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Rating: I have never liked compilations. The words "Various artists" create a strong itch behind my ears. Many groups and musicians crammed together like sardines in a single record, each with their style, trying to say as much as they can about themselves, exploiting a maximum of four minutes.
From these not-too-optimistic premises comes the review of what can ultimately be considered a good (double) live album, recently released by Ether Records. Gilles Peterson, an English DJ with idol John Peel, couldn't wait, by his own admission, to close as many artists as possible inside the famous Maida Vale studios and have them record whatever came to their minds. Here, then, is a double "live" album that represents the cherry on top of the cake on Sunday morning when you take a bath immersed in a sea of foam.
The artists presented inside have little to do with rock (here's another reason why in this review I will never use terms like "beautiful," "extraordinary," "perfect"): Heritage Orchestra, N.E.R.D., Bjork, Roots Manuva and many others for a production that markedly veers towards jazz, blues, and hip hop. Even Cody Chestnut from The Roots (also present here as a group, they propose a sort of improvised jam session) converts to the more intimate dimension created by the radio studio room, and magically "The Seed," the smash commercial hit of last year, almost seems like a beautiful ballad with blues and soul hues. Beck wins the award for the most boring track on the album: an acoustic lament lasting six minutes, shapeless like an amoeba, all guitar and vocals that lead nowhere.
The whole is produced excellently, every single breath is captured and put on record. The work sounds quite coherent: the light rhythms are supported by the excellent vein of a Jamie Cullum ("Frontin") who rides the wave of global success, and for a second we all become a bit more pop-y.
Recommended for those who couldn't wait to "take a break" from the stress and the mountain of too complicated records they own in their room.
Tracklist
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