The cool and bouncy retro-soul vibe of the veteran British acid jazz ensemble Incognito isn't really retro at all -- it's just that they've been doing it since the early '80s, when that sound was still a new thing. Despite its vast array of personnel changes over the course of eight previous albums, the band has stayed true to the original vision of frontman/guitarist Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, and that means, even post-millennium, a liberal mix of jazz, house, groovalicious funk, worldbeat, colorful female vocals, and most of the times, snazzy horn sections. The band's Narada Jazz debut, Who Needs Love also includes spicy touches of soaring Brazilian energy (think whimsical, Sergio Mendes circa mid-'60s), with guest vocalist Ed Motta singing both words and scat over punchy horns, and a thumping disco beat. Gentle samba grooves infuse "Stone Cold Heart" and the feisty, Braz-funk gem "Cada Dia (Day by Day)" as well. Most of the other material is a bit less exotic, from the moody romantic R&B-flavored lament "Can't Get You Out of My Head" to the thumping, wah-wah- and horn-inflected anthem "People at the Top," which has "Welcome to the '70s" written all over its infectious grooves. The trippiest track of the bunch is "Byrd Plays," which blends an odd nature soundscaping ambience, a distant horn, and subtle African percussion with hypnotic low register piano chords. Maunick is always seeking new collaborators mixed with former cohorts, and here he has British troubadour Paul Weller and vocalists Kelli Sae, Joy Rose, and former group member Joy Malcolm. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Incognito (Main Performer), Ed Jones (Saxophone), Ed Jones (Sax (Tenor)), Graham Lewis (Assistant Coordinator), Matthew Ward (Violin), Richard Bailey (Drums), Matt Cooper (Synthesizer), Matt Cooper (Piano), Matt Cooper (Organ (Hammond)), Matt Cooper (Clavinet), Matt Cooper (Producer), Matt Cooper (Fender Rhodes), Simon Cotsworth (Producer), Simon Cotsworth (Engineer), Simon Cotsworth (Mastering), Simon Cotsworth (Mixing), Julian Crampton (Bass), Andy Gangadeen (Drums), Graham Harvey (Fender Rhodes), Stephen Hussey (Violin), Pete Jackson (Project Coordinator), Rebecca Jones (Violin), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Guitar), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Guitar (Electric)), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Producer), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Liner Notes), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Brass Arrangement), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (A&R), Lorraine McIntosh (Vocals (Background)), Paul Weller (Guitar (Acoustic)), Paul Weller (Fender Rhodes), Andy Ross (Flute), Andy Ross (Sax (Alto)), Kelli Sae (Vocals), Kelli Sae (Vocals (Background)), Simon Hale (Conductor), Simon Hale (String Arrangements), Simon Hale (Harp Arrangement), Michael Gray (Violin), Ian Thomas Band (Drums), Ed Motta (Vocals), Chris DeMargary (Flute), Chris DeMargary (Saxophone), Chris DeMargary (Sax (Baritone)), Chris DeMargary (Sax (Soprano)), Chris DeMargary (Sax (Tenor)), Karl Van Den Bossche (Percussion), Martin Verdonk (Conga), Martin Verdonk (Hand Percussion), Xavier Barnet (Vocals (Background)), Daniel Maunick (Programming), Daniel Maunick (Drum Programming), Joy Malcolm (Vocals), Joy Malcolm (Vocals (Background)), Paige Lackey (Vocals (Background)), Paige Lackey (Vocal Arrangement), Twig (Mastering), Everton Nelson (Violin), Tony Momrelle (Vocals (Background)), Ian Burdge (Cello), Andy Kremer (Bass (Acoustic)), Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (Bass), Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (Percussion), Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (Drums), Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (Producer), Dominic "Ski" Oakenfull (Wurlitzer), Tom Jenkins (Engineer), Nichol Thompson (Trombone), Nichol Thompson (Brass Arrangement), Karl Injex (Engineer), Dominic Glover (Trumpet), Dominic Glover (Flugelhorn), Dominic Glover (Brass Arrangement), Joy Rose (Vocals), Joy Rose (Vocals (Background)), Chris Worsey (Cello), Mat Bartrum (Assistant), Giles Broadbent (Violin), Khari Cabral Simmons (Voices), Khari Cabral Simmons (?), Ian Sherwin (Engineer), Reiad Chibah (Viola), John Deley (Synthesizer), Mark Edwards (Bass), Mark Edwards (Piano), Mark Edwards (Wurlitzer), Vincent Greene (Viola), Sally Jackson (Violin), Darragh Morgan (Violin), Jamie Norton (Fender Rhodes), Gavin W. Pearce (Bass), John Smart (Violin), Simon Grey (Keyboards), Simon Grey (Fender Rhodes), Simon Grey (Drum Programming), Mike Hornett (Preparation), Camilla Pay (?)
