Label: Palm Pictures
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Ancoats 2 Zambia
With Portishead between albums and Tricky now homeless -- he left Island dissatisfied with the label and the business -- fans of Bristol-born trip-hop need to look no further than The Baby Namboos for your fix.
Produced by Tony Quigley and unleashed through Tricky's imprint Durban Poison, "Ancoats 2 Zambia" is satisfying chill-out electronica with predictable Tricky influence. In fact, the gravelly voiced vocalist lends his pipes to three songs, and his influential production techniques are all over the 12 e-works, two of which are ace remixes (Geoff Barrow, Dillinja) of the soothing title track.
"Get Your Head Down" locks in on a tight drum-circle groove. "Hard Times" and "Late Night Antics" benefit from delicate yet in-your-face female vocals. The Namboos are the real deal.