Very Mercenary

Very Mercenary

Compared with label mates like Coldcut, the Herbaliser doesn't always get a lot of attention. That's a shame, because they might just be the most interesting--and the most accessible--artists in the Ninja Tune Records camp. Working with a bevy of talented MCs--What What, the ultra-smooth woman from the Natural Elements crew; Roots Manuva; the Dream Warriors--and a number of musicians who are touring members of the band, Wherry and Teeba have made a subtle, minor classic here. Assembled from pieces they've worked on for the past few years--selections have appeared on EPs (<i>Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks</i>) and mix tapes--the mix is a seamless blend of classy dance-floor jazz and hip-hop; if it sometimes plays like a soundtrack, that's because the entire album is informed with a <i>noir</i> style. The duo has taken the sound it developed over the Herbaliser's prior two albums (<i>Remedies</i> and <i>Blow Your Headphones</i>) and guided it in a more refined direction on <i>Very Mercenary</i>. It's a treat to listen to. <i>--Randy Silver</i>