Mark de Clive-Lowe - Church (2014)

Given his famed productivity, it's a surprise to find that Church is jazz keyboardist, broken beat legend and future jazz producer Mark De Clive-Lowe's first solo set since 2011's Tru Thoughts-released Renegades. For those who dig his musically rich blend of jazz, hip-hop, downtempo beats, global influences and club-friendly rhythms, Church is certainly well overdue. Predictably, it's a fine set, dripping with winding horns, intense rhythms, skewed electronics, impeccable keys (naturally) and heady, late night soul. Highlights are naturally plentiful, from the head-nodding soul-jazz bagginess of "Now Or Never", and languid lounge jazz of "Sketch for Miguel", to the voodoo rush of "Nova Rhoda", which comes layered with tribal chants and dense African percussion.