Jimi Tenor – Sähkömies

Jimi Tenor's debut, SAHKOMIES (named after Puu's parent label Sähkö) got re-released on Warp once they had picked him up as an artist, and it shows all the hallmarks of Tenor's work: the retro sound of "Theme Sax" suggests a lounge sensibility, and the organ noodling and clicks of "Crazy Hammond" only reinforce this, as a gentle beat and deep bass underpin the sax of "Union Ave." But then suddenly, "Take Me Baby" dives into 80s electro madness, bringing the spacey blips of "Matti B" along with it for what seems like an oddly long time. "Teräsmies" brings back the weirdo jazz, and "Travelin Dem Spaceways" has a dub feel. Strangely enough, "Union Ave lll" almost feels Middle Eastern with its wavering tones and scant percussion. Interesting, though not always concise.