THE VICIOUS SEEDS レコード& CD

Review: Spasibo Records present a fresh 7" by the Vicious Seeds, hailing from St. Petersburg. With vibraphonist Pavel Chizhik taking centre stage (Chizhik isn't usually a member of the band), 'Village Hassle' makes for a cleverly collaborative rare groove and instrumental reggae-soul release. The titular A-side flaunts Chizhik's vibraphone via the mix alone, fleshing out its low-end elements against a driven instrumental backbeat; 'Monthly Rainfall', meanwhile, goes for all-out slow-jammed soul by way of cross-sticked snares and offbeat chord plucks run through short-release springs.

Review: While most of us will (sadly) not be going anywhere this holiday season, we can still get a musical taster of what it would be like Chilling at Christmas in the St Petersburg studio of modern funk apostles the Vicious Seeds. Their festive offering is a drowsy, deep, slow and laidback affair - the kind of jazzy instrumental soul and funk that would probably go well with a few mince pies and a needlessly large glass of port. A-side 'Meeting at Flea Market' is particularly lovely, with trombone and trumpet-heavy riffs and leisurely jazz guitar solos making themselves comfortable atop crunchy, deep (filled) funk drums. 'Shades of Pale', meanwhile, is even deeper, warmer and more bass-heavy, with some of the laziest and jazziest electric guitar solos we've ever heard. Delicious!