Press Play CD

Here's just the thing to cure your downtempo jones. If you're looking for funk that coaxes rather than forces you to move, if you're needing music with rich textures and dubwise flourishes, if you want something that will chill you out without leaving you bored, Instinct -- along with its intercontinental partner, Shadow -- is the label for you. The latest compilation from this imprint features a clutch of the usual suspects (Kruder & Dorfmeister, Cujo, DJ Cam, Hybrid Device, Mujaji), all of them up to their hips in deeply blunted grooves that draw on everything from North African influences ("Far East Coast" by the Exodus Quartet) to ambient trip-hop (Super Pulse's "French Riviera") and big beat-inflected dub (or is that dub-inflected big beat?) on Blend's "Le Dub Monochrome." Sure, it all sort of blends together and your attention starts to wander about a third of the way through. But when the music stops an hour later, you'll notice. And you'll press play again. ~ Rick Anderson

Kruder & Dorfmeister,DJ Cam, Exodus Quartet,Curtis & Cujo++

Audio Remixers: DJ Cam; Kid Loco.

Arranger: Hybrid Device.