Mo'Horizons* – Come Touch The Sun

A very paradigmatic album of the "downtempo" style, when trip hop was gradually replaced by more optimistic and sunny latin rhythms, where many European producers sampled more or less obscure albums they found on second hand stores. This one shares with Mo Horizons the same characteristics as the rest of their albums: some of the songs are exceptional and some are horribly cringey, while all of them are excellently produced. My favourite is Bar Rumba, a hip hop mixed with samba that ends up in an almost rave.

Though Mo’Horizons weren’t the first to enter on the whole lounge-jazz scene, they were one of the first to make a name for themselves. COME TOUCH THE SUN is the evidence of why. “Yes Baby Yes (Sally Said)” is chilled and funky, with a groovy piano that hits you in just the right place. “Hold On” makes a political statement danceable, and “Fever 99” makes you dance even faster in a bongo frenzy. Their cover of “Brazil” sounds completely authentic, even with a house rhythm. Who would have thought that Germany could do Latin-America justice? “Foto Viva” makes voyeurism sexy again (if only sonically). But in terms of pure chill out, you couldn’t do better than “Prince Charles’ Latest Affair,” a slow and sensuous affair with a breathy “Oh, Charles!” sample that makes you feel slightly dirty. That alone makes up for weaker tracks.