Having evolved from a live D&B outfit down the years into their present incarnation, Finnish outfit Quintessence have obviously made the right move, earning sleeve notes and endorsement from Gilles Peterson, amongst others. It’s easy to see why. Their languid nu-soul / jazz style sits somewhere between names like Jill Scott and The Roots, tremendously organic sounds with obvious passion coming through, creating that special aura that certain types of music sometimes can. “White Light” initially saw release on London based label Dorado and is here in a re-worked form, the sounds of Purple aged Prince meeting up with Myles Davis, whilst “Sticks & Stones”, the opening cut, shows the groups horizontal lounge side to good effect. The jazz-rap of “Ballad in 6/8” allows them to flex their skills in all directions, and “Never” highlights that distinct nu-soul sound that underpins the whole affair.
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Darren Wall
