Flowriders' debut album "Starcraft" has a nu soul-jazz fusion sound thick with sweetly smooth voices, mellow breaks, and jazz horns, guitar, flutes and chords. If soul, R&B and nu jazz fusion are your choice of aural marinade, you'll get full flavor out of Flowriders' "Starcraft".

1. Soul Searchin'
2. Reggae Roots
3. Macy Miles
4. Matter
5. Pheromone
6. Quest
7. Into Darkness
8. Darkness Into Light
9. Interlude
10. C-Frique
11. Nerd Rock
12. Roots Go Deep
13. My Crazy Vein
14. J&B
15. NPM
16. Gentle Wan

You definitely need to get a taste of "Matter". Smooth, sophisticated beats in bass-heavy syrup, topped with sweet female vocal melodies. About half-way through this track the mood shifts gear into a more soulful swerve, and the female vocals become a duet with soulful male touches. Absolutely one of the best tracks here.

"Quest" is another exceptionally nice tune. Opening in a flurry of bells, and swirling, effected strings "Quest" has a slower tempo, and deeper female vocal tones with a gospel-funk edge. The fat and funky bass holds this song down right.

The instrumental, Japanese-edged ambience of "Into Darkness" delivers a nice, moody horn solo over minimal percussive accents. A nice intermission followed by the complimentingly titled, yet very different sounding "Darkness Into Light".

"C-Frique" is a nice track; all breakbeats, crazy keys, and some heavy jazz fusion. It doesn't pull me in entirely, but it doesn't entirely push me away either. You be the judge.

Based on what I've heard so far, the title of "Nerd Rock" alone compels me to like it no matter how it sounds. The song comes on in heavy pimpin' funk, deep bass kicks, great snares and swankin' synths. The instrumentation is amazing and the voices keep the Flowriders soul style strong. Deep funk with 70s inspired chord progression in the chorus. I have to put this in the "absolutely one of the best tracks here" category.

"J&B" is a nice horn and vibe-like keys led instrumental piece with occasional synth pads and laid back percussion. If you're looking for a sipping song, you can lay back and look good listening to, this is the one.

Maybe you're looking for a little ancient, urban wisdom? The smooth breaks, spoken word vocals, and horn solo of "NPM" may hold the answer you seek. And even if it doesn't, you will have heard some nice urban-edged, breaks and crisp, intelligent, female vox.

Starcraft delivers some exceptional songs in a soul-jazz-funk-breaks fusion style. If you've got an ear for heavy 70s influenced soul, jazz and R&B sounds, you're going to need this album for sure.

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