(Tru Thoughts/Creative Vibes)

Not much animal behaviour on this polished effort

Among other things, London DJs and multi-instrumentalists Rob Mac and Matt Smooth have used their Jumbonics moniker for a few years now as part of their exploration of soulful funk – or should that be funky soul? – with a flashback flavour, but also with an injection of well-shaped, non-intrusive hip hop grooves. Either way, this second album still has them in feelgood vibe, regularly going for sway rather than sweat. This time, however, despite instrumentals like Red One and Roll Mop, they’ve gone for a more vocally-oriented stance, courtesy of the svelte, smoochy tones of Norman Anderson (he’s been around since the early days of acid jazz and singing with the likes of Us3 and Afrobeat legend Tony Allen). Also glossing up the proceedings is violinist Lucy Wilkins, who’s worked with 4Hero. But just when you think you’ve got Jumbonics sussed as an act that is classy and cruisy but also just a little predictable, along comes their buffed-up, cooled-down and sweetened cover of one of The Strokes’ best known songs, Last Nite. It helps put a different spin on an otherwise measured performance by these tasteful funk-soul brothers. 

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BILL HOLDSWORTH

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