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Regular readers will know that [Chaka] Domu & [Buju] Volcov produced one of my favourite singles of all time. As a duo, they are better known as Rima, who recorded on Jazzanova/Compost. Not only that, Enrico runs his own labels in Italy, Archive and Neroli — so you can see he’s a busy chap.

As time is tight, Isoul8 has been fitted around all his other work, which perhaps explains why there are so many great artists from the scene on it such as Valerie Etienne, who sings on the opener ‘Give It Up’ (soon to be a 12”).

‘Give It Up’ sets the tone for the soulful house of the album but it’s only when we get the flute and keyboard solos towards the end that it starts to get interesting. ‘Clover’ (featuring Paul Randolph) is better with the emphasis on chill acoustic guitar and a funky beat.

Rasiyah’s spoken verse on ‘Speak Your Word’ is aided by the presence of Mr. Yorubu himself, Osunlade. Think spacey synths with a conscious lyric while the next track ‘So Simple’ (this time with Raiyah singing) would not have been out of place on his Aquarian Moon album.

‘Just The Way I Like It’ is another in a spoken ‘No More Dating DJs - A Message For The DJ’ style while Marcus Begg’s vocal contribution is very impressive; as is former Arrested Development star Nadirah Shakoor.

Although there’s a ‘comfort zone’ feel to this collection, the tracks seem to improve throughout and by the time we get to the other track with Mr. Randolph, ‘On My Heart’, I’m beginning to think it’s a winner. ‘How I Feel’ is a spaced out handclap banger of the old skool whilst the set ends with a trip to the rainforest [via West London] with an appearance by Kaidi Tatham on ‘A Silent Force’. An instrumental like ‘How I Feel’, it’s got that flute again and it’s another that could have made an appearance on ‘Aquarian Moon’.

What with the news that Domu is starting his own record label, I hope the emergence of Isoul8 doesn’t mean an end to future Domu/Volcov collaborations. But in the meantime, clearly fans of Aquarian Moon will love this album also.

Hectic Mix nomination: ‘So Simple’, ‘How I Feel’, ‘On My Heart’, ‘A Silent Force’

Reviewed: Isoul8 - Balance (Sonar Kollektiv) Cat.No. SK104CD Release date: July 2006
Tracklisting:
1 Give It Up (6:31)
2 Clover (6:15)
3 Speak Your Word (5:57)
4 So Simple (7:09)
5 Free (Just One Remix) (5:46)
6 How I Feel (6:15)
7 Just The Way I Like It (5:03)
8 No Longer Fear (6:09)
9 The Vow
10 On My Heart
11 A Silent Force

Links:
www.sonarkollektiv.com