Wup Bup, the latest and fourth album from Indiana-based Mystikos Quintet is one of those jazz-rooted albums that nourishes itself from the earth of its mood. Everything here depends on getting your head in a certain space, an unhurried, warm, and smoky space.

1. Fem Blanc
2. Basic Channel
3. The Shadow of Your File
4. Wah Wah Watusi
5. Deepy Down
6. Doobab
7. Dough Key
8. Drop Zone
9. Just Like I Pictured It
10. Wup Bup
11. Martini Time
12. Bonehead Jazz
13. Late Night Interlude
14. I Can Give You Good Lovin' Baby
15. Roach Clip
16. Across the Bay
17. Ooo Hoo Hoo
18. Midnight Herb
19. Safe Passage

The sound of Mystikos Quintet balances between the worlds of jazz and lounge music while dipping a toe or two in influences as diverse as skank rhythms, jazz swing and blues funk. There are no vocal performances (though some songs use sampled verses) and no grandiose explosions of horn stabs. The sound of every song maintains a carefully leveled combination of calm energy and laid back groove.

There is no question this album requires you to be able to appreciate jazz music, but it doesn't cross that unforgivable line into "smooth jazz" territory. Save for its downtempo influences, this album is a lot like the simple, gritty jazz you might hear coming from the trio or quintet in the corner of a small pub, where the lights are low, the glasses are always clean, the bar top is always shiny, and the drinks are never too light or too strong.

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