Doubt & Convictions

Parisian multi-instrumentalists Troublemakers mold an eclectic array of funkadelic jazz grooves and hip-hop-centric vibes on their stylish debut Doubts & Convictions. Not necessarily hard-hitting in the sense of bringing acidic elements to the core, Doubts & Convictions focuses on a healthy dose of various musical styles. It's groovy yet seductive, with tight synth-power and mysterious vocalic backdrops, the attitude of Roni Size, and household theatrics similar to labelmates Nuspirit Helsinki. "Street Preacher" blazes with brooding saxophones, and the sultry waves of "Too Old to Die" frolic with '70s jazz-funk (Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye would be pleased). Interestingly enough, Troublemakers also disregard the most common atmospheres associated with '70s jive sounds. They size things up a bit, scaling the generic compositions for a moving and classic vibrato. "Electrorloge" is a bit more robotic, but dark basslines shape the overall sassiness of Doubts & Convictions. No swagger or sophistication needs to be defined; therefore, Troublemakers can make it individually without all the hype of new-millennium electronica. ~ MacKenzie Wilson|