Elsewhere: Hey, Jim play it all again

By GRAHAM REID

Eighteen months ago, Stinky Jim - Auckland DJ, bFM host and geezer-about-town - released Sideways, an excellent collection of local trip-hop, dub, and bossa-lounge.

It was more than a calling card from the likes of Dooblong Tongdra, Sola Rosa, International Observer and Phase 5 (Jim and producer Angus McNaughton). Sideways was an intelligent selection, coherently ordered and woven together by Jim's samples and beats. It sounds as fresh now.

So perhaps high expectations meant that Sideways Too (Round Trip Mars) wouldn't have quite the same lapel-grabbing immediacy. Because the earlier tracks are not as quickly engaging, first impressions are that it doesn't kick it until a few tracks in. But give it time and repeat plays.

Up early, SJD's atypical Unshine rides an attractive loping groove and resurrects the vocoder, and International Observer's Two Steps is dub-influenced with a canny snippet of a memorable melody.

Then Juse's reggae'n'beat minimalism with scratching on Slow Down moves things neatly into Verbally Decapitating by the North Shore's 16-year-old DJ Logikal, on whose rapid fire turntablism the album really gets traction.

Trillion's 60 What (an SJD remix) is world class and gives Groove Armada a run for their money. Australia's Tooth offer a slightly disconcerting Fantasy Island (relentless reggae groove, dark vocal samples and sitars) which sets up Michael Logie's collage of beats and deliciously astral keyboards.

Then Phase 5 almost steal the show with the Latin lounge Bruised Beans, which suddenly slides into a much darker room then back out. Real clever.

And there's more, including Phelps & Munro's grinding quasi-rock on Ex-Sports Star Turned Commentator, and the track by Foto you deserve to discover yourself.

Sideways Too doesn't come with the frisson of fabulousness of the first volume but, again, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

And it all opens with one of Jim's romantic ambient tracks and a sample of Paul McCartney saying how nice it is to be back in Auckland. With Stinky Jim choosing the music, it certainly is.

There's a swag of ambient/trip-hop/nu-jazz albums around. Here's a quick wrap-up of some.

Zero 7, Anotherlatenight (Rhythmethod): As with the Back to Mineseries, Anotherlatenight allows well-known DJs to take you to a chill-out zone of their own making. Here, the north London duo of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, who are Zero 7, dim the lights and invite in Roots Manuva (Witness), Cinematic Orchestra, Jim O'Rourke, the squelchy soul of Sylvia Striplin and a trip-hop remix of Serge Gainsbourg. Anyone who goes out with the Stylistics' People Make the World Go Round is one class act. A dubby, seriously soulful collection. Recommended.

Spylab, This Utopia (Flavour): Another UK duo, this from Scotland, who craft addictive, original trip-hop tunes and elevate further with the dreamy, white-soul vocals of Sophie Bancroft. Lots of sonic nuance (discreet swishes of synth, whispered voices in the distance) and mood pieces. From the seven-minute opener, Celluloid Hypnotic, this is indeed cinematic and mesmerising, with real instruments alongside the customary studio artillery, and some dark corners beyond Bancroft's light. Persuasively terrific.

Smith & Mighty, Life is ... (Border): Bristol's big name outfit straddles soul-electronica, drum'n'bass and dub. More uptempo than those above, but they also bridge clubland and home listening requirements. Many different vocalists (from melodious reggae to rootsy dancehall) give added texture, and S&M have an instinct for a memorable song. Rare skill that on the trip-hop/drum'n'bass axis. Warm and intelligent, and drum'n'bass for those who think they don't much like it - and those who do. The B-team is back.

The Strike Boys, Grapefruit Flavoured Green Tea Time (Border): This Nuremberg duo pick up the groove end with funky horns, phat grooves, some roiling Brazilian riddums which nudge towards Afrobeat, and some wall-shaking width when required. But it isn't all a massive attack. They astutely drop in some downbeat chillers (Go Back Home, with brief jazz fusion guitar, is a trip) and nods towards Philly soul. It kicks up the funk in the comfort of your own home.

Also around are the second volumes of the Club Jazz (Rhythmethod) and Coming Home (Border) compilations - the former chic and elegant Euro-lounge jazz and lightly bubbling jazz-funk which includes tracks by Marc Moulin, Don Carlos and Kyoto Jazz Massive, and should appeal to St Germain fans. The latter's another late night or lazy Sunday collection of downbeat nu-lounge.

And if Latin is this year's Cuban for you, then the two Latin Deluxe albums by Monty La Rue (Rhythmethod) should suit. Nice kitsch packaging and samba and bossa, all as ignorable as it is enjoyable, so you don't have to shout over them for more chardonnay.