Various Acts - 'Palm Beats Volume One' (Palm Pictures)
4/5
By: Kevin Molloy
Multi-faceted, multifarious, that's what it is. This album will have you dancing. It will have you as contemplative as Socrates. It will have you grinning ear to ear amidst the unrivalled musical euphoria that constitutes hearing something new. It might even make you cry. It's that good.
In the guise of a label retrospective, 'Palm Beats Volume One' collects together the Palm Pictures label's multitudinous talent, past and present, in a compilation that majestically spans genre and geographical boundaries; a megalith destined both for the grinding rhythms of a hip dancefloor, and the subtler intricacies of a rockfeedback connoisseur's stereo.
'FREEZE, Police!' is the opening shout left ringing in your ears, as 'Capone's Theme', from Jamaican greats Sly & Robbie, slides into its quasi-dub groove, replete with scatty rhythms, incomprehensible, invocative murmurings, and, most bizarrely, a fantastically orchestral strings arrangement, which emerges in parts through the track, and forming the splendid outro.
Yes, from the outset, this compilation has proved its fusion colours; only further cemented by the Latin Spanish soul and jazzy minimalism of Sidestepper's 'Linda Manigua', and Gigi's tribal-pop 'Gud Fella' which follow. The latter is also invested with Herbie Hancock-worthy instants of funk on organ, and simply proves what a rich diversity there is in the world-pop scene; oh, shame on the West for having conjured 'Pop Idol'...
The moments of purest genius, however, are still to come. Bostich's 'Polaris' defies, erm, definition; a finely woven electronic tapestry, with soaring synths, and rolling rhythms, somehow taking influence in equal measure from drum 'n' bass and Mexican Latino, whilst almost classical in its elegance. In similarly graceful style arrives Jolly Mukherjee, in collaboration with the Madras Cinematic Orchestra, turning out a masterpiece that glides swanlike upon strings and electronica - an inspiring and heart-warmingly contented eight minutes, suspending time in front of your very ears.
Elsewhere: Fa Laay Fanaan covers funk-fusion, blended with the alternative scales of Africa; Da Lata provide two rhythmically laden tracks carpeted via the laidback vocals of rather jovial Brazilian stoners - 'Alice' is superbly horizontal with its joyously simple organs and acoustic guitar, proving that restraint can speak volumes in lieu of excess. Finally, 1 Giant Leap are the biggest name on this recording (and accordingly granted two pivotal songs). The first, 'Braided Hair', immediately grabs - upbeat enough to have you, if you weren't already, grooving. Trust us. Seemingly, whatever the problem addressed, this world-music project and their guests tackle it with a meaty bass-line, scratchy rhythms and a smile on face.
So, with fifty minutes of unadulterated cadence and energy, and eighteen mins of slowly-returning-you-to-planet-Earth-from-its-enlacing-ecstasy... 'Volume One' will have you singing along in a language you don't understand, and basking in rhythmic vitality. T'would be a crime to disregard this collection of some of world music's finest voices and innovators.
Artists in this article: Various Acts
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