I have to say, this would be one of the most refreshing compilations to hit my ears for a while. This two CD album is a nice mix of Nostalgia 77’s own works and remixes of other artists’ tracks and gives us some of the neatest, smoothest and finest nu-jazz, funk, soul and sometimes touching blues and swing. Some of these sounds can easily send one back in a time warp to bars of the 1920s, but blended with the modern electric sound, Nostalgia 77 has brought to us one of the grooviest, relaxing and laid back masterpieces in recent times.

Quiet Dawn is a perfect intro – down tempo, sultry, classical with a small twist of Portishead. The vocalist on this one reminds me of Beth Givens. It has that captivating “turn the lights down” feel yet oozes finesse and class. The piano and string accompaniment just adds more depth to a perfect track. Knee Deep is the first remix on the CD, a track originally from TM Juke. This one leans to a more orchestral, trip hop feel. A little foreboding but never sinister. Little Steps gears up the bass guitar and gets us more on the funky vibe before cranking some soothing trumpet that is the icing on the cake.

Dirty Diggers join forces with Nostalgia 77 on So Grown Up for a hip hop track that is funky as. Soloman’s remixed Natural Self has some tribal overtones to it that gives the track a primitive feel. Add some slow dub beats and brass instruments and you certainly get a unique feel. Forgetting to Remember, another of Nostalgia 77’s remixes, has some thought provoking vocals like “stuck in the middle of emptiness,” and goes back to slow funk. Conventical makes use of some interesting echoing samples before kicking off into a nice, groovy lounge atmosphere. This one is a bit more soothing, swinging and stylish – one of my favourites. Sad Thing swings back to some of that deep funky bass guitar that we start to come familiar with on the album so far. Cool and suave.

Your Love is Mine is an uplifting, cruisy feel good track that will make awesome backdrop party music. It is just one of those that makes you feel at ease immediately. It’s when you hear a track like this that you realise the true power of music and how it can effect an individual.
Reversed keeps the pleasant sounds coming and continues on to swing on with some brialliant piano and a chill, funky mood. Wild Flower is a bit more creative and experimental compared to everything that has come before. It takes a jazzy twist with some interesting, strong vocals. At times I liked it, others I wasn’t sure and still not sure what to make of it overall. We are then taken back to easy, relaxing listening with the Bonobo Remix of the intro track Quiet Dawn. This interpretation has a steady bass beat and a bit more groovy substance and body than the mix of this up first. A real passionate, jazz gem. Freedom is jiving and alive, living up to it’s title! Real hit the floor nu jazz music that will have you champing at the bit for more. It rolls along perfectly, funking it up all the way with some of the best instrumental work on the album. Seven Nation Army has a little reggae influence for something different again right at the end of he first disc which is a cool twist.

Onto the second disc where we are introduced to a jiving, hip jazzy number in The Hope Suite. This is quite sharp and right on the edge but not too fast paced. One most certainly for the 20’s genre. Nativeland is a live recording from one of Nostalgia 77’s gigs and previously unreleased, A bit more of a bluesy, swinging feel – a nice relaxing number you can sit back to in a sparsely lit basement club and just feel the groove. Desert Fairy Princess comes on the mellow blues feel and certainly lives up to the high standards of the track before. Another one where it is easy to lose yourself in the music and a sure indication for me was the track was over before I knew it and it is twelve minutes long! The Love Theme is a strange acoustic instrumental with some xylophone thrown in at the start. After a lengthy intro, we get the drumbeat and continues on in a ghostly, hazy jazz feel. Interesting to say the least. The Moon is more lively and back to the moving, swaying feel we have heard to date. Funky, slow groovy guitar and bass continues all through Eastwind before hitting us with a jazzy piano number on Grass Harp. A bit different to some of the tunes and mood heard previously and I did love and respect that Nostalgia 77 can still show the flair for originality late into the second disc. Step to Make a Change gets back to jazzy soul feel of the compilation before concluding on possibly the longest track ever (twenty two and half minutes long!) on the Impossible Equation which is an interesting, spooky journey.

This is definitely one of those original, unique albums. It blends elements of the sounds from way back in the past up until the present and what we get is possibly one of the finer collections of music for the year. Full blooded jazz sounds are not common place in the modern era of music from what I have seen over the years, but Nostalgia 77 injects some life and essence into the genre. Talented, masterful and sublime. It’s well worth the money and will surprise you – trust me.