Quantic & Alice Russell with The Combo Barbaro | Look Around the Corner

UK-born Will Holland (AKA Quantic) is proving to be an evolving musical force. A producer, DJ and musician dabbling in Funk & Jazz, Electronic & Folk, Latin & Reggae, Dub & Cumbia, he was touted by Gilles Peterson of BBC Radio 1 as being “at the forefront of a new global sound.”

Holland has released over ten full-length albums to date on the Tru Thoughts label as Quantic, The Quantic Soul Orchestra and Flowering Inferno, weaving between both the electronic and acoustic realms with apparent ease.

Holland has lived in Cali, Colombia since 2007, so unsurprisingly his latest live band project, Quantic and the Combo Barbaro, was an exploration into the traditional Columbian sound hand in hand with a bunch of South American musical legends. 'Tradition in Transition' - the first album in this project - tapped the vein of musical sources from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa, fusing those rich sounds of the past with deep neo-funk and soul elements.

Here Holland has taken things a step further adding a whole other dimension: Vocal Stylist - Alice Russell. Describing her as a dimension unto herself is no exaggeration.

Russell's own musical career has been similarly explorative. In fact, some of her first musical outings were with Holland as featured vocalist on his Quantic Soul Orchestra albums.

'Look Around the Corner' is a seamless blend of talent and style. Holland's playful compositions expressed with absolute mastery and soul by the Combo Barbaro act as the perfect cushion to support Russell's soaring and formidable voice.

The overall effect is graceful, sweet and entirely charming. Classic soul with a Latin hue.

The title track is a nostalgic journey reminiscent of Minnie Riperton's Les Fleur but with a little more spring in its step. This sets the stage for the array of sweeping strings, lilting island rhythms, lazy brass and trickling piano riffs which carry us back to the world of sixties exotica.

The album's cover track is 'I'll Keep a Light in my Window', originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. Here it is revitalized by the balance of force and delicacy in Russell's vocals and the teasing strings of Mike Simmonds.

“Road to Islay” and “Una Tarde En Mariquita” are instrumental tracks perhaps designed to break up Russell's vocal numbers, but here the Combo Barbaro get to shine and open up the revs.

The overall mood of the album is upbeat

This is not a surprising release for the Tru Thoughts label, who continue to forge new trails as one of the most respected independent music labels in the world. Rob Luis and Paul Jonas, the label heads, maintain a steadfast vision characterized by multifarious and original artists producing absolute quality. 'Look Around the Corner' is another feather in their cap, testament to their vision.

Bottom line: If you characterize yourself as a music lover, this is music to love. Every track is guaranteed to leave you humming and tapping your feet.

Quantic & Alice Russell With The Combo Barbaro - Look Around The Corner

Label: Tru Thoughts

General Release.

File Under: Sweet as a Nut