Released: 22.02.2010

Brownswood Recordings



Soul-jazz man Jose James returns with this, his second album, on which he stretches beyond the smooth soul brother format. This is evidenced by the fact most of the record was produced in collaboration with LA experimental hip hop artist and Warp signing Flying Lotus, and also features contributions from DJ Mitsu, The Beats and Moodyman.

Flying Lotus – FlyLo to his friends – brings a dusty, crisp feel to the tracks he works on. This is best shown on opening track ‘Code’ and the carefree soul of ‘Lay You Down’, where James vocals are kept sparse and unshowy while FlyLo plays around with familiar soul and jazz tropes like portentous horns, zinging xylophone and skittering rhythms. These tracks feel at once spacious yet urban, sophisticated yet stoner loose. Elsewhere, ‘Made for Love’ and the brooding title track see FlyLo produce some of his more abstract compositions, which will feel immediately familiar to anyone who checked out his brilliant 2008 album Los Angeles. The former a vortex of swirling beats and ambient sounds, while to latter is a moody slow-burner. On tracks like these, James’ honeyed voice, always admirably restrained rather than showboating, becomes little more than another sound effect in the mix. However, they do pull off the interesting coup of being sexy, seductive music which could find a home on Warp. A first, probably.

Unfortunately, this has the effect of making the more conventional tracks pale in comparison. The chocolate box sentiments and tinkling piano of ‘Save Your Love for Me’ and the sunshiny but stilted ‘Promise in Love’ are unnecessary steps back into a trad vibe which James has already shown us he is willing and able to transcend.  Sometimes, he finds a happy medium, as on the mesmeric, minimalist groove of ‘Love Conversation’, which features assured guest vocals from Jordana de Lovely. With it’s pattering tribal drums and drifting waves of guitar, it has a vibe similar to the quieter, more sensual moments of TV in the Radio. Overall though, this has the feel of an unfinished revolution. Let’s hope James decides to take things further on his next release. 

Posted In Album Reviews, Feb 21 2010. Words - Richard