Minus 8

The early online buzz about this eighth album from Swiss producer Robert Jan Meyer (aka Minus 8) heralds a certain nu-jazz revival. While the disc does start off slow jammy on the first few tracks (including "Let It Go") and female vocalists like Hungary's Virag feature prominently, the pulse soon picks up to include soulful house and dance floor downtempo. Virag contributes to several tracks, including a mid-tempo, summery rendition of the Korgis's "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes," which was also famously covered by Beck. Indeed, her vocals, together with Meyer's mix of mellow keys, handclap samples and buzzy bleeps ("Give It Back"), comprise several of the disc's stronger moments, although the bright guitars that evoke both samba and reggae (but not samba-reggae), and dynamic, Nightmares on Wax-ish, uplifting beats and samples on "Juy," with singer Rachel Montana, also rank amongst the standouts, as does the sunny "Make Your Day," with singer Miriam S. This is languid, smooth late summer patio listening for the greater good.