Above everything else that defines them, the Roots are capital-P Professionals. That's why they're perfect for their "Late Night" job. They don't fit there because, as critics would say, they're easily digestible; they fit because they're versatile and consistently operate at a high level. They're encyclopedic music scholars who're proud of their chops but don't flash them at the expense of an accessible hook. They never compromise, ..............
Following tremendous praise for supporting Ethio-jazz master Mulatu Astatke on the Inspiration Information, Vol. 3 collaboration last year, U.K. collective The Heliocentrics are back with a similarly minded but differently executed album backing multi-instrumentalist and ethnomusicologist Dr. Lloyd Miller. Like last year, they accentuate what makes their collaborative partner so interesting. The Astatke collaboration was funky in the way it channeled African rhythms; this is funky in the way you can taste Miller’s Pan-Asian studies.
Unlike Astatke, who at least had the Broken Flowers soundtrack and enthusiastic support of a growing fanbase founded on Soundway compilations and blogs like Awesome Tapes From Africa, Miller’s momentum from this album is generated ...............
With Mr. Scruff, Flying Lotus and Theo Parrish all having enlisted her services recently, Andreya Triana is currently challenging Alice Russell as the go-to girl for leftfield beats producers searching for a female vocal. The Russell comparison actually doesn’t bear much weight beyond the company they keep – Triana’s voice being a more languid instrument than Russell’s booming pipes – yet it’s enough to have presented her with a similar problem to her fellow Brighton-based soul sister. Namely, how to make the transition from valued guest to fully-fledged solo star.
It’s a dilemma Lost Where I Belong nearly resolves. ................
www.myspace.com/andreyatriana
