When Pantone launched with the Jazztronic album, I dashed off to get the only other release on the label at that time which was a 12” by Yukihiro called ‘Hooked’. It featured Lady Alma (aka Alma Horton, she of ‘Hold It Down’ and Sylk 130/King Britt’). If you’ve got the July edition of Manifesto, according to Dr. Bob Jones in his ‘Inspiration Modern Soul’ column he says, “Search out immediately as it’s already been deleted.” So if you haven’t, don’t worry as it’s on the album.

‘Peace’ also features Lady Alma who’s a big star of the Philly nu-soul scene. Subtler than ‘Hooked’, it is a fine example of how far Yukihiro’s DJing of the late 80’s has progressed to fully formed artist, arranger and producer who wrote/co-wrote all the tracks on the album.

Title track ‘Equality’ features Rich Medina (who’s got his own album coming out soon – see Straight No Chaser, Summer 2005) and is firmly in the Gil Scot-Heron style of jazz poetry. The sax solo (Kazuki Katsuta of Jafrosax) swings towards the 80s which actually gels better in the houseier reprise of ‘Equality Part 2’ — Give it a few listens as I think it’s a grower.

But it’s the next track that gets my vote as a favourite. It’s been a while since we’ve heard Victor Davies (he of East London and remember ‘Sound Of The Samba’, ‘Better Place’ on JCR?) and he features on the appropriately entitled, ‘All Over The World’. Shufflin’ soulful samba at its best. And just to make you jealous, as I write this I’m actually looking out at the sun kissed seascape on a beautifully hot sunny day with cloudless blue skies. When I look back on this in the winter, the sexy voice of Victor Davies on ‘All Over The World’ is going to glow.

Sticking with this trans global theme, Ernesto (Sweden/ Exceptional) features on the next two tracks, the first with Isabella Antena on ‘Love Is To Blame’. More, samba, more love, more keys and acoustic guitar. And with the equality ‘theme’, the lyrics are a touch sugar-coated (e.g. “we are all the same”) which is probably harsh but it would have sounded better sung in Portuguese. See ‘Cat & Mouse’ which is just the extended version of ‘Love Is To Blame’ with Ernesto on skat duties.

With that first half alone you get your money’s worth, so in a thoughtful moment ‘Killing Time’ seems to be included to give the listener a chance to reflect and on the following track, ‘Is IT…’ with spoken lyrics of Lori Fine (Coldfeet), each line alternates from left to right speakers (e.g. “is it just for dancefloors… it’s just music”).

Now starts a small Nik Weston style “Japan selection section” on the CD. Don’t think the next one is a Talking Head’s cover version as Hajime Yoshizawa (he of ‘Endless Bow ’ and Sleep Walker, try The Record Room link below) is the guest on ‘Road to Nowhere’. This starts in West London’s broken beat home with some twinklely piano, quality shimmering synth waves and boogie bounce. It finishes not far from the start, but it’s a journey all the same. Whilst the next one, ‘The Tambour’ is similar but with more of an Afro-Latin jazz-funk train journey feel and features the percussion of Genta of De La Luz. This will be too much for the dancefloor (for me at least) but it’s brilliant.

‘Continuous Function’ gets guests Makoto Saito and Takuo Yamamoto back on the broken beat with more swirling synths noises and builds up for the flute solo.

So as my flesh melts in the beach bar heat, the CD finishes off with a couple of bonus remixes; the aforementioned Dimitri From Paris’ ‘Peace’ and yet more ‘Equality’ via a dirty funked up Blackbeard remix.

This CD certainly has more ‘reach’ than I first thought and just gets better and better on every listen. Big up Gav Smith at Pantone. Excellent stuff.

Reviewed: Yukihiro Fukutomi – Equality (Pantone Music Cat. NO. PANCD002 Release 29th August 2005 – LP version PANLP002

Links:
Pantone: subscribe to the newsletter @ www.pantonemusic.com
‘Mr Equality’ Yukihiro Fukutomi’s website www.equalize.org.uk
Manifesto ‘The Number One Magazine For Lovers Of Soul Music – Old & New’: Issue 63 July 2005 £4.00 info@manifestouk.com inc. Dr. Bob Jones www.doctorbobjones.com
Southport Weekender Presents Dimitri From Paris (includes his Peace remix), Jazzie B and Quentin Harris (Volume 3) [3x Mix CD & 3× 12” Limited Edition vinyl available June 27.2005]… Find Vol 1 with Gilles Peterson on mix duty.
Straight No Chaser Summer 2005 £3.50 www.straightnochaser.co.uk
Rich Medina – Poet DJ Producer interview
“Also due in tomorrow is the Equality LP by Yukihiro Fukutomi on Pantone” www.therecordroom.co.uk + they’ve just restocked the must have 12” on Especial, ‘The Voyage’ featuring Pharoah Sanders / ‘Into The Sun’ featuring Bembé Segué)
Nik Weston www.nikweston.co.uk
Exceptional www.exceptionalrecords.co.uk