- There's not a huge amount of jazz in Phil Asher's house these days if this is anything to go by - in fact I found it difficult to spot any tracks going out of their way to include the genre! Don't let that put you off though, because it's still a good listen, house music that's easy on the ears and the soul.
Just to get you uplifted, the unmixed comp kicks off with Oji & Una's 'We Lift Our Hands In The Sanctuary' and doesn't look back. This being Kickin' it's likely the excellent Blaze will be present, and the Shrine vocal mix of 'We Are Love' is timeless, soulful house, with immaculate close harmony from the boys. 'If I Had A Band' is one of those tunes that gets in under your skin after a few listens, the vocal on DJ Fudge's disco sample a hit. And talking of growers, Black Joy's 'Untitled' is the pick of the bunch here, its nagging chords giving the music a bit more tension as they return again and again. Nathan Haines provides a great moment, Phil Asher at the sliders on 'Squire For Hire', whose lyrics are wacky and humorous. More Blaze - 'What We Need Is Love' - leads to Rain People, which is more jazz than most here, Reel People and finally the Elastic Band with 'Sunny'.
It's some achievement for Kickin' and Asher to have reached the dozen, and although this one's short on jazz it's big on soul and funk. If you're in need of a post New Year pick-up, there's little to trouble you here.