LTJ Bukem takes his jazz-funk fused drum ’n’ bass over to Japan, bringing his lyrical partner-n-crime MC Conrad along for the ride. MC Conrad keeps the crowd jumping with his "peace, love and vibe" spiel over the grooves Bukem lays down. Teamwork is key in this audio-sensory journey.

Bukem begins the journey with the Miles Davis-inspired "G-Funk" by Greenfly. He gives it preferential treatment by letting the melody take the lead over the syncopated drums with a 25-second vibe solo that, while small and insignificant to those outside the loop, will knock jazz and melodic d‘n’b enthusiasts to the floor. Bukem then delves deeper into his roots with a remix of "funk before the P-Funk master" Herbie Hancock’s "The Essence." Chaka Kahn’s vocals sound even more interplanetary diva-like under the heart attack drumbeat because the funk’s just that good, even at 220 BPMs.

The groove gets deeper and darker as the album progresses, becoming a euphoric rollercoaster ride. Bukem leaves the funk and jazz behind to give MC Conrad room to spit his words of musical wisdom over the atmospheric keyboards and Japanese flutes that fade in. The DJ then brings the drums up over the "blink and you’ll miss it" melody, and lets it ride for just long enough to make the groove seem established. He heads back to ambient territory to finish, coming down with wind chimes and cymbals and guitar lines mixed in with the hi-hat keeping the pulse going. Just when you think it’s safe to rest on the dance floor, the drums come back up but with a cymbal wash poured over the groove to connect the melody with the diva boy vocals on the last track by Japanese artist Makoto, "You Make Me Feel". The mark of a drum’n’ bass master like Bukem is the seamless fusion of melody and drum. He can take you on a journey that loops your ears in from beginning to end.

Jessie Nelson