New Cross Soul: Reality

Herald rating: * * * *

This was recorded in a 108-year-old farm house in Hawkes Bay. There's a weird urban-rural vibe going on, which has a lot to do with the hokey interludes, like when neighbour Gary drops in to meet the music makers.

The music is unnerving and gives you the feeling like you're wearing bare feet but it's still a long way to the beach. Some spooky gems, like Voyage 2 Infinity and the lush strings and banging beats of New Cross Soul, will be just right for summer. But you should reserve the foreboding Bounty Hunter (with images of hernias, Halloween and Argentinian beef) and the scything title track, for after dark.

New Cross Soul - made up of Auckland-based "sonic sculptor" Manaia Toa and British-based vocalists Gok Leo Vale and Dee - recalls Tricky and Massive Attack in their darkest moods. However, there are similarities to modern British hip-hop acts New Flesh and Roots Manuva and also acts like Techno-Animal.

There are few local acts putting out music that's in a world of its own like this.

Verdict: They call it future urban rural funk; we say experimental and intriguing

Label: Headwound