Lovers of music by artists like Thievery Corporation, Orbital, Amalgamation of Soundz, Kid Loco and Nitin Sawhney are sure to dig Cities Of Foam's debut album "A Great Day For The Race". As a combination of down tempo breaks, cinematic strings, playful synth melodies, dub vibes, lounge coolness and jazzy moods with a modicum of Latin flair, this album is both familiar and fresh, nostalgic and new.

1. Last Man Standing
2. Barry Can't Do Flat Tops
3. Out Of Reach
4. Half Empty
5. Girls In Bars
6. Safe Inside
7. Goldtop
8. Liquid Remedy
9. Le Melomane
10. Without You
11. Oleambi
12. Under Stars
13. Picking Up Tin Cans
14. (untitled - unlisted bonus track)

From the first track to the last, Cities Of Foam continued to surprise me with the diversity and quality of their songwriting. Take "Girls In Bars" as an example. This track begins with an abstract dub moment met quickly by some funky, dirty breaks that give way every so often to some unexpectedly calm acoustic guitar solos, before leaning back into an Air styled, ultra-smooth, jazz lounge vibe, which lasts until things swing back into dirty breaks that are then coupled with muted jazz trumpet. Simply nice!

Whether or not the influence of recording this album holed up in a studio in France was intentional or realized by the two Bristolian's who make up Cities Of Foam, you'll certainly pick up on that unique style that can only come from French (or French-influenced) downtempo.

Cities Of Foam make an excellent debut, as "A Great Day For The Race" is one of the years true highlights. Dorado would have been hard pressed to find a better album to announce its rebirth.

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