The debut album is now out and early adopters, such as Gilles Peterson (Radio 1), Michael Rutten (Compost Radio) and Simon Harrison (Basic Soul) are hailing it as one of the albums of the year.

You may recall I said ‘Mo’ High’ (the all-winner) was “not an obvious track”. He’s continued the offbeatness through the album like a latter-day electro Sun Ra via Amp Fiddler. The most obvious club tune is ‘Ay Calor’ that featured on Wah Wah 45’s compilation CD Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits where it sounded a bit out of context. Now it’s back in with its metaphoric solar system, it seems much happier even if it is an album of themed constant variety (you’ll know what I mean when you hear it).

He’s clearly got smart eyes and ears for the ladies. FLY favourite, Deborah Jordan sings and co-wrote ‘Backstep’ with Max. Ms. Jordan is another artist going into outer space with even more collaborations to come and her debut solo album later this year.

Serious others to watch for are Afro-flutin’ funker ‘Silver Linings’ and the straightish jazz of ‘Prayerie’, which is so cool with its bass clarinet and vibes. Talkin’ jazz, ‘The Violent Bear It Away’ is a standard piano, bass and drum trio with a mere hint of synth.

Some of these tracks are really out there like the opener ‘Wallflowerin’. The downtempo space-theme continues with the synthy ‘Not Of This Earth’ and ‘Who Got The Keys?’ with a super low-slung bass.

So you’re not going’ to be dancing like a whirling dervish to any of these tracks. ‘Spinning’ sums up his laid back vibe, as he sings. “if we could just make it through the pressure.” Time to chill with those funky beats with a touch of Lucy May on vocals.

Max is certainly a one-off, who would have thought to re-write the 80s pop-disco classic ‘Teardrops’ of Womack & Womack as a comatosed Amp Fiddler funk. It’s much better than I’ve made it sounds. Dueting with Lucy May this time, it finishes off the album in a spaced out sexy way.

It certainly leaves you on a high and wanting more. Bright future for all concerned.

Hectic Mix nomination: If I said ‘Backstep’, ‘Spinning’, ‘Silver Linings’ and ‘Prayerie’ for a start, you may as well say all of them! Top album.

Max Cole - Star Charts (Wah Wah 45s) Cat. No. WAHCD002 Release date: 05 Jun 2006
Tracklisting:
1. Wallfowerin (5:21)
2. Prayerie (4:39)
3. Backstep (4:45) Vocals - Deborah Jordan
4. Not Of This Earth (4:24)
5. The Violent Bear It Away (3:12)
6. Spinning (5:00) Backing Vocals - Lucy May
7. Ay Calor (4:33)
8. Silver Linings (4:57)
9. Who Got The Keys (4:21)
10. Teardrops (5:16) Vocals - Lucy May Written By Womack

Links:
www.wahwah45s.com
www.myspace.com/wahwah45s
www.myspace.com/servini
Lucy May on myspace www.myspace.com/trodders
www.cargo-london.com
www.myspace.com/deborahjordanmusic
Gilles Peterson : Tracklisting 28/08/05 : Henrik Schwarz In The Studio
(4) Max Cole - Not Of This Earth (White)
Gilles Peterson : Tracklisting 28 May 06 : J Davey live in session
Amp Fiddler - ‘Dope’ (Genuine)
Max Cole - ‘Wall Flowerin’ (Wah Wah)