Finally got hold of a copy of The Good Good last week (wasn't quite quick
enough off the mark, and had to wait for restocks.)
Anyway... what can I say. It's all good.
I've got to admit I went straight for 4Hero's "Naima" first. The first time
I heard this, I was a little disappointed. Naima is one of my fave tunes of
all time, and 4Hero are some of my favourite modern producers, and so I
guess I was expecting something that really took things to the next level
(in the way that say "Loveless" did when it first dropped.) It doesn't, but
on subsequent listens I've found a lot to like about this version. In fact
even after the just the first listen, it was stuck in my head for the whole
of the next day. It's pretty "straight", but it still works as a dance
record. I love the way Chris Bowden's dual tracked saxes add a hint of
something like Miles' version of "Nefertiti" to the chorus. And the strings
as always are great and not layered on too thick. I do think they slightly
blow the ending though - it's strident in exactly the way it shouldn't be.
The rest of the stuff is top quality new shiki (apart from Nubian Mindz'
track which is kind of techno.) So far, the tracks with Roy Ayers have
impressed me most. It's a bit early to say for sure yet, but in the battle
of the shiki compilations, I have a feeling that "Family Planning" still has
the edge.
..Mark..
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