As December slowly creeps in, I often feel it's time for reflection and self-analysis on what went smooth and rocky this past year. In weeks historically characterised by tons of socializing, I appreciate moments when I can feel alone and each year I grant myself some moments of introverted clarity, often accompanied by a subtle soundtrack that feels the narrative. Life knows its ways and this year sent me the perfect album, just in time for that period. Dominic "DoomCannon" Canning’s Somewhere In Between, out now on the legendary jazz re:freshed, is a sonic portrait of transformation. It dwells in that quiet turbulence of change, the space between what was and what might be. A liminal zone where life glides in motion, with all of its beautiful uncertainty and complexity.
Dominic is young, and extremely talented London-based composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, who has had a key role in jazz-driven formations like TriForce and Project Karnka. Somewhere In Between is a worthy successor of his highly acclaimed solo debut, Renaissance, released in 2022. Rich in influences, the album is DoomCannon's self-reflexive therapy journey, he is bold enough to share with the world out there. As he elaborates, "This album expresses frustration, hope and optimism. The last record looked outward, toward systems and society. This time, I had to look inward. You can’t begin to tackle the world’s problems if you haven’t taken time to work on yourself."
The album opens with soul-drenched collaboration featuring The SoulyGhost's powerful voice. "Vain" reminded me of the late d'Angelo in a nostalgic, yet warm way. On its face, the track reads like a critique of ego and vanity, yet at heart, it’s a testament to persistence, urging you to honor your effort, stay grounded, and resist the pull of surrender or inflated self-importance. I love the balance between smooth and powerful, often foregrounded by the change in instrumental dynamics. "I love the double meaning of this; it can be taken as that guy is vain and loves himself, but in reality, the song is about misdirection and not allowing your work to be for nothing. You’ve come this far and you shouldn't get either big-headed or doubt yourself.", Dominic shares.
As a drummer, I felt that the song that pulled me in the most, at first, was "Fallen Horse". The spaced out, futuristic vocal samples and tight drumming added this gorgeous futuristic flavour to the record early on, and while I wouldn't necessary label the album is alternative jazz, there's something special in that song. Going back to the drumming on here, it just sounds sublime. The ending sets a rather nostalgic tone, which I found a great sageway for follow-ups "Untouched", "Fight Well Fought", and "Chroma". At this point of the album I almost felt like watching a play unfolding right in front of me.
Certainly a pivotal piece on the record, "The Truth" is where Dominic's talent and sheer ability to merge genres truly shines. I'll be honest, it took me a while to move on from this track, just because of how it made me feel. I didn't want to let this go, so I made this a temporary sanctuary. The song is merging 70s blaxploitation funk with contemporary hip-hop flair, marching drums and a hypnotic bassline courtesy of Jamien. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Kaytranada, this is a vibrant ode to self-belief, connection, and the power of community. Its title was inspired by one of his friends remark, “You and your band are the truth.” DoomCannon explains. “This track is a return to form for me. It focuses on the parts of composition and world-building I love most. It’s a great invitation into the sonic world I’m trying to build with this new record.”
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If you enjoyed the whirl lf emotion that "The Truth" is, Dominic has prepared a surprise for you. All of its energy is juxtaposed to the blues-y nature of "Rest Assured" and the romantic flair of "Real Love", written alongside acclaimed neo-soul vocalist Lizzie Berchie, is a heartfelt ode to the unconditional love we have for the special people in our lives. A song that melts any emotional defenses one could build, Dominic elaborates, "Growing up, I was awkward about love, my parents saying ‘I love you’ in public felt embarrassing. Now I say it freely. That shift is part of the healing."
Somewhere In Between ends up on the contemporary side of things with "Today's Prayer" - a gift to any hip hop / spoken word fan out there. I love the rawness of the drums and the way the song (and album) ends - unapologetic, authentic, and minimalistic. Just how we should all approach that end-of-the-year self-reflection.
‘Somewhere In Between is officially out today, November 28th, and it is also available on vinyl via Jazz re:freshed label, for all of you collectors out there.
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