This is the fourth volume of Ping Pong Orchestra albums on Ubiquity, adding to the four full solo albums Lee has also made. As with previous Ping Pong Orchestra albums Voices and Choices journeys through tempo and mood, moving from library to dancefloor.

The David Axelrod influence surfaces overtly through the deep ‘Song for David’, one of my favourite tracks on the album. Flicks of guitar and rich arrangements are highly reminiscent of the great and not late, Axe, with ‘Song for David’ and ‘Nod Your Head’ capable enough of fitting elegantly on either of Axelrod’s late 60s solo albums Song of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Intensely cinematic the album also reflects the influence of another great and legendary producer, arranger and composer, Ennio Morricone. Indeed ‘Tense Bossa’ would score a Western excellently.

Predominantly instrumental, Ubiquity labelmates Ohmega Watts and Nino Moschella add vocals to some of Lee’s multi-layered scores. ‘The Hour Glass Effect’ featuring Ohmega Watts rhyming over enchanting melodic beats takes the album in a direction unlike any other track and should entertain purist hip hop heads as well as more all round music lovers.

Voices and Choices is another excellent release on Ubiquity, a label that has become synonymous with quality music. 2006 was an immense year for them, with numerous fantastic releases pulsing through many genres — jazz, soul, funk, afrobeat, electro, hip hop — my personal favourites being Nomo — New Tones, Radio Citizen — Berlin Serengeti and Owusu and Hannibal’s Living With Owusu & Hannibal plus other terrific music from Spanky Wilson, Breakestra, TM Juke, Darondo, and Quantic.

Ubiquity continues to release fresh music from artists both sides of the Atlantic and 2007 is should be another big year for the Californian based label. Voices and Choices has just been released and look out for live shows by the Ping Pong Orchestra which will undoubtedly be as spectacular as the recorded material.

Links:
Shawn Lee
Ubiquity Records
David Axelrod
Ennio Morricone