Kaskade In The Moment CD

Kaskade's second artist album is a surprisingly complex and thoroughly winning kaleidoscope of soulful flavors, some of them (like the leadoff single, "Steppin' Out") built on acoustic sounds and others with a more typical house or funk foundation. What makes the album's sound so unique and complex is that its predominant voices are those of real-world analog instruments instead of synthesized imitations. The rich string section that accompanies the pumping bass and stutter-step breakbeat on "Maybe" gives the whole track an organic warmth that you don't usually hear on a DJ album -- and when Kaskade warps the string sound into a queasy sonic mess, the result is all the more effective because the strings were such an integral part of the song's texture up until that point. The album's best moment comes on a complex, dub-inflected little piece of splintered trip-hop called "Sweet Love," which features a singer named Joslyn, who is responsible for a couple of other high points on the program as well. There's loverman soul courtesy of Rob Wannamaker ("One You" and the jazzy "Let You Go"), and even something that sounds strangely like a tribute to New Order (Andy Caldwell's "Everything"). Only the plodding "Yeah Right" leaves something to be desired on this excellent collection. ~ Rick Anderson

Arrangers: Craig Poole; John Hancock ; Scott Johnson ; Yoni Gileadi.

Personnel: Colette Marino, Rob Wannamaker, Joslyn, Becky Williams (vocals); Finn Bjarson (guitar, acoustic guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, percussion, programming); Rich Dixon (guitar, electric guitar); Scott Johnson (guitar); Craig Poole (acoustic guitar); Aaron Ashton (violin); Ellen Bridger (cello); Daron Bradford (flute); Ryan Raddon (trumpet, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, programming); Nathan Botts (trumpet); Scott Johnson (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Dave Despain (Fender Rhodes piano); John Hancock , Andy Caldwell (keyboards, programming); Jay Lawrence (vibraphone); Yoni Gileadi (programming).

Audio Mixer: Mike Roskelley.