VA: The Nature Vol. 1
Tokyo Dawn Records

Taking Australian soul as its theme, The Nature Vol. 1 presents seventeen cuts on this sixty-seven-minute collection from the ever-reliable Tokyo Dawn Records. Adelaide resident Ras Krishna not only curated the set but appears on it, too, as Inkswel and with partner Charli Umami (aka Misumami) under the Planetself name. His deep connection to the scene is reflected in the breadth of artists and styles featured on the release, with many of those participating friends of long-standing as well as new talents the curator discovered online.

Emphasizing the need for inclusive representation, the politically charged “Australia Does Not Exist” opens the release with provocative words and downtempo hip-hop from DRMNGNOW (Indigenous MC and Yorta Yorta man Neil Morris) with vocal sweetening from Adrian Eagle and contributions from Philly and Culture Evolves, too. What follows, however, dials down the serious messaging, the listener instead encouraged to focus on the musical richness of the Australian scene. Up next is Natalie Slade's enticing “Humidity,” her smooth delivery a solid match for the tune's sultry instrumental backdrop. Even more enrapturing is Eliza Dickson's “Gold,” especially when the Adelaide-based jazz singer's vocal is complemented by the equally alluring voice of Lauren Desberg and the smoky saxophone of Braxton Cook.

Inkswel's mix of “The Master Plan” from Melbourne hip-hop duo Man Made Mountain inhabits the same relaxed, mellifluous plane as a production by CYNE. “You Plus Me,” Krishna's Planetself cut with vocalist Misumami, brings Bossa nova into the soul-funk mix, while Umami herself teams up with Melbourne producer Jus for “Where The Water Used 2 Run,” one of the release's smoothest and sultriest numbers. Australian-residing Jamaican Soul legend Spikey Tee coos, yes, sweetly in the Jim Dunloop-produced “Sweet Nothings,” Tee's melodic delivery nicely offset by synth bass-throbbing boom-bap and electric piano sprinklings.

A few outliers emerge, including the bass-thumping Afrofunk of Cool Out Sun's “Plabba” and the unusual blend of blues, gospel, and funk in il Combo's “Throw Me A Line,” the project the brainchild of Al Young and Sandro Bonanno, one-time members of defunct Australian hip-hop group Good Buddha. Brisbane-based hip-hop crew Resin Dogs gets heavy with the horns-fueled stomp of “Ride,” a powerful vocal from Kel on Earth adding to its impact. One of Krishna's online finds, Melbourne-based Lander impresses with “Zurs,” especially when Allysha Joy is on hand to drape her vocals across the instrumental trio's muscular soul-jazz backing.

July 2019