Lack Of Afro (Adam Gibbons) has achieved a startling amount in the few years since his first Freestyle releases. Playing live and DJing across the world, producing and remixing everyone from Tom Jones, The Pharcyde, The New Mastersounds through to Kraak & Smaak! In 2011, as well as collaborating on an album with Eddie Roberts, having also produced and played on the album, ‘Colours´ by Freestyle label mate Frootful, Adam somehow found time to create without doubt his strongest album yet: ´This Time´. A wide ranging and eclectic, progressive musical outlook has always been the Lack Of Afro approach, and on ‘This Time’, Adam’s 3rd album, the music pulls together several strands into a fantastic, homogenous journey with almost too many highlights to mention! This masterpiece is set to ignite audiences across the globe with its impeccable beats and signature blend of funk, hip hop and soul. Several top notch vocalists feature, Jake Morleys ‘Holding My Breath’ with its moody minor key feel riding over an aggressive rhythm track is one tune that is bound to find favour on dance floors worldwide. ‘A Time For…’ with Wayne Giddens’ smoky, falsetto voice is already gaining a reputation as Lack Of Afro’s most genuinely soulful composition ever. Already available as a 7 inch single/download the amazing feedback to this beautiful song ensures it will certainly become renowned as timeless classic. ‘Fool’ is a track that echoes 1960s pop-soul of artists like Dusty Springfield, as Angeline Morrison’s sweet voice rides over orchestral strings, whilst on ‘The Importance Of Elsewhere’ Angeline displays fully deserved soul credentials and her contributions mark her out as a rising star in 2011. With flavours of afrobeat on ‘Contusions’, the laid back far eastern tonality of ‘Little Fugue’, Def Jam star Wax rocking all over ‘P.A.R.T.Y.’ alongside Herbal T, and a smattering of well rounded and grooving instrumentals like ‘Lazy Lazurus’. Other musicians featured on the album include Chip Wickham / Badly Drawn Boy (sax & flute), DJ Andy Smith, Eddie Roberts / The New Mastersounds (guitar) and Nick Radford /Frootful (guitar). ‘This Time’ is the Lack Of Afro album we have all been waiting for…considered, soulful, contemporary yet retro, accomplished and setting standards in modern music others will struggle to follow.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By A.Rash
