Minus 8 - Science Fiction Jazz Volume Four (1999)

The fourth installment in the series doesn't exactly whisk us away on an interstellar sonic adventure; despite the title, the producers aren't aiming to create the sound of the post-millennium era. What makes this collection—which boasts the most laid-back, "swinging" vibe of the lot—so interesting is the way the tracks bridge the gap between the 1960s and today's club scene. While the brilliant drummers of bands like Jamiroquai or Plexiq constantly highlight the rhythmic kinship between classic funk-jazz and jungle, this album flips the formula: programmed beats are artfully enriched with live instrumentation. Solos are kept to a minimum—save for the occasional drum fill—while the backing tracks are often embellished with soulful vocals. Yonderboi briefly evokes the classic Rhodes theme from "Riders on the Storm," while flutes and vibraphones—alternating between shimmering and buzzing tones—and the occasional saxophone create a subtle "bar jazz" atmosphere. Jazzanova, A Forest Mighty Black, and Minus 8 venture furthest into the realm of jazz, while Diablo’s music is as devilishly cool as the soundtrack to an old *Shaft* movie. It is an album suited to a wide variety of occasions.