UK duo US3 have been knocking around for over ten years now, enjoying an early breakthrough in 1993 with their Acid Jazz kickback version of Herbie Hancock’s ‘Cantaloup Island’, renamed ‘Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)’. Given free rein by Blue Note they set about pillaging old jazz records and re-working them for a new audience, seduced by the duo’s use of modern grooves.
With their fourth album ‘Questions’, US3 continue to mine the jazz/hip-hop vein, drawing in talented vocalists and musicians to augment the breaks and beats. The vibe is laid-back and pleasant enough but nothing really sparkles, despite the best efforts of, in particular Mpho and Reggi Wyns as, respectively, guest singer and rapper.
Everything is just a bit too jazz-lite and easy-going and there is a crippling lack of variation in the rhythm that seems to stifle genuine expression amongst the musicians. The piano work on tracks like ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’ and ‘Believe In Yourself’ is exemplary but it’s setting is nearer to the politeness of a dinner party than the freedom of a jazz club.
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Things improve with Mpho’s ‘When She’s Dancing?’ where singer and pianist are finally assisted by the developing groove that builds from some simple percussion to a latin-tinged bossa nova. ‘The Healer’ also benefits significantly with the introduction of funk, guitar, scat and horns, giving the album another resuscitating breath of life. However, US3’s cause isn’t helped by the inclusion of two ‘Cantaloop’ re-mixes as they serve only to remind you of how much their sound is reliant upon a catchy melody line around which to build the beats.
‘Questions’ is a disappointment: with so much talent making up the constituent parts the whole should really have more teeth and soul.
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