Journey Inwards

Journey Inwards

Though he was once on top of the drum & bass heap, in recent years LTJ Bukem, king of ambient drum & bass, has been pushed aside in favor of hard and dark tech-step. Fame came easily to Bukem, who with his labels Looking Good and Good Looking spearheaded the movement of intelligent drum & bass with the release of the <i>Logical Progression</i> series, quickly cementing his place in the short history of urban breakbeat. <i>Journey Inwards</i> marks his long-awaited return and attempt to reclaim his throne in the fickle drum & bass community. True to form, Bukem turns in a two-disc set of songs heavy on the reverb, caressed by light lyrics and sweet singing throughout. Horns and synths are as integral--if not more important than--bass lines, and often the bass takes a backseat to the music's melodic enterprises. Jazz peeks its head in a few places, particularly when Bukem slows the tempo, as in "Sunrain," cuing up the old suspicions that Bukem creates adult contemporary jungle. Not concerned with rocking the joint, Bukem instead lulls slowly to sleep or seduces his admirers. Whether he's playing with scattershot drums or mellow-yellow downtempo, Bukem manipulates the mood as deftly as he chops a beat. <i>--Tricia Romano</i>