This is the second outing for Paul Osborne‘s Project Gemini and for the opening snippet I wrote “woodland samba Dr Who theme with flute”. This gives you some indication of the number of touchstones that are present on Colours & Light and it is a good title as well, because the album is all about the vibrancy of the outdoor world in all its glories, taking in funk elements, baggy twists and soundtrack drama in its inimitable stride.
The whole album sounds like fun, lazy fun in the case of the title track with its ’90s loping beat, scudding with touches and tasteful guitar shimmers; while the sleepy funk bass and mysterious French voice of Wendy Martinez on “Extra Nuit” appears to compile the activities of a group of disparate characters lost in the wee small hours.
Different players bring different vibes to the tracks and it feels like a journey from the funky guitar and woodwind The Mamas And The Papas vibe of “The Last Midnight” to the folky strum and West Coast harmonies of “Lost In The Woods”. There are rays of hope in the vocals and the subtle shuffling percussion turns paranoia to breeziness.
In places the bass is sumptuous and the interaction of almost baggy beats and pastoral flute keeps the surprises coming. In fact, the flute and bass-driven “Seven Seconds To Sunrise” with its soundtrack vibe had me imagining an Aston Martin being driven down a long, winding country house drive, autumnal colours swirling around.
In all, the album is a real textural treasure from the circular Indian vibe of “After The Dawn” right down to the final piece that evokes eventually finding your way out of the woods after an unexpected night, the wavering beauty of the piece underscoring the sense of heightened awareness. For fans of all-encompassing musical adventure, you would be well advised to check Colours & Light out.-Mr Olivetti-
