Isoul8- 'Balance'

I have not heard from Germany’s Jazzanova in quite some time and while they have finally set up their own label independent of Compost Records, the distribution to the States has been limited. Luckily their new imprint, Sonar Kollectiv, has released plenty of material through digital downloads (This album being one of them.). I was surprised to find it was a pretty mellow affair. Not quite the broken beats I’m used to hearing from the Sonar Kollektiv camp. What it offers though is some of the best, sensuous and deepest late night club music you’ve heard in a while. Strictly rooted in a groove and jazz funk. It shares just as much with the music of Moodymann and Theo Parrish. Every song is pretty much a 12” single. Italy’s Enrico Crivellaro is the mastermind and the puts in the attention to detail. While the majority of songs are 4/4 rhythms it’s pretty clear that each song can stand on it’s own considering the guests he’s chosen. The song that hooked me in was the opener ‘Give It Up’ which features Galliano, 2 Banks of 4 vocalist Valerie Etienne. It offers the listener six minutes of mellow latin-house bliss . The songs that ensue are all just as worthy of time beyond radio format and they deliver. Vocalist Rasiyah ‘speaks her word’ and eventually conjures up Jill Scott in the end while House veteran Osunlade bangs out beats on 'Speak Your Word'. She follows up on the mellow Naked Music styled 'So Simple'. ‘How I Feel’ rehashes a bit of electro. The album closer and only poly rhythmic track, ‘A Silent Force’ features Kaidi Tathum (Bugz in the Attic, 4Hero) working synth magic on keyboards. Definitely worth a listen. Check out samples at: iTunes Soul Seduction- http://www.soulseduction.com/common/item_detail.php?ItemID=163482 Sonar Kollektiv- http://www.sonarkollektiv.com/artists/ISoul8/