The jazz scene in Australia is definitely having a moment, poised to break out onto the international stage similar to the way the fresh young jazz sound of London became ubiquitous around 2016. And while this new long player from Melbourne crew 30/70 is too musically complex to be slotted neatly into some sort of jazz box, the freewheeling spirit of jazz courses through its grooves, informing these twelve shades of large-ensemble neo soul and post-Dilla boom bap. Much like the massive terrestrial expanse of the land down under from whence the group comes, Fluid Motion covers a ton of ground, from lightweight R&B (“Push and Pull,” “Flowers,” “NYP”) to cosmic jazz-funk (“Echoplex,” “Backfoot”), vintage Co-op broken beat (“Impermanence,” “Fluid Motion,” “Tempted”) and analogue drum & bass (“Crystal Hills”). Most of these cuts will work equally well on a soulful dancefloor as they do in a skunk-fueled weekend solo mission. 12 tracks total, released by Rhythm Section International in a full color picture sleeve.

• black vinyl pressing
• music label: Rhythm Section International 2019

reviewed by Big Salad 12/2019