The received wisdom is that Cornershop have been missing in action since the early ‘00s. More accurate, perhaps, to say they’re suffering from a much-diminished profile. But they’ve never gone away. Far from a belated comeback, Urban Turban is their third record in four years and, with its gently psychedelic auras and upbeat jazz flourishes, is probably the pick of the bunch.
It involves a series of collaborations, featuring Nordic and Parisian singers such as Izzy Lindqwister, Kay Kwong and Soko. There’s an idiosyncratic opener in the form of ‘What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag?’, a quirky mid-tempo affair featuring a school choir; on ‘Non Stop Radio’ processed funk serves as backdrop for Celeste’s French language croon. Best of all is ‘Dedicated’, a hook-up with urban vocalist Lorraine. While no ‘Brimful Of Asha’ it is nevertheless a reminder that 15 years on, Cornershop’s mastery of the groove is intact.