Label: Basis Records/Rambling Records
Released: February 2009
re:Common marks the third release in as many months from Osaka-based indigo jam unit, and this time they have embarked on a slightly different project, providing live instrument remixes of tracks made famous by hip-hop artist Common.
The album consists of seven tracks taken from different stages in the rapper's career. The opening track, Communism, simply features drum backing from Takehiro "Shimi" Shimizu, though from then on the full band add their backing to the tracks. The collaboration works well throughout resulting in a superb jazzy hip-hop album, with indigo jam unit proving more than capable of naturally moulding their club jazz sound to the hip-hop beats of Common.
The album can roughly be divided into two halves: a predominantly jazzy side and a predominantly hip-hop side. The former groups consists of Dooinit, Come Close, I Used To Love H.E.R. and a fantastic extended instrumental version of Be, with Communism, The Light and I Got A Right Ta comprising the latter.
A great project that shows another side to this already prolific band's repertoire, and one that, given the right exposure, could well raise their profile outside Japan.
Labels: common, indigo jam unit, Jazz