the herbaliser - take london
production duo, ollie and jake, hit the dirty city streets with their seventh full lengther, including the usual host of supporting cast : what what (who appeared on their 'blow your headphones' album - an old personal favourite),now known as jean grae, roots manuva and cappo. as before they blend together their love for straight up hip hop, mad for it funk, london intensity, and late night smoky jazz in such a way that you begin to wonder if that other beat heavy jazz monster, david axelrod, has been stepping into the gangs hideout during the recording sessions and sprinkling his magic dust over the studio console.
the mood is kicked off into touch with cinematic horns loops and vocals samples from uk gangsta flicks (the long good friday ?), a theme repeated throughout the album in the same kinda way that skinnyman did with his album and the brit flick 'scum', making 'take london' an updated 70's prog concept album with the thread being gangstas - uk styled, instead of the genres usual infatuation of all things medieval and crap.
you have been warned!
once we get into the album proper, there are all the expected ingredients - scratched loops, massive horn sections and hard hitting words leading up to the recent single 'generals', featuring a cast of word playas to fine effect and side stepping the usual down tempo pitfalls. then comes the albums first real sharp left turn : 'gadget funk'. a huge sonic blast of george clinton sanctioned madness, analogue synths, and a bass so fat that governments will be concerned about adding a health warning, joyously recalling the late 80's media loved groove of washington dc's go-go vibe, the track may feel out of place in the context of the 60 minutes, but damn it's large and proud. live, this one is going to rip the dance floors up.
get past this highlight and we head back onto the streets of london, 'failures no option' has a lovely twang guitar loop and hard raps but doesn't get the blood rushing in quite the same way. next highlight comes in the shape of 'geddim' featuring a groove so deep and funky that any slips in originality are easily swept under the floor boards and promptly will be forgotten about when the police come a knocking for eye witnesses. naturally, the mood does indeed go all smouldering, blue, and mellow via the scratched up loops, and female warmth of 'close your eyes' (the films love interest section?). then following the love, there is a track which sets the scene brilliantly for the 70's film score rip off that is 'sonofanuthamutha' (gotta love these titles!) - high tension, backing singers, mandolins, implied Mafiosi imagery is a done deal with this paean to all things lalo schiffin, cool daddio.
the hip hop is back with 'twice around', featuring lovely melodies and expansive horns (a consistent factor throughout this album) and more lyrical flows from jean. before we reach the albums logical end sequence of harmony and light, heavy beats and of course - banjos! 'serge' being a tribute to the dirty old french mofo, serge gainsbourg, combining a spoken section by katerine, drama, psycho strings, and an imposing bass line. the song ends the album in a manner that leaves the listener on a sonically enhanced cliff hanger. a definite case of "leave'em wanting more!" i guess.
people tell me that this is music for smokers. well, while i'm sure the herb may help pronounce certain downtempo grooves, albums this strong, stand up loud and proud in the clear light of daylight irrespective of the listeners state of being.
truly excellent stuff.
are you feeling lucky?