Fila Brazillia are what you might call veterans of the dance arena. Not only have they been delivering their off beat shenanigans for a decade, but they've been extraordinarily prolific in that time too.
'Jump Leads' is the duo's 8th LP, an undeniably impressive achievement in the ephemeral world of electronic music. It follows on not just from their last studio album, but also from their recent 'Another Late Night' and 'Brazillification' mix albums, a world tour (the first time they've toured with a live band) and the setting up of their own 23 Records. Slackers, Fila Brazilia are not.
This latest document retains an emphasis on accessible and musical sounds yet their inherent quirkiness is thankfully never far away. Their wide range of beats come infused with an addictive analogue warmth and are shot through with live instrumentation and songwriting prowess.
The album makes inroads into uptempo territory, and seems to take some cues from the broken beat style dancefloor sounds around, though there's plenty of their usual downtempo nuggets too. The soft, flowing vocals of Steve Edwards on tracks like the single 'Spill The Beans' helps move the LP along smoothly and highlights FB's way with a song.
From the beefy funk of 'DNA', the decidedly bizarre 'We Build Arks' and the Brazilian noir of 'Percival Quintaine', 'Jump Leads' is yet another example of Fila's commitment to colourful and interesting vibes.
