Nightmares On Wax - 'In A Space Outta Sound' (Warp) Released 20/03/06

Capturing the trademark NOW signatures that make George Evelyn one of the most successful Warp recording artists, 'In A Space Outta Sound' is the fifth studio recording and will be in prime positon to take listeners to sunnier climes, even if stuck on these British shores. With hybrid sounds that travel the world in search of beats and riddim, vocalists that bring further warmth to George's sonic-palette and inspiration enough to have the masters of old genuflecting with respect.  

'Passion' is the opener - keyboard washes giving way to melodious organ - the whole setting a pedestrian pace of taking the dog for a walk in the park. Standout 'Flip Ya Lid' opens with melodious bird-like whistling lifted by skanking riddims, a rootsy-tootsy number that gets the booty shaking, "..my woman we're gonna have to talk...", the vocals come over like it's an Orange Street original. Warp-ish track 'Pudpots' proves a 'gasp, horror' track, with squeaky brass samples and repetitive cartoonish-tomfoolery, a track Howie B'd be proud of. 'Dawn' brings the mood back to soulful recline, with well-chosen female vocalist singing " ..who gives a damn 'bout me..." entwinned with Arabic-flavoured samples, lifted by down-beats and strings, possessed of chutzpah.

'Deepdown' suffuses the pan-globalism that George relishes, in the manner of 'Up, Bustle and Out', leaving the funky strut of 'You Wish' - a simple arrangment that at first sounds like something's lifted from Hendrix's 'All Along The Watchtower', the guitar-lick sample spliced with noodly organ, awash with NOW calm. "...positive love inside of me..." shimmys and sassays on 'Me!', a down-funk workout, followed by a belter featuring the vocals of Mo'zez who guests with Zero 7 on ''I Am You' - the soul-funk and lush strings reminiscent of Quincy Jones/Donny Hathaway - "...look at me/ look in my eyes..." and Mo'zez is joined by a female vocal section, the drummer warming to the task.

There's merit and inspiration that'll make a commercial success of 'In a Space Outta Sound' in a manner 'Smoker's Delight' and 'Carboot Soul' swept through living-rooms. There's the calm idiosyncasy and appreciation for melody and mood that garner the NOW crown. There's a couple of duffers that prove blu-tak to stick the greater numbers up there, but the choice of guest vocalists proves the real winner - songs bringing the soulful element that vocal samples fail to muster. Bag it!