Aaron Jerome's deubt album has rich instrumentation, engaging electronics, soulful strings and a cocktail of sounds which would make the perfect soundtrack for a modern 70mm epic. And like the best Hitchcockian fables (the strings have at times the eerie engagement of Hitchcock composer Bernard Hermann) there is a twist in the tale. Seven minutes and thirty eight seconds into the last track, hidden on the track listings, is a gradual build up of tight drums and touching electronics. Little whispers of sound gather in pace and volume, becoming echoes and then screams. Just when you think this collection of music is over, Jerome pulls out a twist so magnificent you hold your breath in awe and you hear what has gone before in new light.
It is a shame that the hidden track is not given more prominence (though it is on the vinyl version); it is not only the stand out track of the album but a stand out track per se of the last few months. With hints of Pat Methaney, Miles Davis and 4 Hero in the mix, a hidden gem lies in wait for the listener.
The album as a whole comes close to meeting the hidden track's excellence - 'Kwa Kungsa' is a mix of dusty, African sounds and mystical vocals; the wonderful title track with its refrained Latin touches, 'Late Night Mission', evokes classic British Hip Hop (of the likes of The Brotherhood, Lewis Parker and Blak Twang) with its warm and comic delivery; the stunning 'Marrakesh'; the magical bliss of 'Rearrange' and the enchanting 'Dancing Girl'.
The album is let down in part by a handful of tracks ('Reason', 'Way of Life', ' 'Reel Time' and 'Blow Your Own part 2') which sound like record company suggested collaborations - OKish verging on quite good but you get the lingering feeling you have heard it all before especially compared to the innovation elsewhere.
In essence this is a very good album, even more so when you realise Aaron was a product of the CD-R project which gives aspiring musicians advice and guidance on how to make it as a musician. The countless hours honing his skills and listening to the advice of others at times produces some outstanding results (with the caveat of a few tracks that are at the most inoffensive). Somewhere there was a monster of a debut, sidetracked I am sure by record company/A and R politics. But without doubt this is still very, very good......and watch out for the Hitchcockian twist.
Sanjiv Ahluwalia