The cool and bouncy retro-soul vibe of this veteran British acid jazz ensemble isn't really retro at all -- it's just that the band has 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, world beat, colorful female vocals, and -- most of the time -- snazzy horn sections. The band's Narada Jazz debut also includes spicy touches of soaring Brazilian energy (think whimsical, Sergio Mendes circa the 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 and 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 has British troubadour Paul Weller and vocalists Kelli Sae, Joy Rose, and former group member Joy Malcolm. [The Japanese issue adds one bonus track: a remix of "Can't Get You Out of My Head" by the Brand New Heavies.] ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Incognito (Main Performer), Ed Jones (Saxophone), Ed Jones (Sax (Tenor)), Ed Jones (Group Member), The Brand New Heavies (Remixing), The Brand New Heavies (Guest Appearance), Graham Lewis (Assistant Coordinator), Matthew Ward (Violin), Matthew Ward (Group Member), Richard Bailey (Drums), Matt Cooper (Synthesizer), Matt Cooper (Piano), Matt Cooper (Drums), Matt Cooper (Keyboards), Matt Cooper (Organ (Hammond)), Matt Cooper (Clavinet), Matt Cooper (Producer), Matt Cooper (Fender Rhodes), Matt Cooper (Group Member), Simon Cotsworth (Producer), Simon Cotsworth (Engineer), Simon Cotsworth (Mastering), Simon Cotsworth (Mixing), Julian Crampton (Bass), Julian Crampton (Group Member), Andy Gangadeen (Drums), Graham Harvey (Fender Rhodes), Graham Harvey (Group Member), Stephen Hussey (Violin), Stephen Hussey (Group Member), Pete Jackson (Project Coordinator), Rebecca Jones (Violin), Rebecca Jones (Group Member), 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), Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Group Member), Lorraine McIntosh (Vocals (Background)), Paul Weller (Guitar (Acoustic)), Paul Weller (Fender Rhodes), Paul Weller (Group Member), Andy Ross (Flute), Andy Ross (Sax (Alto)), Andy Ross (Group Member), Kelli Sae (Vocals), Kelli Sae (Vocals (Background)), Kelli Sae (Group Member), Simon Hale (Conductor), Simon Hale (String Arrangements), Simon Hale (Harp Arrangement), Michael Gray (Violin), Michael Gray (Group Member), Ian Thomas Band (Drums), Ed Motta (Vocals), Ed Motta (Vocal Effect), Ed Motta (Dialect Coach), Ed Motta (Group Member), Chris DeMargary (Flute), Chris DeMargary (Saxophone), Chris DeMargary (Sax (Baritone)), Chris DeMargary (Sax (Soprano)), Chris DeMargary (Sax (Tenor)), Chris DeMargary (Group Member), Karl Van Den Bossche (Percussion), Karl Van Den Bossche (Group Member), 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), Everton Nelson (Group Member), Rick Lecoat (Art Direction), Rick Lecoat (Design), Tony Momrelle (Vocals (Background)), Ian Burdge (Cello), Ian Burdge (Group Member), 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), Nichol Thompson (Group Member), Karl Injex (Engineer), Dominic Glover (Trumpet), Dominic Glover (Flugelhorn), Dominic Glover (Brass Arrangement), Dominic Glover (Group Member), Amanda Searle (Photography), Joy Rose (Vocals), Joy Rose (Vocals (Background)), Joy Rose (Group Member), Chris Worsey (Cello), Chris Worsey (Group Member), Mat Bartrum (Assistant), Giles Broadbent (Violin), Giles Broadbent (Leader), Giles Broadbent (Group Member), Khari Cabral Simmons (Voices), Ian Sherwin (Engineer), Reiad Chibah (Viola), Reiad Chibah (Group Member), John Deley (Synthesizer), Mark Edwards (Bass), Mark Edwards (Piano), Mark Edwards (Wurlitzer), Vincent Greene (Viola), Vincent Greene (Group Member), Sally Jackson (Violin), Sally Jackson (Group Member), Darragh Morgan (Violin), Darragh Morgan (Group Member), Jamie Norton (Fender Rhodes), Gavin W. Pearce (Bass), John Smart (Violin), John Smart (Group Member), Simon Grey (Keyboards), Simon Grey (Fender Rhodes), Simon Grey (Drum Programming), Mike Hornett (Preparation), Paige Lackney (Vocals (Background)), Paige Lackney (Vocal Arrangement), Millennia Strings (Strings), Gautam Lewis (Assistant Coordinator), Whylie Rookwood (Stylist), Camilla Pay (Harp), Camilla Pay (Group Member)
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