If you judged albums on thier titles, Mob's debu 'MOb' and this new follow-up album, 'MOb II' doesn't instill you with confidence that it will be cammed with punk-jazz rock energy with hip-hop influences - so you'd be wrong as this covers bases from Ornette Coleman to Throbbing Gristle to Killing Joke to Bill Laswell - you name it!
You'll recall previous releases on Veego Records, the jazz-folk of Kolida Babo (aka Socratis Votskos and Harris P (see review HERE) and the Volanis/Pagidas' 'Outsde The Long Walls' (see review HERE), so this is tottally different.
If you missed MOb I, don't worry as what was hailed by the press "as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene... their music moves seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as an entire orchestra played by just three musicians". And I'm happy to say the 'MOb II' is doublely good as Mariothe trio of s Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) are aided by award-winning producer Bruno Ellingham (Massive Attack, Portishead) and guest Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev, aka Waking Monkey, on spoken word/rap with the single 'Tipping Point' plus 'Encounters. 'Encounters' is "enriched” by , while Angelos Polychronou on percussion as is 'The Listener' that's on the edge of the spiritual Carlos Niño.
And talking of YATM favourites and spiritual, the dramatic 'Utu And Sin' is mixed by Malcolm Catto who was recently "seen" on Sven Wonder's new album along with Daniel Ögren (he of
Dina Ögon! (Ed. how often do we mention Mr. Catto?)
Whilst there's no mass repeat of '4044' from the first album, MOb's Athenian spirit has ventured a long way from home, particularly the Walking Monkey contributions that move the compass further to New York's NUBLU (be prepared for JMMR - coming here soon) but '333' is close as it gets us ready to take off at Bullet Train space shuttle departing from Frankfurt railway station emulating their innere Kraut Rock.
Even then there's that Nu-Troop angularism mixed with some BRUK vibes mixed in with their version of punk-jazz, which is pretty close to the Acoustic Ladyland debut at their strongest.
Any fans of WeJazz, experimental and spiritual jazz and electronica, 'Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain' (see review HERE) will love this as it's mesmerising, hypnotic and essential all at the same time: a MOb remix .
The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa
Artist: MOb
Title: MOb II
Release date: 28th November, 2024
Label : Veego Records
Catalog Number VR056
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
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