Mongrel music for a mongrel world

I wub Jahcoozi.



This hype Berlin-based trio is made up of MC and singer Sasha Perera (London), bassman Oren Gerlitz (Tel Aviv) and Robot Koch (Berlin) on laptop and drums. From their My Space page: "Blip hop, ragga-tech, RnB punk, click pop illectronica? Pop? A Shakespeare’s Sister - Neptunes collabo?!!" Definitely a band of roughians to watch out for. 'Half Pure Breed Mongrel' [Ed. - Get off my back, dad!] comes as a surprise to me because I didn't know what to expect on first listen, my only previous experience being Sacha Perera's appearance on the Modeselektor album (on 'Silikon'). This new platter has some crazy fire on it that can clearly translate into big things on a live stage. While the beats are supremely dancefloor-friendly the 'tude is not for the pop-hearted. It reeks satire from the first track ('Black Barbie') which makes the album a blast to listen to. 'Asian Bride Magazine' is deffo a personal fav (how could it not be?) and had me grinning from ear to ear: "Thank you, L'Oréal, now there's products for us/Daily use gonna help us to pretend that we're high caste/ Bleach our skin, lighten our moustache."

Perera is Londoner of Sri Lankan origin and yes she does do the whole raggamuffin bit with her voice but the comparison to M.I.A. ends there. Unlike Mizz Maya ('Sunshowers' chorus anyone?), this lady can really sing. Though the Modeselektor track made it hard to avoid drawing similarities, with this album it becomes clear that Perera is in a league of her own when it comes to her wonderfully husky vocal capability. More like the other major 'M' in my life, Missy, in sound. Jahcoozi has made a great debut both in the full-length world and in my hungry ears (I know it came out last year, smartass).



Run in and cop a listen on their My Space profile.