Embassadors - "Coptic Dub"

Some really nice, mellow, down-tempo jazz here. Don't know much about this group, but I definitely have been enjoying their record. European in origin, they are a fairly newish group, having had their debut performance only in 2007.

This may not be the most action-packed, upbeat record, but is full of quality music nonetheless. I always say you can never have enough good jazz, and this is most definitely good jazz. Delicate, swinging drum brushes and double bass lines provide the backdrop for melancholic, melodic trumpet (or maybe reed) leads. The music ebbs and flows gently, with a continous but not overwhelming pulse. Subtle, understated at times, this record will satisfy any fans of modern jazz or good, down-tempo music.

Get it here

Xploding Plastix - "Amateur Girlfriends go Proskirt Models"

Crazy, crazy stuff here. A duo from Norway, these guys make some seriously cool and futuristic electronic jazz compositions. A typical Xploding Plastix song may feature dusty horns samples, mellow keyboard licks, a walking double-bass line, and complex drum rhythms. However, there is no typical song from them, as they have a wide range of variety. Some tracks have a pulsing, fast, upbeat tempo while others are strictly downtempo and chilled. There are some artists in the "acid jazz" category that make music that could easily also be classified as "easy listening" aka "elevator music", but not these guys. Extremely interesting, inventive compositions, well worth a listen.


"Amateur Girlfriends go Proskirt Models"