On occasion, an album's sleeve design really DOES represent its' contents, and the cover of NIGHTMARES ON WAX'S "Late Night Tales" - featuring a postman rummaging in his sack on top of Primrose Hill while dawn breaks over London - gives you a hint of the eclectic grab-bag contained within.
But then laid-back, groove-bound and open-minded is pretty much an encapsulation of NOW mainman George Evelyn anyway, and "Late Night Tales" - NOT actually the follow-up to the lush "Mind Elevation", but an essential DJ selection in its' own right - once again finds him showcasing a fine selection of funky choons in an especially nocturnal stylee.
If you include the odd-but-endearing "The White City" (a strange Tolkein meets "Only Fools & Horses" spoken word piece written by Whitbread prize winner Patrick Neate and read with plummy enjoyment by Brian Blessed), there are 16 selections here and precious little filler.
Proceedings kick off superbly with the smooth'n'silky reggae of DJ FIETCHIE and JOE DUKIE'S "Midnight Marauders", and follow up with combination punches in a N.O.W mix of IAN BROWN'S "Gravy Train" and TONY ALLEN'S "Every Season", featurng some natty, Augustus Pablo-style melodica rom DAMON ALBARN, no less.
Happily, Evelyn's selections hold up even in the potentially attention-flagging middle section. QUINCY JONES' "Listen (What Is It?)" is a stone-cold seductive soul classic, while CORTEX'S en francais "La Rue" and TOM SCOTT'S "Sneakin' In The Back" are both cheeky, hipshakin' sweetmeats that you should get immediately acquainted with. The way this latter segues into SEARCH'S vibe-fuelled "Action Tape 1" is also something to behold, it's so wonderfully seamless.
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This writer's a little less enamoured of the hip-hoppier selections like LARGE PROFESSOR'S "Bout That Time", though by the time of TRANQUILITY BASS'S "Cantamilla" (featuring a bassline suspiciously similar to Happy Mondays' "Bob's Yer Uncle") we're back on track and when DUSTY SPRINGFIELD'S "Spooky" majestically slinks into focus you're in no doubt you're within stretching distance of genius.
If you've read my previous reviews of DJ mix albums, you'll know I have a relatively low tolerance of what can be little more than glorified playlists. However, in Nightmares On Wax's case, I'm more than prepared to indulge this tuneful, groove-thirsty selection.
Granted, it does work paticularly well in the wee small hours, but really "Late Night Tales" is the perfect accompaniment to ushering in a relaxing vibe and letting good times roll. Whatever your poison, this is an undeniably lovely high.
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