Martin Iveson, better known to connoisseurs of deep house and nu-jazz as Atjazz, has taken a step into more vocal led territory with his new album, Full Circle. A departure from his usually instrumental material, the album rests comfortably in a spot between broken beat, classic Detroit house and space age soul.

“Parallels”

Every track features vocals, many by some of the more accomplished names in the worlds of broken beat, house and nu-jazz. Full Circle starts slow and soothing, with Amalia and Mr. J providing soulful lyrics on “One” and “Together,” respectively. Here, muted horns and techno arpeggios meet halfway for a pair of lullaby grooves. Things pick up a couple notches with “Parallels,” in which techno loops and muted guitars ride a metallic, broken rhythm for added tension. “I Forgot You” is a gorgeous house number straight out of the Mr. Fingers playbook, and the legendary vocalist Robert Owens takes the old school vibe to the fore with his guest contribution on “Love Someone.” Vocals by Ernesto and Clara Hill polish things off towards the end of the album nicely. As an album, Full Circle ends up being less of a cohesive story and more a collection of soulful, modern jams. But Atjazz is so skilled with the classic synth manipulation and studio trickery that what we end up with is a space age funk masterpiece with many moments of beauty. Amongst those in his class of depth and production prowess, there are few that incorporate their influences so well, taking the electronic vibes of years past and making them sound so new.

“One (Feat. Amalia)”