Smooth Finnish composer Jimi Tenor has come a long way from his time as the token guy making normal(ish) music on the Warp label in the late nineties. Of course, he has since moved on, complaining that they were stifling his desire for experimentation and continued to ply his kitsch keyboard fantasies on labels like Kitty-Yo and Sahko. Joystone has him simultaneously consolidating his space age bachelor pad sleaze, yet also heading off in the most unlikely directions, the earthier tones of Kabu Kabu, a West African trio that features the incredible rhythms of Nicholas Addo Nettey, previously a percussionist and background singer with Fela Kuti’ legendary Africa 70. Whilst Nettey has previously worked with Jimi Tenor on Beyond the Stars (2003) and the likes of Tarwater and Antibalas, Joystone sees a more obvious attempt at fusion.
This is by no means Afrobeat lounge music, Tenor very much holds the reigns, creating the mood with his synth and keyboard based compositions, yet the African percussion does bubble around underneath pushing it all into a unique direction. There is also the propensity for the jams to continue for a lot longer than you would normally expect, the percussion providing extra drive, allowing Tenor the opportunity to kick things out. He’ also working with a number of Finnish horn players, which tends to move things in a more contemporary jazz direction. So what you have is three distinct directions and an album that delves into pop, funk, lounge, soul, jazz, even house with these disparate influences flavouring proceedings. It’s easily Tenor’ most impressive achievement thus far, quirky upbeat fun overseen by a masterful compositional ear. It makes so much sense that it’ll have you wondering why no one previously had thought to unite Finnish jazz, Nigerian rhythms and cosmic sleaze.
Bob Baker Fish
