The Comet Is Coming Commemorates Decade Since Debut With Archival Reissue Box Set
London jazz group The Comet Is Coming is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Mercury-nominated debut Channel the Spirits with a comprehensive reissue that bundles the original LP with period EPs and four previously unreleased recordings. The archival collection, arriving November 20, includes material from the band's influential residency at Total Refreshment Centre and captures the experimental London jazz scene of the 2010s. The ensemble disbanded in 2023 after the group withdrew from their farewell shows to participate in a Palestine solidarity strike.
The Comet Is Coming emerged as a significant force within London's experimental jazz movement during the 2010s, with their debut earning Mercury Prize recognition. The trio—comprising Shabaka, Danalogue, and Betamax—developed their sound partly through an extended residency at Total Refreshment Centre, a now-legendary venue that became central to the city's underground music community. This new collection spans four years of recordings and captures the band's evolution from their initial release through subsequent live performances.
Following the group's 2023 dissolution, members pursued individual projects. Shabaka subsequently released a solo album, demonstrating the continued creative output from musicians who shaped this period of London jazz. The reissue serves as both a commercial release and archival document of a distinct moment in the genre's recent history.
This reissue may appeal primarily to dedicated jazz audiences and collectors interested in the 2010s London scene, potentially introducing archival material to new listeners. The release could reinvigorate interest in the experimental jazz movement of that era and the venues that supported it. For music historians and critics, such comprehensive collections help establish documented records of influential but sometimes overlooked artistic communities, potentially influencing how future generations understand contemporary jazz's development and cultural significance.