Barefoot Wanderer

Photographer: Michael Mann.
Last time it was a shocking cover (the band as naked Barbie figures) and a shocking title (Blitz n Ass), but this time its Shiva and a title worthy of a hippie. Barefoot Wanderer is the dubby, glitchy, and now Portisheady act's third effort, where they're less punkish than previously, but in the same way the Clash grew wiser as they grew older, so goes Jahcoozi. Here they're right about Sandinista!, with Jamaican dub playing a huge role along with experimentation and long stretches without vocals. Post-Aphex Twin landscapes of synths echo as if reggae legend Lee "Scratch" Perry were at the controls, while vocalist Sasha Perera helps to lure the listener in with her Martina Topley-Bird-like vocals. Adding some deep, dark flavor is Antipop Consortium member M. Sayyid plus Kenyan dancehall MCs Ukoo Flani, whose vocals make "Msoto Millions" the obvious highlight. Put it all together and Jahcoozi's sanest album ends up their most satisfying, along with being their most welcoming by leaps and bounds. ~ David Jeffries