When listening to any tracks crafted by , one can’t help but feel that the summery, relaxed vibe that they radiate must be in stark contrast to the amount of hard slog that surely is needed to create such inherently beautiful music.
Testament to the hard work, this album, like the three before it, is a wonderful collection of spaced out vibes which at times are bright and breezy and at others dark and powerful. ‘The Cosmic Game’ explores a number of different musical avenues, from trip hop to dub and reggae, it’s all here and it’s smothered in Rob Garza and Eric Hilton’s talent for constructing elegant yet astonishingly magical soundscapes.
Compared with the duo’s previous albums, the world music influence seems to be at its strongest in The Cosmic Game. And perhaps as a result of this globe-trotting venture, there is also a mild political undercurrent present on many of the tracks. "How can the wicked smile while the world is burning?" asks guest vocalist Sista Pat on the reggae-flavoured ‘Wires and Watchtowers’ whilst David Byrne's lazy vocals on ‘The Heart’s a Lonely Hunter’ tell us to "Save bottles of water and flour and sugar/ Turn off the AC and hang up the bed sheets". Elsewhere, collaborative vocals come from rock visionary Perry Farrell whilst Gunjan adds an Indian twang with her psychedelic warblings.
At times, this album falls back to the early Massive Attack sound, but, as if it were grabbing it firmly by the hand, The Cosmic Game pulls it forward to a more modern and less melancholy place. The overall result is an album that could have been swept aside with various compilations subscribing to the “Ibiza Sunset” or “Terrace-of-a-Well-Known-Ibizan-Bar” market, but instead breaks these barriers with its intelligent, worldwide seasoning and mellow cool.
Rating: 4/5Record Label: Esl RecordsWords by: Sarah Chapman
