Review Summary: The recipe for a truly enjoyable “Album Ala Ashok”?
In a large mixing bowl add 4 cups of “Professor Green” (you may substitute with The Streets) 1-3/4 cup of “Steely Dan” 1 cup of “Natalie Merchant” ½ cup of “Massive Attack” and just a pinch of “Nick Drake”. Fold all ingredients gently until smooth and then bake.
The album excels in its ability to meld genres and in its outstanding instrumental work. Most noteworthy being Chris Lane’s jazz and funk infused guitar work. There of course is also the beautiful voice of Florence Welsh against the backdrop of Leo Nathan. His stylized lazy verbal stumbling occasionally has a nimbleness that will surprise you at the most unexpected moments. A majority of the album is made up of some truly enjoyable romps like “Always Ashok”, “Franky Boy” and “Lean From The middle” which would easily be the best song on the album.
This album albeit great in a number of ways is none the less fatally flawed by a few issues, the most noticeable of which is its pacing. Unfortunately another type of song found on the album would be more in the vein of “Sunday” or “Radix” which is where they give Florence the reins and showcase her great voice. While this is by no means bad and the instrumentals are still masterful it just really… and I can’t stress this enough… really, ***s up you’re groove. The one exception to this would be the final track “Happy Slap”. This would be an earlier folksier, rapid fire version of her now famous “Kiss With A Fist” and I must say I do enjoy it.
Finally there is a song or two where it feels like they really crowbar Florence in where she was never meant to be. This is more of a feeling than anything else so I’ll leave those songs unnamed and let you judge for yourself.
You will give the album a try… won’t you?
Edit: for Continuity
