This newly mellowed out iteration of Kokoroko may well be the sound of summer 2025, or at least those parts of the summer after the first bottle has been opened and we’ve stopped rushing around as if we were driven by a particularly hyper-active strain of FOMO. This is what you want to be listening to in our part of the world as you stand next to the barbecue and your thoughts turn to the question of whether or not charcoal floats.
The
music is a rich blend of Caribbean swing, soul (ancient and modern), and
shuffling funk with some soaring soloing over the top of both the rest of the
band and the singers. A bit of reggae breakdown, simple spoken word rap and
party noises all add to the atmosphere. The lyrics float along, half a beat
behind the rhythm, full of romance, hope and yearning; Three Piece Suit is especially irresistible and inviting with a
lovely fluid guitar run worming its way through the song. Time And Time kicks it up a beat or two with some burning brass;
it’s a piece of bubbling jazz-funk with the horns calling all to the
dancefloor; its swings and swirls setting out the exact line for your hips to
follow while the drums direct the feet.
They
manage to sneak an extra dose of jazz into Together
We Are which features some complex, multiple lines from the horns playing
in and around each other before Carmichael’s bold sax raises the energy levels.
The first part of closing track Over/Reprise
is all floating pastoral soul before the
Reprise part swings us out with a
late spot of good cheer.
If you want some chilled sounds for your party, this is the album for you. It won’t set any houses alight but I suspect that you will reach for this more than you expected to whenever the sun shines. In some quarters it will be pouring out of every window. Dave Sayer
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