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As regular readers will know, I've a problem with album covers and this is another one that doesn't fill you with much confidence. And the name, Elmore Judd! Sounds like a Delta Blue(s) Peter TV presenter of some years ago. So I don't get it. But with an open mind I gave it another go and I've finally fallen in with the rest of the world OK, if not the world, some of London Town's music vendor emporia at least.

I think my tips to get the most out of it are:

1. Definitely don't look at the cover.
2. Don't try and put the whole album in any pigeonhole genre.
3. Trust Mr. Scruff, "Stunning debut, very soulful, original and quirky."
4. Trust Gilles Peterson who played the first 3 tracks to open one of his Worldwide shows last year? A strange trio like an eclectic a mix tape; 'Birth Of Elmore' reminds me of Mr. Scruff in the sea, 'Intro To Judd World' gets hip hop scratchin' whilst, 'Your Eyes' is a slow broken style love song (Break Reform territory).
5. Trust Peterson's live band booking policy as they played a live session in February including 'Bitter Gnome'. This is in a Roots Manuva fairground style ska with humorous couplets and mental fragility, "All these girls make me sick and rock my world".
6. Go straight to 'Falling, Running, Stream Of' if you think you would enjoy a Anthony & The Jonsons-Sun Ra hybrid.
7. Don't worry about old skool influences. 'Death Doves And Love Angels' sound Punk-synth-pop-early Human League whilst the preceding 'Orchestra of Addicts' picks on a hip hop 'Don't Stop' electro beat.
8. Don't worry about short tracks like 'Afro-Harmonix' (0:52). Similarly, 'Agrozinger (Bulbahaeim)' is a short dirty electro-pop intro to 'Kinky', which is my favourite at the moment, moody Detroit techno Kasbah synth porn.
9. Get your Amp Fiddler hat on. 'There's A War Going On' is very minimal Fiddler but the addition of the sax solo ups the Funk. The preceding track is more Fiddler funk, 'I Can't Wait' tempered by a moody downtempo feel.
10. Try 'You Said You Were Different' with some funky-electro type mixes. It's stripped Prince affair on a small budget.
11. And finally, 'Lemonade' was out as an odd 7" a while back but it works as a cool down here.

Elmore Judd's leader/alter ego, Jesse Hackett wrote/co-wrote all the 14 songs (45 minutes). PIMP magazine described this album as "a Party.. while Amp Fiddler and Prince get drunk with The Stooges in the corner." There's certainly a strangeness to it all. Perhaps not so strange as a drunk Iggy Pop but it's definitely evident. The live show consists of an 8-piece band with cross-memberships with Raw Dog and Jade Fox. The album launch party was held with a live gig at the prestigious Jafe Café (27th March, 2005) and I wish I had made the effort to go and see them now. Not to worry, I think we'll be hearing much more from Mr. Hackett et al in the future.

Reviewed: Elmore Judd - 'Angel Sounds' (Above The Clouds Recordings)

Links:
Above The Clouds
If Music - "Finally On Vinyl, Elmore Judd Angel Sounds..." (but currently out of stock)
P.I.M.P. Vol.2, Elmore Judd - Angels With Dirty Faces
Jazz Cafe
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting 20/02/05 :: Elmore Judd Live In session, 19) 'Party For Free' 20) 'Kinky' 21) 'Bitter Gnome'
Gilles Peterson playlist 27/10/2004 :: Selected Gilles Peterson: Tracklisting; 'Birth Of Elmore', 'Intro To Judd World', 'Your Eyes' feat. Fae & 'Kinky' (Rawdog)