Review

Tamil Rogeon: House No Wheels (Soul Bank Music)

New label Soul Bank Music, set up by former Freestyle frontman, Greg Boraman, gets off to a cracking start with this striking and bewitching project. It's a multi-layered and beguiling slice of upbeat spiritual jazz fronted by Melbourne based Tamil Rogeon, who leaves behind his orchestral composer persona and tucks into some delicious jazzy viola improv while weaving through the understated theme... it's quite simply, divine.

If Stephane Grapelli was still alive he would no doubt dig this bundle of hazy harmonies. And just like Django's sidekick, Rogeon does it consummately with subtle sophistication. The band swing like the proverbial barn door on a windy night too, it's cookin', to say the least, as Tamil lets rip over a gorgeous, yet angular, set of changes that start with a red herring i.e. Swooping synthesizer! Suffice to say, this all looks fine and dandy for a) the new label and b) the forthcoming album.
Words Emrys Baird