Tosca: "Suzuki" (***)

Lemon Jelly without the samples and craziness

Suzuki is a rather satisfying album that mixes common chillout elements and a few realistic instruments with electronic effects and beats. Actually, this characterization seems to work for Tosca in general as well as this particular album. Here you'll have lazy funk in the form of Orozco, a lovely melodic fat beat groover in the from of the title track and even some breakbeatish stuff with Annanas. On the whole, it's all very compelling, and while not necessarily chills-down-spine amazing, still an album you don't want to miss. The general formula is not overly complex, but the sound layers make up for it. It's produced so well you just have to like it. Busenfreund is a perfect example - a fantastic rolling breakbeat layered with a harmony that goes from peaceful slow points with a delicate piano background to soaring choruses with pads, synths and an airy sound to them. Doesn't go really well with these darkening Finnish autumn nights but when you close your eyes, it's summer again...

Another cool thing about is that all the tracks are mixed into each other - sometimes really well and other times a little abruptly, but it's still a nice twist into the album. Makes it really easy to just put this album on and let it flow. There are plenty of interesting beats mixed in ambience around some melodic theme, but occasionally there are more distinctly harmonious tracks, like Honey, along with Busenfreund also being one of the highlights on the album. It has a light breakbeat and a melodic bass and a really sunny atmosphere to it. A lazy dub-influenced groove is what you'll get with Doris Dub, easing you into the outro and out of the harmonious yet groovy place that is Suzuki.

Suzuki is any Lemon Jelly album without the samples and craziness - it's less upbeat, but plenty breakbeat.

TOP TRACKS: Suzuki, Busenfreund, Honey, Boss On The Boat, Ocean Beat

Tracklist Pearl In Suzuki Annanas [Sample] Orozco Busenfreund Honey Boss On The Boat [Sample] John Tomes Ocean Beat The Key Doris Dub Pearl Off

G-Stone Recordings 2000

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Review by Saboteur

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