The story behind how this album came to be here is quite long and involved but the gist of it is that I had a demo from the band ages ago and really enjoyed it. One track in particular stood out and I said that it was a killer, and that the rest of it was equally up to standard. There then followed a long period of e mails flying back and forth as I gave the band any advice I could muster in what to release. Sadly, the track concerned is not here because they could not get clearance to use the sample that 'made' it, but what they have come up with, is six tracks and twenty-three minutes of music that is truly first rate and unlike any other band around right now.
Essentially ambient, but not electronic as such, the music relies heavily on drums, bass and samples as foundations yet it's not drum 'n' bass by any stretch of the imagination. It's more ambient dub than anything but even this does not tell the whole story.
Right from the start, the rhythms and instruments set up a groove that is just so cool and unstoppable, almost defying you not to tap your feet to the rhythm base that they set up, and when you finally hit the third track, 'Mekong Delta', your whole body is swaying, yet it's not dance music either. With lead instrumental layers, melodies and rhythms coming from percussion, keyboards, electronics and samples, this is seriously addictive stuff. Throughout, each composition conveys a sense of atmosphere, a warm-hearted soul at the centre of the creative process, and a sense of structure that is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
'Cooler Kid' is decelerated ambient dub with echoed drums, strings, samples and electronics, so cool and almost eerie, while 'Chimpdubyabush' (love the title) opens proceedings on a seriously swinging groove that will have you immediately tapping those feet and shaking that ass, as its choppy rhythms and almost jazzy structure provide a seriously ambient-jazz slice of toe-tapping heaven, a repeated trombone riff and circular rhythmic structure forming the main body of the piece until it suddenly departs into a bass-driven time warp before returning to the addictive main theme.
'Dr Gramophone Abuse' begins with ringing chimes, shuffling drums, adds a deep electric bass figue as samples and electronics twitter away on top, the xylophone-like lead melody leading the way even though the rhythmic base is at the heart of the piece, as once again, the track changes shape as it travels, developing an even more addictive rhythm about two thirds the way through, as samples come into play and the whole thing cruises effortlessly along.
'Mekong Delta' is pure ambient dub but strong and strident, with echoed voice sample, brief swirling electronics, a short guitar figure and boinging Eastern like tones taking a central roles as, once more the patterns, textures, layers and sounds all mutate and change shape as the piece progresses, to absolutely exquisite effect. 'Infraxion' has an almost industrial dub feel to it as droning electronics, the ever present choppy, addictive rhythms, lead melodies from an organ-like source all dive on as the drums become multi-layered, altogether beefier, until the mid-section mutates into a searing soundscape of electronics and effects, before returning to the main theme and rhythmic propulsion - absolutely superb.
Finally, 'Jahgon', probably the most traditionally ambient dub piece on the disc, with the ever present strong drum rhythms right up front as usual, this time the whole stark piece initially sounding like vocal-less 'Doko E'-style Can, but then more melodies are added as what sounds almost like a tuned oil drum lead is heard in the distance, then dies away, to leave the strummed guitar, deep bass, lurching drums and generally expansive soundscape before it all just stops - abruptly.

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