I bought Look Around The Corner without ever having heard one note from the album.

Quantic + Alice Russell + The Combo Bárbaro made it.  What more did I need to know?

Quantic (aka Will Holland) – whose many differently-flavoured, all fantastic musical concoctions you already know, and if you don’t can check out here.

Alice Russell – whose beautiful soul music and inspiring lyrics have been heard and loved by me and countless others in the world in the know about her, for a long time.  If you’re not in that group of Knowers, sample Alice Russell’s music below.

The Combo Bárbaro – a collective of incredibly experienced and brilliant (mostly Latin) musicians with whom Will Holland/Quantic has collaborated with on past albums.

So did my blind faith in Quantic, Alice Russell and The Combo Bárbaro based on their much-loved past musical creations pay off? Did I get my money’s worth in buying Look Around The Corner?

The amount of play-time this album’s had so far already, tells me Yes to both questions. More importantly the very unique sounds of this music mean I’ll probably want to listen to it for a lifetime.  And that’s ultimately what makes any album become part of the “most valuable” group in my music collection.

Look Around The Corner is fusion as defined here in Beaver Land. Great fusion. Twelve tracks of soul and funk tastefully and subtlely blended with the sounds of Latin jazz, cumbia and boogaloo. Ain’t no music in the world I’ve yet heard that sounds like the music created here by Quantic, Alice Russell and The Combo Bárbaro.

The sounds of the violin in this group’s music (Mike Simmonds) adds an especially unique sound to the mix. As does the magic of Peru’s Alfredito Linares’ hands on the piano.

Check out these sample tracks (mp3-only versions) from Look Around The Corner. The album was released by Tru Thoughts and feel-in-your-hands, smell-through-your-nose, see-with-your-eyes, good sound quality versions are super-easy to buy direct through their site. Or you can find it at any good independent record store yes? Look Around The Corner even comes in sweet vinyl.

‘I’d Cry’ – Look Around The Corner – Quantic & Alice Russell with The Combo Bárbaro

 

The next track’s here for Alfredito Linares’ piano especially – and because this great contemporary take on a 1974 song covered by many artists since, is a great reflection of the fabulous global evolution of music.

‘I’ll Keep My Light In My Window’ – Look Around The Corner – Quantic & Alice Russell with The Combo Bárbaro

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Anyone who’s not yet in that group of ‘Knowers and lovers of Alice Russell music’ can check out these here sample tracks from my favourite of her solo albums Under The Munka Moon…

‘Someday’ – Under The Munka Moon – Alice Russell

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‘Tired Little One’ – Under The Munka Moon – Alice Russell

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You can also buy Alice Russell’s albums on-line through Tru Thoughts.

If you’re not yet convinced you need to buy Look Around The Corner for yourself, you can check out a video here of Will Holland, Alice Russell and The Combo Bárbaro recording the album’s title track at Sonido Del Valle, Will Holland’s recording studio in Cali. The short glimpse of the delightfully-vast vinyl collection is enough reason alone to watch. The music played in it is more.