'Keb Darge Presents the New Mastersounds', the debut album from NMS, featured tracks that have been playlisted by Gilles Peterson, remixed by Kenny Dope and sampled by Shadow, since its first release in Oct 2001 on BBE. The album has sold over 7000 copies worldwide.
'Better Off Dead', from the new album, was released on 7' single in March 2003 and described thus:
'retro sitar break heaven for those on a mission to mix and match the old with the new'Obligatory Hammond parts, tough breaks and beats, dusty analogue-sounding production, it's all in there. Beauty' DJ Magazine
The breadth and scope of music within this new album will take some by surprise. Gone is the full-throttle, all-guns-blazing, heavy attack of previous recordings, replaced by a more mature and soulful sound. And yet there are some FAT & GREASY grooves here which will delight the breaks, beats and funk fans.
It's the two vocal tracks on the album that show just how far the NMS have developed in the last few years:
- 'Your love is mine' is a classic soul ballad (think Al Green) delivered by young singer Corinne Bailey-Rae (recently signed up by Floetry's management, and soon to be whisked off to Philly for some Touch Of Jazz magic!)
- Special guest vocalist LSK, took time out from promoting his massively acclaimed Sony album 'Outlaw' to drop the blue-eyed soul hip-hop of 'Idle Time'. Drenched with the blues, this original has all the flavour of a Mose Allison classic, but updated to the 21st century!
Yes, The New Mastersounds are back in style!'