Into You

{|Incognito|} ended their longest break between studio albums since their 1980s dormancy with {|Into You|}, a return that spotlights {|Jean-Paul Bluey Maunick|}'s new recruits early and often. Opener Keep Me in the Dark, built on one of the group's t... Read more

{|Incognito|} ended their longest break between studio albums since their 1980s dormancy with {|Into You|}, a return that spotlights {|Jean-Paul Bluey Maunick|}'s new recruits early and often. Opener Keep Me in the Dark, built on one of the group's trademark rolling grooves, features {|Natalie Duncan|}'s vivacious, forthright vocals and enough space for high-spirited solos from pianist {|Chicco Allotta|} and guitarist {|Charlie Allen|}. It's merely one of the album's many demonstrations of how {|Maunick|} can continually welcome new collaborators while creating records that sound precisely like {|Incognito|} without any role seeming interchangeable. For all the layers {|Maunick|} and co-producers {|Richard Bull|} and {|Mo Hausler|} are adept at packing into other energized highlights like Nothing Makes Me Feel Better and Stories of Our Past, they're just as effective when they strip it down. Keep On Dancing, one of four songs fronted by {|Tomorrow's New Dream|} contributor {|Cherri V|}, needs little more than swaying/knocking drums and {|Francis Hylton|}'s sparing melodic bassline. Tell Me Something, one of {|Incognito|}'s finest love ballads, gently accentuates a yearning vocal from {|James Berkeley|} (of {|Yakul|}). If it wasn't for the subtle rhythmic touches of hip-hop and go-go, Colourblind could pass for a tribute to the early-'80s Jamaica, Queens scene ({|Don Blackman|}, {|Lesette Wilson|}, etc.). A typically lengthy {|Incognito|} set at 80 minutes, this makes room for instrumentals like the steaming Lowrider, sky-high Come to Me, and lighter numbers such as the lilting Close to Midnight and duly pacific Back on the Beach. ~ Andy Kellman Less