9Lazy9* – Sweet Jones

9 Lazy 9, an early and groundbreaking part of the Ninja Tune stable, return after a long absence with SWEET JONES, an reprise of their downtempo-dub-jazz fusion. And they start off in fine worm, with the gentle freeform of “The Woodworm.” “Poundstretcher” goes a more mysterious route and “Cosa” follows there soon after. “Keep Going Daddy” injects of the more rhythmic sensibilities that Funki Porcini had in his solo work, but for the most part, the tempo is kept more on the “down” side, as with the groovy “Carborante.” In the years between their first releases, the entire lounge-downtempo-future-jazz scene has blown up, sometimes with great results, and sometimes with mediocre results. Though the world hasn’t completely left 9 Lazy 9 behind, they’re no longer the innovators they once were. That’s a minor complaint, however, when they can still produce high-quality music, like the gorgeous “The Last of the West,” which switches from major to minor keys with simple grace. Let’s hope it’s not the last of 9 Lazy 9.