Acceptance - Contemporary Bebop Quintet

Advantages: Good tunes- Rahzel great
Disadvantages: done before?

...Bristol deejay and producer Size's '97 debut New Forms was an aptly titled breakthrough in electronica with its hypercharged fusion of futuristic drum 'n' bass with bebop jazz. It was, and remains, untoppable. But his long-anticipated followup In the Mode comes as close as anything could. Returning to a dystopic urban-jungle landscape, Size and his backing quintet navigate a labyrinthine funhouse of smacking speed-freak beatboxes, disorienting vocal syncopation and brooding keyboard robotics familiar to fans. But compared to the impenetrable two-CD New Forms, In the Mode is accessible. More of these tracks qualify as actual songs, with lyrics, verses and choruses amid the skeletal squiggle 'n' slam. Two standouts: In Tune With the Sound, with human beatbox Rahzel, who weaves his magic so seamlessly with Size's you can't tell where... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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...With a sound dubbed "urban roots rock reggae," Morgan Heritage, a group which consists of the five children of reggae singer Denroy Morgan, faithfully carry the roots-reggae torch. Boasting smooth harmonizing and hopeful messages, these singers present a convincing case for the power of simple reggae "riddims." The quintet's rootsy sound shines on the opening track, "Reggae Road," and on the pure vocals of "Freedom," but their youth and energy are also positively displayed with the song's "toasting" sequence. This is the album for reggae fans looking to capture the original reggae sound epitomized by Bob Marley, but with a contemporary twist.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Reinvigorated Davis, awesomely funky, with a superb band.
Disadvantages: You're kidding right?

...boxer who destroyed all of his opponents, and lived life in the fastest of the fast lanes. Cars, women, fine clothes, newspaper headlines, and a nation that baulked as a negro stood at the pinnacle of his profession. There was an awful lot for Miles to identify with. The energy on this record is palpable. A tangible electricity flows through the 2 tracks that make up the standard edition release. Davis was never just Davis though, in the early days of be-bop he was in the shadows of Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker, with the birth of cool jazz it was Davis and Gil Evans and his quintet with Coltrane, Bill Evans, 'Cannonball' Adderley, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. Later came the groundbreaking quintet sitting alongside Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter and perhaps most importantly of all, in the producer's booth... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful