Herbert & Momoko - Clay (Strut)
- The Slow Music Movement
- 33 minutes ago
- 2 min read
*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's July 13th Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***
Matthew Herbert leapt on to my radar with his Bodily Functions album almost a quarter of a century ago, and as a producer with a manifesto never to use preset sounds, instead preferring to sample and repurpose the sounds of the world, I’ll leave you to guess where the sound sources for that album came from. Oddly it was, up until now, his most soulful work.
I’d never heard of Momoko Gill before this album, and although she’s been involved in a few tasty collaborations the last four years, it looks like she’s been paying her dues rather than getting paid, so respect to Herbert for picking up on her obvious but under appreciated talents, laying down the album with her and giving her a leg up.
Herbert for his part dusts off his warmer, less provoctive box of studio tricks to accentuate his studio partners soulful tones and loose rhythmic work, choosing to elevate rather than overwhelm her charming vocals with his distinctive sonics, although “Mowing” leans into heavier start of night club territory and “More and More” starts off all sweet and jazzily before the sonic demons peek through the portal to smirk and disrupt the generally good natured collaboration.
On the whole though the album mines the lighter but meaningful end of nu-jazz and the deeper, looser, lither and pleasantly leftfield side of soulful house, and will sound great if you want some upbeat, forward looking soul for those road trips to the nearest sand or bucolic setting to make the most of the good weather.
Playlist Companion
Find Herbert & Momoko in various playlists as well as in the Slow Pop Playlist: