Jamie Lidell – Compass

It’s been a while since I posted anything (don’t worry, there’s a flood of Lost Gloves on the way), so here’s a quickie just to get back into the swing of things.

Courtesy of UK European champion chair dancer Jo Wiggins comes Compass, the new track from Jamie Lidell. As with all of his best work it’s rather schizophrenic, both lovely and, well, Lidell-esque.

It starts off rather plaintive, suggesting our Jim’s been listening to a lot of Nick Drake, before some lushly orchestral strings come in, giving it a rather Scott Walker kind of flavour. It reminds me of Rope of Sand, the final and, I think, best track on his last album. But then, after an attack of very moody drums, it goes all weird. And stays that way for the last minute or so.

As Phil Sheard pointed out, this should come as no surprise:

he’s that kind of guy, isn’t he. For Multiply tour he just wigged out sampling himself live but played easy listening on Jools H(olland)

And he is that kind of guy. As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan. And whilst I’d probably prefer a 7″ mix of Compass to the full track, it’s the fact that he’s so hard to second guess that makes him so interesting. Jim (one of my albums of the noughtieswas the LP I wish Ben Westbeech had made, whilst, in general, Lidell reminds us what Jamiroquai might have been like if he’d not had his head turned.

Jamie Lidell’s new album, also called Compass, is out in May, and I for one can’t wait.

Compass image by mikebaird on flickr

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