Say what you will about the acid jazz craze of the early 90s, but it was more often than not, the first introduction many current electronic jazz musicians had to the marriage of electronic club sounds with jazz music. From Clara Hill and Mark de Clive-Lowe to the brother duo of Wagon Cookin, acid jazz formed, curiously enough, the foundation of a modern soul movement that you can call nu jazz, acid jazz, nu soul, or really anything you like. Regardless of the label you give it, the sound is an even blend of jazz, soul and house music that has a vibrant spirit, due in part to the influence of west London's broken beat sound.

1. Intro
2. Incredible
3. Ridin' On the Wind
4. If You Love Me
5. Mr. Sun
6. Desejo
7. Shake You
8. What's It Like
9. She's a Hot Shot
10. Jumps On Me
11. Funky Stuff
12. Start To Play
13. En El Barrio
14. Don't Stop
15. Fever
16. Contour Generator
17. Mallorca

Spain's Wagon Cookin are brothers Javier and Luis Garaydale who once lived in an actual train/wagon car that once formed part of the famous Trans-Europe-Express railway, which doesn't make it hard to understand their choice of band name. With all Kraftwerk references aside, the two gained their earliest experience being part of various jazz bands, and also from their saxophone playing father.

It's been more than seven years now that these two have been developing their sound as Wagon Cookin. In 2001 they even formed their own label called Appetizers, later releasing their debut full-length with the same name, clearly expressing their affinity for good food and cooking it.

Though raised in Spain the brothers spent some time studying and writing music in Brazil and the depth of their Latin exposure is clearly reflected in their music, which is a blend of elements from bossa and Latin Jazz, to house, jazz, disco, the afro-Latin rhythms of broken beat, and above all, soul.

The first disc presents a combination of bubbly, relaxed, soulful dancefloor beats and mid-tempo soul jams with the moods really slowing down for the last few tracks. Disc two kicks off with a few straight out funky house floor jams and keeps the high up tempos rolling to the end. Be sure and check out "En El Barrio" and "Mallorca" for two of the tastiest nuggets on this platter. There really isn't much soul influence to be heard on this disc, which is likely why the album is called 2Faces.

(Original European release date: June 2007)

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