REVIEW: THE HERBALISER – HERBAL TONIC

The Herbaliser
Herbal Tonic
Ninja Tune

Ollie and Jake Herbaliser are mainstay alumni of a tight knit West London group who never really forgot the Golden era of hip-hop.

Rising from the same mid-nineties Ninja Tune camp that produced DJ Food; the last decade has seen The Herbaliser name become synonymous with laid back, jazzy Brit-hop. Gathering together the cream of their commercial output, this compilation showcases the boy’s not inconsiderable talent, understanding of the groove and efforts to strive for the authentic.

Collaborations range from the slick and technical vocals of Jean Grae adding a picture of seamless sophistication perfectly on tracks such as Tea & Beer. Fat beats, live licks and technically competent vocalists abound marking out some early highlights, particularly the fabulous Roots Manuva, getting dense and trippy on Starlight.

It’s not all about the guests though as the boys let loose on beat driven left field bangers such as the psychedelic jazz-flute erotica of The Sensual Woman or the previously unreleased brainless stomp of March Of The Dead Things.

But somehow it’s the adherence to authenticity that let’s the album down. In a decade where contemporary R&B and hip-hop have moved on considerably, the Herbaliser’s insistence on looking back at 87 era beats adds a vague beige lustre to the proceedings in places.
A worthy purchase, and undoubtable part of a rich heritage of UK rare groove and funk that runs through the capital, Herbal Tonic doesn’t quite cure all the ills the title promises.

Toby Hemming

Filed under: DJ/Turntablism, Electronic, Funk, Hip-hop, Reviews by D.K.