by Krakatau
Elations Recordings presents “Terra Ignota”, the long-awaited new full length album from elusive Melbourne-based fusion ensemble Krakatau. “Terra Ignota” marks a return and an epochal shift for the group, a deep exploration of possible sonic spaces and a portent of things to come.
In the years since 2016’s cosmic jazz funk-prog-spiritual 12” “Tharsis Montes/Apogean Tide” Krakatau have worked on refining their craft as instrumentalists and writers, expanding further into the world of jazz and fusing influences from world folk musics, contemporary jazz and the European post-minimalist music of the 1980s and early 90s. “Terra Ignota”, literally translated as “Unknown Land”, takes its name from the cartographer's notation for uncharted territory, the blank spaces on maps where knowledge gives way to imagination and speculation, gesturing towards the group’s studio explorations and search for new sonic worlds in the years spent developing the record.
The results are a diverse yet unified combination of sounds and influences across five tracks that see Krakatau drawing closer to the independent underground “world” jazz scene of the 1980s than anything contemporary. The album opens with the digi-minimalism and fourth world atmospherics of title track “Terra ignota”, a percussion heavy latin fusion sound in “Birds of Passage”, and melancholic ambient saxophone and synthesiser duo “In Memory”. Three-part epic “Cosmetic Surgery” journeys through a long, complex post-minimalist arrangement into latin fusion and contemporary jazz, followed by the contemplative ECM-styled acoustic quartet closer “Trial in Absentia”.
The album features significant contributions from saxophonist Rob Vincs, former Victorian College of the Arts head of Jazz and Improvisation and a collaborator with Australian musician Brian Brown; layered percussion and wordless vocals from Brazilian percussionist and esteemed songwriter Alcides Neto; and a guest performance from trumpet player Reuben Lewis on the title track.
credits
released May 15, 2026
James Tom - Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizers, Programming, Percussion & Voice
Danny Smith - Fretless Bass & Contrabass
Dylan Lieberman - Drums & Percussion
Guests
Robert Vincs - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Alcides Neto - Percussion & Voice (A1, A2 & B1)
Reuben Lewis - Trumpet (A1)
Jack Doepel - Percussion (B1) & Drum Programming Assistance (A1)
Produced by Krakatau
Engineered by Krakatau, Jim Rindfleish, Reuben Lewis, Robert Vincs, Alcides Neto, Jono Trawn & Myles Mumford
Mix and Master by Cam Parkin
Cover painting by Vida Sobotka
Photography by Sorcha Wilcox
Design and layout by Celeste Watson
Pressed at MPO International
Lacquer cut by Helmut Erler
Distributed by Word & Sound
"As paradoxical as it may seem, there is a road to travel and it must be travelled, yet there is no traveller. Acts must be accomplished, yet there is no actor."
- Satipaṭṭhāna-Sutta, XLII, 16.
