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Session One came out in 2000 and was proof, if proof were needed, that ‘live’ hip-hop played in a band setting could stand up to any sampler based version; indeed it was “a precious release”. So, when the Same As It Ever Was album came out last year, I thought that the Herbaliser Band was well and truly confined to the past. But no, original members Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba have finally got together with The Easy Access Orchestra (aka the horns of Ralph Lamb and Andy Ross, son of jazz saxophonist Ronnie Ross) and got busy on a ‘live’ version of past The Herbaliser hits; hence, Session 2.

The music covers a period of 12 years from Blow Your Headphones to Same As It Never Was (from which we got the killer, ‘Can’t Help This Feelin’’).

But, as ever with The Herbaliser, these guys are funky with a eye on the cinematic (inspirations of the Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin, John Barry breaks heritage here) that really suits these instrumental versions, just check out ‘Moon Sequence’ or ‘Amores Bongo’ (that’s one for the Blow Up crew) to see what I’m on about.

Not convinced? Well, the opener, ‘Mr. Chombee Has Flaw’ (no typo) is what this album is all about with huge horns and a jazz dance beat; if you don’t get his there’s something amiss.

‘Geddim!’ (from London Town) is all fast and funky al a ‘Bullit’ with scratches and energy and synths that confirm this is an essential for the summer.

The three ‘preludes’ are suitably psychedelic-jazz and can be slipped into mixtape intros but all of the big tunes are big tunes, particularly ‘Another Mother’, ‘Stranded On Earth’ and the space-jazz funk of ‘Blackwater Drive’.

Session 3 is likely to feature their back catalogue of vocal and MC collaborations but Session 2 is as true to the spirit of the Session as you can get and with near on 10 years of more experience, this far exceeds the originals.

Sill hard to believe these vets of the Ninja Tune are not on Ninja Tune so full marks to !K7 for this one. I for one can’t get enough of it and lets hope there is going to be live gigs to follow.

Hectic Mix nominations: all but ‘Blackwater Drive’ is massive.

Reviewed: The Herbaliser Band - Session 2 (!K7) Cat. No. K77245CD Release date: 3rd August 2009
Tracklisting:
1 Mr. Chombee Has Flaw (3:31)
2 Geddim! (4:54)
3 AM Prelude (1:33)
4 Another Mother (7:32)
5 Blackwater Drive (4:51)
6 MS Prelude (1:30)
7 Moon Sequence (6:09)
8 Amores Bongo (4:07)
9 CC Prelude (0:37)
10 Theme From Control Centre (5:28)
11 Stranded On Earth (10:35)

Links:
www.theherbaliserband-session2.com
www.herbaliser.com
www.myspace.com/theherbz
www.k7.com
www.myspace.com/k7records
www.blowuprecords.com