The expectations for Jazztronik's album Samurai were raised when the title track made 15th spot in Gilles Peterson's Worldwide 2004 all-winners track of the year.

Samurai is sure to find its way back into DJ boxes following the release of this album. It's italo-piano house with new age vocal chorus rolled up with some broken Bugz treatment. The girl vocal duo of Arvin Homa Aya and Yurai really produce a sound that is worthy of the description 'chorus'.

The next track 'Phoenix' is all Ryota in an old skool house style that's elegant enough to be equally good for the head as it is for the feet –- a recurring feature on this album.

Now we're warmed up, the swordsman sharpens his blades.It's not long into 'Nana' you know this will hurt. The Cuícas' start and the girls sing 'Feeling the sun is shining on your face'. Shiftless Shufflers will be squeaking with delight, Jazz Roomers will be in Rhodes rehab before too long. The sax and flute fit in with the 70s style and it's a workout at eight minutes dead.

Ohhh Froro me! 'Froro' is as good as 'Nana' but this time we've gone afro-beat. Yurai asks 'Where's the horn?' -- it's there. This time Kazuhiro tunes into the spirit of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. This is going to be the next single so watch out.

'Livin' High' is another biggy. Aya's spoken rap works with pounding acoustic bassline backbone and some hard percussion. But what happens? It just stops as it's getting into the swing of things. Shame.

You can hear the 2 Banks Of 4 influences on 'Colour Of Days'. It's a jazzer thing with flute, real strings and a very jazzy vocal and scat from Yurai. The baritone sax makes that bit more throbbing.

Next up is another ripper called 'Arabesque', going broken Arab-samba. The cello is back with the flute taking the lead together with the piano, heavy Brazilian percussion with more scatting from Yurai and Aya.

'Muddy Muddy' is an unpromising title and it starts that way. But before too long we've a loungin' piano bossa, the girls chorus "We're still in love... from head to toe" and there's some strange business from an electric cello zeta (Koutoro 'Monsieur' Saito). You'll be returning to this track's hypnotic excellence.

'Dance With Me (Dub)' gets us back in the House with a samba feel, not much sign of Lee Perry. It's the longest track (9.16) to finish off the set. Another one I'm not absolutely ecstatic about is 'Things We Like' where we have the girls rap about the things they like over a broken beat.

So getting the small gripes out of the way, this is the best Jap jazz that I've heard for a very long time and prepare yourself for the Jazztronik tour of Europe soon. Check links below.

(Pantone Music). Release Date 4th April 2005

Links
Pantone Music
Dois 12" Samurai + the other side being the afro-beat-jazz-house of 'Kokoro' by Jephté Guillaume, we'll worth a re-listen.
Froro: Sound clips from Japan from Flower Records, 2003 CD FLRC 016 : Set Free
"This is fresh and this is now..." - STRAIGHT NO CHASER
Nik Weston www.nikweston.co.uk