While the MVP of 1994's "The Return of the Space Cowboy" was bassist
Stuart Zender's funky fingers, on this one it's keyboardist Toby Smith's
practical, but sweet Rhodes playing. No Hancock-esque soloing here, mind
you, just a great choice of chords. Speaking of comparisons to the last
album, and even the first one, this one exists in a happy medium, between
their funky, dance-track-laden debut of 1992's "Emergency on Planet Earth"
and the smooth, more mellow, yet more songwriting-oriented "Space Cowboy."
Oh, Jay Kay's singing and lyrics? Just what you expect. Need I say more?
One caveat: the album, at least the UK version, does *not* include the
M-Beat produced jazzy Drum N Bass track, "Do You Know Where You're Coming
From?" (Despite what the display at my record store said...). I bought my
copy here in the US (Aron's Records on Highland in Hollywood, CA), though it
was a UK import (Acid Jazz Angelenos take note: There's quite a few copies
left! $26.99). Big bummer for me since I dig that tune...
Elson
-30-
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Elson Trinidad
Los Angeles, CA, USA
elson@westworld.com * http://www.westworld.com/~elson
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