- Kaidi Tatham has released a new album titled An Insight To All Minds. A stalwart of the UK music scene, Tatham was a member of the The Herbaliser's live band in the '90s, Bugz In The Attic and one of the architects of the broken-beat scene, in addition to doing session work with a staggering list of musicians. His sound is distinctive, incorporating elements of jazz, hip-hop, jazz and dance music to great effect.

The synth-driven tune Intergalactic Relations serves up some cosmic disco, thick with arpeggios and synth-lines backed with acoustic drums. Midway it unexpectedly transitions to a silky smooth groove. Interlude sounds like a disco cut from Prelude Records. A percussion section introduces us to the swing of Carry It Ft. Mongo Man, Tatham’s signature lead synth complementing a tight arrangement. I love the heavy syncopation sections and the occasional unison playing. Similarly I love the maximalist arrangement and lush strings on the disco instrumental Tek Care. Rain and An Insight To All Minds both exhibit disco elements too, with great percussive breaks and tight playing all round. Chungo is an unusually metred hip-hop track featuring Uhmeer (the rapper also appeared on his Tatham's last album). Nah Top Yuh Noise gives us another glimpse of a Tatham hip-hop beat. Sampled vocals and drums, keys and stuttering rhythms gives the jazzy Rodney a broken-beat feel. Stro Kyat is an excellent slower track that shifts between different sections, instrumentation and metres effortlessly, featuring Stro Elliot of The Roots.

There’s a lot to appreciate in Tatham’s unique approach to music. With his combined abilities as a dexterous keyboard playing and an arranger, he touches on the styles of jazz, funk, hip-hop, house and disco while retaining his own sensibility. Like Geroge Duke or Herbie Hancock his playing is distinct and virtuosic, producing an energetic sound that radiates positivity and good vibes; not something to be sneezed at at the best of times and certainly not now.

- Hillfolk.