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More vivid, urban, and multicultural than a United Colors of Benetton ad, INTERESTING FLAVOURS is a musical passport to the new global sound.
The boys at the Chocolate Fireguard label have compiled a few of their hot artists for the opportunity to taste-test some of their talent. A cool mix of jazz, trip-hop, chill, exotic world beats, and drum & bass, make this album a fresh and soulful collection. The tracks on INTERESTING FLAVOURS are, rather than forced, awkward mash-ups of genre extremes, they’re instead creative and seamless blends of warm styles.
Freddy Fresh lends his scratching and sampling expertise on “The Real Pro”, and then transports you with “The Salesman”, a fantastic, simple dream-like loop that’s similar to the Lemon Jelly sound. South African hip-hop all-girl group, Godessa, rap out their political concerns on “Social Ills” - usually reserved for poetry slams or college radio. “Wow!” by Slowpho is an uptempo jungle beat with Indian sitar sound and romantic breathy vocals. Kava Kava lays some bluesy, gritty, slide guitar soul on “TIC”, as well as proper white-boy funk on “Bank Job (Boyz From The Hud Remix)”. Hip-hop heads will enjoy “Vital” by Moodphase5ive, and the French hip-hop styled “Sous Titre” by CA (La Cedille!).
The most impressive selections on this compilation are both from The Bluefoot Project. “Try”, an intelligent drum & bass beat, smooth reggae MCing, and a looped vocal melody that’s beautifully hypnotizing. “Little Miss Selfish (Away Team Remix)” is an amazing fusion of a mysterious, exotic, Middle Eastern beat with the soulful, gospel voice of Rachel Modest. What’s best is when the dramatic bass leads up to a climactic bridge that’s incredibly pretty with a lovely chord change and flawless harmonized vocals.
Downtempo but not deadtempo, INTERESTING FLAVOURS is the perfect 3am recipe of eclectic grooves, vibes, and beats. Dig in! - Chocolatefireguard.co.uk
-- review by ursula
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