A roaring guitar line that feels straight out of Foo Fighters and a chopped voice urging you to “please remain seated” and “fasten your seatbelts” is probably not what anyone expected as the opening to the second EP from London jazz group Oreglo. Still, it turns out to be an ideal gateway into a bold new phase for the NME 100 artists.

The trio, made up of guitarist Linus Barry, drummer Nicco Rocco and tuba player Teigan Hastings, grew up in the same youth music circles celebrated by Ezra Collective during their widely shared 2023 Mercury Music Prize speech. You could hear that same open ended curiosity running through their horn heavy debut EP ‘Not Real People’ last year. Even with the dance and dub reworks included in the expanded ‘DLC’ edition, Oreglo’s earlier sound drifted slowly and hypnotically, inviting listeners to wander along with them.

‘The Whirr’ moves with a sharper urgency while keeping its sense of fun. Once the distorted arena rock introduction of the title track fades in, Oreglo pack brooding post punk, fluid jazz fusion, warm group vocals, futuristic prog rock and an explosive hip hop section into a single five minute rush. It is a wild blend of styles that somehow never slips into chaos, and this all happens before the EP even reaches its second song.

The momentum never lets up. The lively and piano centred ‘Don Gino’ finds Oreglo bending song form in every direction before erupting into a huge finale, while the gritty ‘Speedbump!’ begins as a dense rock track. After a sharp shout of “enough!”, the song swerves into a crime drama sequence that brings to mind Eminem and Dr. Dre’s ‘Guilty Conscience’, set against screaming electric guitar work. It is an extravagant piece that adds a theatrical spark to the group’s expanding toolkit.

‘Red Shift’ throws listeners straight into a world of glowing, cinematic textures, and the final eight minute instrumental journey of ‘Bosté’ blends sweeping musicianship with the tight chemistry that defines the band. Throughout the entire project, there is a joyful sense of artistic freedom, yet this version of Oreglo carries a firm purpose. Every unexpected influence and every surprising twist feeds into a single, deliberate vision that insists you pay attention.

Details

• Record label: Brownswood Recordings
• Release date: November 28, 2025