Greg Fenton reviews Pig&Dan – Journey Within – Café del Mar Music
Beginning a fresh journey with this series of artists-only albums, the legendary Café del Mar presents this selection from Pig&Dan. Even if the album consisted only of the opening track, Can’t Do It on My Own, I would still recommend playing it incessantly. It is such an inspired and uplifting piece of music, taking breaks as the cue while nourishing the soul with a choice of curated vocals from the past. Funk and voices play a large part across the full spectrum of the album, which is occasionally horizontal in listening, yet there remains a powerful drive in the rhythms fueling the music too. Sensual would be another useful word to use. While you’re here, soak up the beautiful strings on Freedom is a State of Mind alongside the deft, punchy bassline, crisp accompanying drums, plus commanding vocals. The music is full of such carefully crafted musical prowess to the extent that your appreciation will only deepen with each listen.
The excellence continues apace from the skanking Got a Lot to Live for, through to the most upbeat number of the release, the self-explanatory, I Feel it echoing heady days of freedom. With a nod to the island’s heritage, Fly Through the Sky evokes cosmic, psychedelic flavours, reversed sounds, and rich, breathy voices igniting the dawn chorus, while the heavier pulse of 4 Lanes shimmers in sassy glory as edgy arpeggios feel exciting and tempting in the process. The album concludes on a much deeper, more gorgeous note as the beats slow down to a suitably easy stroll, with bass, drums, and voices all reflecting Jamaica’s ever-present influence. Nothing falls short of pure quality here, as productions are all first-rate, feeling contemporary while honouring the enduring tradition of Café del Mar, a crucial sentiment to note. Journey Within is an album of wonderful inspired sunshine sounds for morning, noon and night.
Release: June 13
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