Two Ms and an N
No beating around the bush here. I absolutely love this EP. And thank God it’s a generously proportioned EP. Some would have just gone ahead and called it an album. Six tracks, come on, this is a VEP. Very extended play. Very excellent too.
Half a minute of “Hustlin’ Heights”, the opener, are enough to convince anyone that loves a classy blend of House and Jazz. The drums… They sound as if Nilmmns had worked on every single percussive event, where to put it, how much volume to assign, how much analog dust to sprinkle over them, so masterfully that you wonder who the drummer is.
The Rhodes… did Bob James drop by? The ease, the lightness, the class – ah, this so good, and the notes swing so elegantly on top of those wonderfully emotive strings and horns. This is a really astonishing jam, something you immediately want to be put on stage by a real band. The drama, the drive, the elegance – I know I will play this again and again.
Just like “Midnight”, even if for different reasons. St Germain comparisons are a dime a dozen, I know, but still, this time you can do this without shame, without letting it feel like some kind of subliminal offense or criticism, and without diminishing the praise. Plus, it’s as much early Chicago as it is Ludovic Navarre. Very clever balance.
It just doesn’t stop. “Where Would They Go” is another brilliant concoction. The beat is pure Detroit Deep House, sublime vocals (supplied by Genoveva, a Dutch singer that has been on several Nilmmn productions already), elegantly jazzy little splashes and flourishes thrown in by piano and strings… What can I say? Third track, third winner.
“Bahia” may not keep the enormously high level completely, but that’s almost a relief. And it’s still a great study of uplifting Piano House aesthetics driven by a big and fat and warm bass drum. And just when you think it’s a little to one-dimensional you get that nice jazzy break somewhere in the fifth minute, and again towards the end. Nice touch.
The second vocal collaboration features Karl The Voice and Keter Darker – “Peanut Butter And Jelly”. Feeling like a deepening extension of “Where Would They Go?”, this time bringing it all together, a dose of Theo, a Detroit Deep House foundation, the voice of a French Deep House legend, and the inspiring messages of Keter Darker. The way these two tracks interrelate is another reason I’d be more inclined to call this an album rather than an EP. Slick.
The final round brings us back to the beginning, the drums again super organic with a distinctive live feel, the impression of witnessing a live jam even more pronounced. The Jazz element is dialed up a good bit, piano improvisation on the edge of solos, drum fills expertly elaborate, classic fusion jazz guitar chords – a very worthy closer.
It’s not like there is a shortage of successful attempts of blending House and Jazz these days. But I’m inclined to say that no one does it quite like Carlos Nilmmns. Oh, now that I am writing this name again – what is that? Go get your Scrabble box, get all the letters to spell his name, throw them all in the air a few times, and if you’re lucky they drop to spell Ross McMillan.
As mentioned above: I love this. I’ll play it a lot.
Release for review:
CARLOS NILMMNS – LEGACY EP – ORNAMENTS – 056
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