Taking inspiration from original mod DJ Guy Stevens’s Sue label, Eddie Piller and DJ Gilles Peterson launched Acid Jazz Records in 1988 [named after their wildly-successful club night], providing a clued-up outlet for British soul talent and often-bonkers musical mavericks. Chart success went hand-in-hand with disasters but the label kept going, becoming a success story in itself, now celebrating its 21st with three compilations, starting with this sublimely diverse soul collection. To its credit, the set doesn’t take the greatest hits route, preferring to highlight lesser-known names like lunatic beatsters the Sandals alongside successes like the Brand New Heavies’ ‘Never Stop’, plus contemporary descendants like new warped P-Funk-jazz signings Twisted Tongue [about to unleash their own mindblowing album] and spiritual Modfather Paul Weller’s 2007 collaboration with Andy Lewis ‘Are You Trying To Be Lonely’. Other names include the Night Trains, James Taylor Quartet with Alison Limerick, D’Influence, Cloud nine, Mother Earth, Mr Exe featuring Mica Paris and Double Vision. Rarely has such a fine balance between reckless passion and sophisticated, genre-defying music been so finely distilled.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
