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D(e)light

Dominique J. B. Feneyrou | Paris, France | 01/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's quite challenging to stick a label on this one. The touch is modern but can also appeal to jazz fans and the general happy go lucky listener.

It has a compulsive rhythm box ("Moody"), soft piano accompanying it ("Lost&found"), sometimes getting more edgier ("Coming up", "Say what you mean"), strong diva like female vocals and balanced chorus with a modern flute ("Waiting hopefully"). The rhythms are sometimes inspired by drum&bass, some songs on the contrary taking their time to unveil ("The long goodbye" where a piano bar like intro is supported by a string section)...at times the music just takes over and there is no message involved, it's a "thinking" type tune ("Tri-cyclic", where violins, flute and modern rhythms again place the song on a different level). The style is always enjoyable for those who listen to "Jazzanova", but even "Dead can Dance" in some ways ("Black Dog") i.e. either a supped up version of trip-jazz-hop or even feels at time like a movie score, with an epic breathing in it ("Changeless", greatly closing this selection).

Instruments mingle coming from different schools not to result in an indecisive audio soup, rather a very surprising and positive vibe like coherent ensemble. It' all in the talent. Makes you realize that music still has a place in today's techno era."

GREAT - D Note is the best acid jazz band that never was.

Dominique J. B. Feneyrou | 11/21/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Their best album yet, this is a timeless album and I recommend it to anyone that's into Portishead, Tricky and lighter d&b.Good taste is the key here and this D Note has a lot of it. Matt S is a truly talented musician, with few to compare these days. His bass lines just STICK on the back of your mind for days, with one in particular surfacing on more than one track of the album.Very good indeed."