- IV, the most recent rendering by Canadian instrumental hip hop, jazz and generally warmly vibed outfit BADBADNOTGOOD, feels like a best-of featuring new songs or, more fittingly, old ideas made fresh by new friends conversing. Each track is so smooth and subtly segued that you could easily travel from one end to the other without realising you took the trip at all, though, by holding a up a map of their previous meanderings you can start to recognise familiar landmarks, reshaped by time, exposure, and shifting perspectives garnered through experience.

What's truly new, however, are the vocals, at least for the BBNG boys as they are. The accompaniment is used sparingly, spaced with an overarchingly perfect sense of timing, and only cements the group as purveyors of almost anachronistically classic composition.

IV comports itself with a maturity and reflectively joyful sobriety that previous BBNG offerings only ever hinted at. Fans of the group's previous efforts may not have their socks blown off, merely removed, darned and re-administered, and newcomers may only hear the smooth tinkling of soft background soul. However, those who listen, learn, and love, will find an album full of unadulterated pleasure.

By using classical training to dodge genre trappings, BADBADNOTGOOD continue to push through definition into categorical excellence. Their latest release is simultaneously one of the finest finds of the year and oddly timeless.

-Nic Addenbrooke.