Harmonic 33 - "Extraordinary People"

Extraordinary People is a very welcome cd compilation of tracks that were released on two twelve-inch singles, Extraordinary People and Kaleidoscopic Sounds, and resequenced into a full-length album. Harmonic 33 rejoins Global Communications Mark Pritchard with his co-conspirator in the drum and bass unit Use of Weapons, Dave Brinkworth. Their previous collaboration was deep-rooted in drum n bass, but here they meld hip-hop beats with the trappings of easy-listening exotic lounge. "The Rain Song" and "The Holy Track" are the highlights of the album, featuring choral vocals, tinkling pianos and groovy percussion. "The Woodblock" showcases more of the hip-hop side of the pairing, with some furious vinyl scratching and sampled cut-up rap vocals. Chanteuse Kirsty Hawkshaw also makes an appearance, adding wordless yet moving vocals to the lounge-tronica "Underwater Lady". Very different from the library music that the two collaborators would go on to produce on Music For Film, Television, and Radio Volume One, Extraordinary People is a feather in the cap of Mark Pritchard's towering discography, comparable to Troubleman's excellent Time Out of Mind.

4 stars