Mark De Clive-Lowe

This New Zealand-born keyboardist has been paying his dues behind the scenes for a while now but has been most recognised recently for being a key figure in the West London broken beat scene. Using that close-knit mob of wildly talented associates to his full advantage, Clive-Lowe resoundingly executes a musical vision that incorporates his jazz background and penchant for incorporating cosmic soul, Afro-Cuban rhythms and anything else that tickles his fancy. Evidence of this eclectic melting pot approach is the stuttery "Slide,” where he flaunts a fractured groove that explores the nether region between house and p-funk. Far from aimless noodling however, Tide’s Arising also delivers in the songwriting department. Anchored by a stirring vocal performance by Abdul Shyllon and Kaidi Tatham’s killer app moog bass, the undeniable thump of "Quintessential” is an immediate standout. Other eyebrow-raisers include "Travelling,” featuring MC Capitol A and the background vox of Bembé Segue, whose warm presence envelops the entire record; truth be told, you’d be hard pressed to find any filler here. Overseeing the record with his producing and arranging skills, Clive-Lowe’s obvious meticulous approach and attention to detail have yielded an essential and tautly constructed release.