Two Banks Of Four Three Streets World
Despite the disdain showered upon acid jazz’s chin bearded-and-knit capped devotees, the scene has left […]
Despite the disdain showered upon acid jazz’s chin bearded-and-knit capped devotees, the scene has left us with some prolific artists. Producer Demus (of early ’90s UK soul act Young Disciples) and Rob Gallagher (Galliano) are two that have gone on to produce solid work with the likes of Koop, Zero 7 and Jazzanova. On their second full-length as 2BO4, the pair, joined by vocalists like Bembe Segue and Valerie Etienne, brings forth an album full of accomplished jazz-tinged soul that successfully avoids ponderous pretension. With a serious yet warm timbre and loping chords that recall late-Sixties-era Yusef Lateef, Three Streets World has an intimate tone that reveals more with repeated listens. The album is full of heartfelt playing from seasoned veterans like Ski Oakenfull and Chris Bowden, and shines when 2BO4 avoid too much drama, as on the simple but effective Angel’s Walk” or the rolling title track.