a band that helped shape the sound of London jazz in the 2010s. Either way, the reissue offers a complete picture of a creative period that produced some of the most exciting music of its time.
The Legacy of the Album
Channel the Spirits was a landmark record for the band. Its blend of live-wire improvisation and propulsive rhythm sections made it feel like nothing else around.
The reissue preserves that legacy. It brings together the EPs, the live recordings, the radio session and the unreleased tracks, giving listeners a comprehensive look at the band’s early years. The additional disc, in particular, offers a window into the creative process — the sketches, the experiments, the moments that never made it to the finished product.
For the band, the reissue is a chance to reflect on the past. Shabaka’s comments suggest that the material holds personal significance. He described the gigs as a way of relating to the music personally, gig after gig. The reissue allows that relationship to be heard in the recordings themselves.
Release Date and Label
The reissue is set for November 20, and it is available via Leaf. The label has released the first track, “Late Night Party Jam 2,” ahead of the full release. The song is a reminder of the band’s connection to Total Refreshment Centre, the venue where they served as unofficial house band.
The reissue is a statement of intent. It says that the music still matters, and that the band’s influence continues to resonate. The album was a milestone in the band’s career, and the reissue is a chance to hear why.
The reissue is a document of a moment in time. It is a snapshot of a particular energy in London. It is a reminder of the warehouse parties, the soundsystems, the nights at Total Refreshment Centre with near 400 people in a room that would be sweaty with 50.
KEY FACTS BOX
– Album: Channel the Spirits
– Reissue title: Exploding in Slow Motion: the Complete Channel the Spirits Recordings 2013-2017CE
– Release date: November 20
– Label: Leaf
– Tracks: 28
The reissue is a gift. It is a chance to hear the music again, and to understand it better. It is a reminder of what the band was, and what they became.
The reissue is a document of a creative period. It is a chance to hear the music that was made, and the music that was never finished. It is a reminder of the band’s journey, from the first encounters to the final gigs.
The reissue is a document of a moment in time. It is a snapshot of a particular energy in London. It is a reminder of the warehouse parties, the soundsystems, the nights at Total Refreshment Centre with near 400 people in a room that would be sweaty with 50.
Source material: “The Comet Is Coming Unearth Archival Songs for Channel the Spirits Reissue,” Pitchfork.
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