A New Constellation

A (nother) nice switch of direction for producer, bandleader, DJ, composer and musician Will ‘Quantic’ Holland came in the shape of this album of light, airy instrumental soul jazz with hints of easy listening and some of the Afro-Caribbean flavour that Quantic loves so much. The entire album was written, arranged and produced by Holland and as ever with his oeuvre, rhythmically it’s all perfectly locked in, produced with an emphasis on the drums, percussion and bass born from a DJ’s ear. A New Constellation sounds live, as though the band were playing together in a dark, warm, smokey room, with all the ebb and flow in dynamics, tempo and temperature that entails, and is a pretty, funky, inviting and enjoyable 45 minutes.