Coldcut - Sound Mirrors (2006) [Ninja Tune ZENCD115]

Rather than following in the montage/cut-up lineage of What’s That Noise? and Let Us Play!, Coldcut’s latest album is an overt attempt at crossing over to a wide audience. Of course, what Coldcut view as ‘crossover’ is far from the insipid cheese we’re normally subjected to via the mainstream music business. Suffice to say that even the most heartfelt song-writing on Sound Mirrors (and there certainly is some) comes with a sonic edge that will make Coldcut/Ninja aficionados proud. Utilising the vocal talents of Saul Williams (the cinematic "Mr Nichols"), Chicago house guru Robert Owens (the emotive "Walk A Mile"), Roots Manuva (the dancehall anthem "True Skool") and MPHO (two-step anthem "This Island Earth"), Coldcut explore political/humanist themes across a rainbow of sounds and beats. It’s their most accessible album since their chart-bothering work with Yazz and Lisa Stansfield in the 80s, but Coldcut still emerge with their rebel credentials impressively intact.

Tracks:

1. Man in a Garage 3:27
2. True Skool 3:34
3. Just for the Kick 5:06
4. Walk a Mile in My Shoes South 5:08
5. Mr Nichols 5:45
6. A Whistle and a Prayer 5:55
7. Everything Is Under Control 3:36
8. Boogieman 3:49
9. Aid Dealer 4:13
10. Island Earth 4:14
11. Colours the Soul 4:19
12. Sound Mirrors 8:31