Skalpel

It’s no wonder these guys are on Ninja Tune. Marcin Cichy and Igor Pudlo are two of Poland’s most heralded DJs, and from the very first track full of jazzy drums recorded with a quality so hearty it seems like it couldn’t possibly be from this era, it’s quite apparent that this is one of those groups that just has it. You know, the thing you can’t pin down yet pins you down. For example, "1958” is a mix of jovial samples tweaked to perfection, those fabulous drums, light and natural sounding record static, a happy little horn and a bunch of scat vocal samples. It’s the kind of stuff that you’d play if you were having all of your friends over for a Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme party. There are a few slower and moodier tracks, like "Together” and "Asphodel,” that rely heavily on elegant but funky jazz. The overall ambiance of the album is of a cocktail party attended by beatnik-looking cats who snap their fingers in appreciation at the end of each song, while doing the twist with minimal movement. This being the case, if you can believe it, the record feels warm and inclusive, which is what good music should do. I feel like my mom would dig this just as much as I do.