It's certainly no secret that many in the downtempo music world are in love with folk at the minute. While it may have ranked as folktronica last year, a blending of folk arrangements, melodies, instrumentation and songwriting simplicity with the pioneering, unconventional styles of electronic music, what's emerging this year is something that often lacks all forms of synthesis. There's little "tronica" left. "Secret Love" isn't a series that strives to define a genre, it simply reflects what its compilers, the Jazzanova gents along with their buddy Resoul, think sounds good. And for that reason, it's hard to say no.

1. Dalschaert "Piece For Peace"
2. Hanne Hukkelberg "Do Not As I Do"
3. The Beauty Room "Holding On"
4. Soul Village "Everybody Loves The Sunshine"
5. Mocky "I'm Yours"
6. Donna Regina "How Beautiful"
7. Fujiya & Miyagi "Cassette Single"
8. Pola "Circles"
9. Max And Harvey "Sleep"
10. Fink "Pretty Little Thing (Fink sonar mix)"
11. Clara Hill "Once I Know"
12. Jose Gonzalez "Crosses"
13. Micah "Revelation"
14. Inch-Time "Icicles & Snowflakes"
15. Andre Zimma "Time Exists In Memories (feat. Thief)"
16. Tunng "Jenny Again"
17. Milosh "You Fill Me"
18. Thief "Does It Make Any Sense"

Dalschaert lead the compilation with a sound that squarely crosses Superpitcher (think "Tomorrow") with the non-specific spirit of 60s folk music. I've heard Hanne Hukkelberg's bare and enigmatic voice fluttering on some other "folk" compilations and everytime she draws me in but this time, she flutters more than usual on a song titled "Do Not As I Do" and it's enough to fall in love with.

Simply calling Secret Love a "folk" compilation doesn't really suit the variety of songs, because along with the necessarily 60s folk influenced tunes are those whose roots are more firmly planted in soul, funk, and of course jazz.

Be sure and check out the brushed snares and acoustic mysteries of Max & Harvey's beautifully played "Sleep" which was previously only available on a 10" release. Fink is an artist signed to Ninja Tune, who was part of the Catskills Records crew until recently. He supplied an exclusive track here which is a mix of "Pretty Little Thing" off his debut album "Biscuits For Breakfast". The sound is lazy and lusty with a noticeable blues influence, yet you may just find your head slowly nodding in time.

If you've tuned in to her latest album "All I Can Provide" you may be wondering where Clara Hill fits into a folk scheme. Well it turns out she's testing the waters with a surprisingly melancholy lullaby entitled "Once I Know" that betrays none of her house influnces. In fact, if it weren't so sweet it might be haunting. Swedish superstar José Gonzalez delivers a strong acoustic vocal jam called "Crosses" that just aches for a backdrop of 60s protest and parade video played in slow motion. Also check out Micah's "Revelation", it's got a rare groove jazz vibe to it with bubbling bass beneath a stripped down funkwise vocal performance that's only a few steps outside spoken word. Nice, nice, nice! Inch-Time drops a really nice instrumental drifter called "Icicles & Snowflakes".

The depth of styles presented here makes it hard to really point out the "what's what" because when it comes to folk-styled music, the nuance of what line separates genius from the talent-challenged moves drastically and seemingly at an artistic whim. Suffice to say Jazzanova have compiled a nice trip through an acoustic candyland called "Secret Love 3" that reflects their wide ranging tastes from folk, jazz, soul, funk and dreamy pop and every track was hand-selected with love; not exactly just folk and definitely not all "tronica". Turn on, tune in, strum out.

Add a Comment