The Berlin based label Sonar Kollektiv has been waitingfor it anxiously: Key Elements‘ debut album leads Jazzmusic into the new decade down-the-line. The music KeyElements create is fresh, merciless and ruthless and hasalways the finger on the pulse of the time. The album‘seight tracks are all far away from Broken Beat nostalgiaor Beatmaking nedism, they breathe inspiration from theyoung, thriving British jazz scene.

Key Element‘s initiator, DJ and producer Marian Tone,built up a reputation in the Berlin hiphop, soul and jazzscene over the years (also as a co-founder of Beatkollektiv).With all of his compositions you always feel this heritageand his love and passion for hiphop. But the othertwo allys within «Key Elements», drummer Waldi and thekeyboard or bass player Jim Dunloop made their contributionwith compositions and ideas as well. An albumwhich was initially designed to be a mere solo projectbecame an effort of a trio over the years being inherentlyconsistent.

Already the opening track «Mike Needs Sugar» showsthe direction this album will take us: To the land of thegood groove. It‘s here where the three thoroughbred musiciansfeel on top of the world obviously and deliver oneluscious track after the other. From the cheerful «MorningBoom» to the kinda furtively laid back «Impossible»and the final «Funky Dave», which could be on an Italiansoundtrack from the 70‘s every single tone and note from«Key Elements» is great fun.

Especially because even when you listen to it a second,third or fourth time you will discover new nuances andniceties again and again. As is right and proper for reallygood jazz album.

Dig it!

• 1. A1. Mike Needs Sugar
• 2. A2. Morning Boom
• 3. A3. Orchestra Mode Feat. Gerry Franke
• 4. A4. Elemental
• 5. B1. Impossible
• 6. B2. Sua Onda
• 7. B3. Fading Out
• 8. B4. Funky Dave