Various: 2017 Pacific Ultra Sound

By REBECCA BARRY

Herald rating * * * *

The fourth compilation from the indie label rounds up its resident artists and DJs, from Manuel Bundy in his Solephonic guise to multi-piece funk band One Million Dollars and producer Substax.

But "Pacific Soul" must be attitudinal rather than geographically specific, judging by this laidback, multicultural fusion of styles. Forget hearing conch shells or palm-tree-inspired harmonies as the gentle French ragga of Ghost Tones kicks off proceedings.

Only Brother J's soothing Maori lullaby and Flying Squad's Burning Squad sound distinctively Kiwi, and both encompass elements of African-American and Jamaican culture.

Elsewhere it's the warm, rootsy texture that binds everything from dancehall, dinner jazz, lush electronica and Slick Rick-style hip-hop together. The result is the perfect Back-to-Mine for those who don't mind whether their soul is black, brown or white.