Quiet Fire by Dave Stapleton

Quiet Fire is the new album from British producer, musician and Edition Records founder Dave Stapleton – a beat-based jazz record shaped by rhythmically-driven, loop-focused production with the feel of a live band. Centred on Rhodes, bass and drums, the music sits in the space where jazz, instrumental beats and atmospheric electronica meet, drawing on a shared lineage that runs through early Bonobo, Jon Hopkins, Yussef Dayes, BADBADNOTGOOD, Kamaal Williams, Richard Spaven and Alfa Mist. His first album under his own name in over 12 years, Quiet Fire reflects a move towards beat-led writing, loop-based structure and a producer’s mindset rather than a traditional score-driven process.

Synth textures, sampled fragments and understated voices broaden the sound, with guest performances from Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet), Olga Amelchenko (saxophone) and Stuart McCallum (guitar), alongside the core trio of Jon Goode (bass) and Elliot Bennett (drums). Quiet Fire is an album about evolution, adaptation and instinct, marking a clear shift in Stapleton’s approach shaped by years of intensive studio work – including seven albums with the acclaimed Slowly Rolling Camera.

Dave Stapleton is a British producer, keyboardist and composer working between jazz, beats and atmospheric electronica. His latest album Quiet Fire reflects a shift towards beat-led writing and loop-focused production, shaped by years of studio work including seven albums with Slowly Rolling Camera. He is also the founder of Edition Records.