Alif Tree

It's not often you come across the odd combination of DJ/producer/sound engineer/chef, but Marseille-based DJ Alif Tree is exactly that. In what has to be one of the most fantastic concepts, his website details five three-course meals (including recipes) and offers both drink suggestions and music proposals to accompany each. Though Alif Tree doesn't pair any of his musical endeavours with his fare (a good way to spare the pomposity after providing the meal), his latest release, Clockwork, with its various moods, atmospheres and terrain, and its highs and lows, would have been an obvious choice. Each track on the disc presents such a striking contrast to that which precedes and succeeds that they could possibly have been chosen at random, yet they all complement the rich, melody-filled soundscape that set the background for daily life. Clockwork opens with the ethereal sounds of "Aurevoir," the spattered piano, elusive bass and subtle percussion evolving into striking strings before giving into "Way Down South" featuring Tony Joe White, a bluesy tune with lazy guitars and harmonica. The album incorporates everything from the nu-jazz found in "Mai" and "Que Tu" to the groovy beats in "Never Be the Same" and "Not Gonna Waste My Time," both featuring horns and intriguing vocals. The eclectic path the album takes creates a soundtrack bound to make even the most discerning ear take notice.