Jump Leads

Too many guest vocalists for what I've enjoyed from Fila Brazilla over the years. The instrumental tracks are phenomenal. Classics you hear on Soma FM's Groove Collective channel. I've been a fan of FB since I picked up 1995's PORK compilation that had their two amazing atmospheric groove tracks Sheriff and Leggy. This CD is about 75% great but really brief, over and done with around the same time MESS was. I decided to write this review after getting half way through the last track Green Green Grass of the Homegrown, I doubt it is even FB doing this song as it is an R&B folk singer with a guitar which is about the opposite of what I want in an FB release.

This is not your typical Fila Brazilla CD, it has two distinct halves, niether have the familiar Latin flavored beats that FB is famous for. The first "half" are dance-type tunes and the second part is very laid back, jazzy and bluesy. I loved every minute of it. I am glad that there are music groups out there that don't keep churning out the same thing over and over again. You should be too.

If you like jazzy electronica as I do then you will probably enjoy this CD. It is not exactly ground breaking work, or earth shaterring music that will leave you stunned but it is good enough. It is one of those change of pace discs in the rotation where the skip button might be used; in other words not every track is a winner. Let's be honest, what one person likes is not necessarily what another may like. If the vocals don't appeal to you there are enough dreamy bits of music to set your mind floating into the neither neither land of audio bliss. Some of the music sounds dated but most of it is revitalized to create a modern ambience that is a laid back groove. This is the type of music that flows through you and then suddenly grabs you with some imaginative musical passages. "DNA" is one such track where the unassuming sythns suddendly are highlighted by world beat tribal like vocals that grab your attention and make you listen closer. "We build arks" is a bit of soulful singing that has an acid jazz feel and works remarkably well for my tastes. The said song has a retro feel, sort of a Earth Wind and Fire revisted. Another song with vocals is "Nightfall" and it has a trip hop jazzy feel that compliments the soulful vocals that are quite pleasing. The instrumental songs are dominant throughout (7 of 11 tracks) and sound even better with headphones to catch all the little details of the studio. The last song on the disc, entitled "The Green Green Grass of Homegrown" sounds a little country, almost folkish, complete with harmonica and accordian and is a rather odd song to include on the disc but somehow works as a fitting ending to a disc of mixed variety. All in all it is a pretty decent CD, not a complete musical statement but rather a fragmented album with hits and misses. Not exactly the place to start with Fila Brazillia but it does showcase the diversity of these two musians and programmers.

First off, I have to say that I disagree just a bit with the reviewer below. The vocal tracks, while being new territory for the Filas, are easily the standout tracks on the album; mainly because they veer sharply from the boys' tried-and-true formula. However, the amount of soul in Steve Edwards' voice is quite astounding, and once you get past the initial shock of hearing vox on a Fila track, his tracks are quite enjoyable...and the lyrics themselves are quirky enough to complement the Fila sound. My only problem with the vocal tracks is that they don't last nearly long enough..."We Build Arks" ends on a rather abrupt note, for example. I wanted to cry... The best track on the album has to be "Nightfall", a 7+ minute featuring some of the best synth work the boys have done to date...and listen for the gorgeous strings about 5 minutes in. Again, the song kind of just ends, but it lets you down a bit easier than "Arks", and you'll have already hit the emotional peak of the song. As for the instrumental tracks...well, it IS a Fila Brazillia album...longtime fans will get what they are expecting. I particularly enjoyed track 8, "Percival Quintaine"...it closely resembles the style (especially the drums) perfected by another of England's finest groups, The Egg. The final track is a surprise, as it is an acoustic guitar/harmonica led tune, with more vox; a sublime ending to be sure. Jump Leads is a fine 8th album, especially considering the chances it takes...and it sounds like album number 9 is well on its way to being completed...and will take just as many chances as Jump Leads has. There are only a few groups around in ANY genre who can be as prolific without sacificing quality; Fila Brazillia remains at the top of that very short list.

Personally I loved it! It shows their ability to create a variety of sounds even though they are still underground. If there are touches of soul and other influences thats cool as long as the quality and style is there. When I listen to Black Market Gardening compared to Power clown they are different animals but still distinctly the FB eccentric flavour. It's just another great asset to their skills if you ask me to be able to manipulate sounds and inject touches of this and that. As long as they don't sell out although their last album nearly did as 'The life and times of Phoebus Broomal' (excuse the spelling) had touches of general hip hop which annoyed me greatly but it was still sweet enough.

Fila Brazillia, being 2 guys from North-east England, present their eigth studio album.Most acts dont get past one album, but not only are Fila heading for double-digits, they have done so with a beatiful suite of downtempo electronica sounds.As you may have guessed already... I love Fila!But I dont love this CD :-(What went wrong?Vocals.Im not anti-vocal, far from it, but Fila *are* vocal-free downtempo electronica. They define the genre as much as Tosca do.It has occurred to me during the 4 weeks I have owned this CD that it may be snobbishness. Would I feel the same about this CD if it was by another artist? After lots of reflection and listening, the answer is yes. This CD just doesnt click with me.But it might with you. To give you some clues as to my Fila taste, I wasnt huge on "Old Codes, New Chaos". There were slightly too many samples for me. Kinda like vocals in the end. So if you 5-starred Old Codes, then you will probably like Jump Leads more than I do.Not that its all bad. Im not handing out 4 stars out of loyalty. The vocals are only on 4 or 5 tracks. The instrumental tracks are worthy of any Fila release, but just when I get comfortable the vocals return. Maybe it the voice itself that is bugging me. Kid Loco's vocalistic "Kill Your Darlings" hits the spot wonderfully. Hmmm, I dunno. Turmoil.So... to summarise:- Its a mixture of classic Fila, and Fila doing *gasp* SONGS- If you are a big Fila fan you are going to buy this CD anyway!- If you are a casual Fila fan, then its more Old Codes than Maim That Tune- If you are new to Fila and have stumbled across this CD, then I reckon you should buy a couple of older releases first. Try "Maim that Tune", "Power Clown" or "Touch of Cloth".I will now return to my turmoil, and if I change my mind on this one, will let you know!

This offering is like so much fifth rate modern music, simply a bore to listen to with a minimal content which can only be appreciated if one is in a coma. This is a shame because Fila Brazillia are talented guys and have clearly displayed proof in other recordings that they are capable of so much better than this feeble effort!

Sometimes an album comes along that fulfils all criteria demanded by any music fan of any denomination...This is it...Simply stunning...Play and be amazed...

Thank you A+