Solaa: Steps in Time

Herald rating: * * * *

Most bands live for star power. For Solaa, it's been the bane of their debut. That's unmistakably Scribe on Aintnothing and Eyes Shut but the fact the band aren't allowed to say so is an indication of the problems they've encountered in the past year. Presumably Scribe's management didn't want him associated with tracks as old as 2001, but they haven't dated.

This is hip-hop for those who prefer the warm, earthy tones of Fat Freddy's Drop, with a feminine edge, care of guest vocalists Ladi6, Hollie Smith, Nat Rose and Cherie Mathieson. The deep soul vibe springs from their jazz roots in Christchurch, where a handful of the 11 members bonded with the likes of Shapeshifter and Scribe's other band, Verse 2. You can also hear the influence of the band's producer, Isaac Aesili (Mark de Clive-Lowe, Opensouls, Recloose) on the broken-beat Soulution and free-jazz electronica of the title track. Elsewhere there's a deep, edginess that prevents the more earnest songs from turning into wishy-washy soul. Hollie Smith even gets away with singing "Keep on moving, keep on smiling, keep on dreamin" before muted trumpets take over on Keep On. Which is what they'll do, with or without a certain MC.

Label: Rhythmethod