Initially the name may not mean much but Kinobe were responsible for 'Slip Into Something More Comfortable' - the backdrop for beer adverts - currently featuring on numerous post-club chill out compilations.
'Soundphiles' the debut album from which the track was lifted was a solid slice of lounge electronica, a cosy soundtrack for the Notting Hill dinner party set. 'Versebridgechorus?' develops on this blueprint with Mark Blackburn and Julius Walters enlisting the services of songwriters, rappers and musicians, adding a welcomed human touch to their eclectic sound.
Opening track 'Butterfly' exemplifies this new imaginative approach, dreamy guitar folk shimmering alongside Victoria Horn's sweetly evocative vocals. The funky pop rush thrill of 'Summer In The Studio' is cleverly darkened by some sympathetic scratching and the rapping skills of Skeleton.
Elsewhere, the moody cinematic feel of 'Tooth And Nail' and 'The G# Spot' are equally compelling, the latter paying homage to Gallic soundscapists Air. There's still a distinct lounge feel running through the record, typified on 'Having a Moment', complete with Andy Williams sample.
It may well fail to produce a universally recognized hit and make superstars of Kinobe but the sonically adventurous outlook of 'Versebridgechorus?' is an worthy step forward.
