The Comet Is Coming

In the British neo-afrobeat galaxy that coalesced in the second half of the 2010s, Comet Is Coming is the star that has most embraced both eclecticism and visibility. The band was formed in 2013 from the meeting of the drums-and-keyboards duo Soccer96 (made up of Maxwell Hallett a.k.a. Betamax and Dan Leavers a.k.a. Danalogue) and the ever-present saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings (already active with Heliocentrics, Yazz Ahmed, Melt Yourself Down, Sons of Kemet). The trio debuted with an album in 2016, and from the start stood out for the kaleidoscopic nature of their formula. Nu jazz, fusion, space rock and psychedelia are all terms commentators have used to try to capture their centrifugal, intoxicating sound. In 2019, their second album "Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery" and its companion EP "The Afterlife" were hailed by numerous outlets as two of the most significant releases of the year. Hugely appreciated live, they arrived in 2022 with "Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam", which emphasizes their rhythmic and electronic side, hinting at new, more dance-oriented directions.