We'd like to take a moment to appreciate the timeless band that is Surprise Chef. Hailing from just outside of Melbourne, Australia they combine cinematic soul and jazz funk, making for timeless instrumentals that remain mellow, but bright with soul. The lineup of the band is Lachlan Stuckey on guitar, Jethro Curtin on keys, Carl Lindeberg on bass, Andrew Congues on drums, and Hudson Whitlock—the latest member who does it all from percussion to composing to producing. The band is now signed to Big Crown Records, joining a lineage of contemporary and classic sounds that have influenced Surprise Chef’s music since their formation in 2017. On 14th October 2022, Surprise Chef released the exquisite record Education & Recreation, following two original albums and one remix album by Masters at Work & Harvey Sutherland. What we love about Education & Recreation is the beautifully simple approach that manages to showcase a variety of influences - take the Motown-style drums and flute on ‘Velodrome’, for example, placed next to the percussive jam of ‘Suburban Breeze’ that features dubby piano that you’d expect to hear on a Studio One release. Then there’s the understated Blue Note-style jazz that runs through the record, and at points, a Bristolian hip-hop feel, all of which are the threads that weave together the deep musical tapestry of Surprise Chef. What’s not to like? -Ellie Rose-Davies