Compass

Jamie Lidell started out as a prototypical Warp glitchmiester. But, since relocating to Berlin and cultivating his husky vocal approach, he’s mutated into a sort of lap-top Jameraquoi. On previous records, the perma-stubbled Englishman got the mix between electro minimalism and syrupy soulfulness just right. Alas here, he goes all Rod Stewart on our asses. Against a slow-burn backdrop of piano and drum shuffles, he lurches into rasp overload, with results that wouldn’t sound out of place on the Rod-sters interminable Songbook collections. That’s despite an enviable line-up of guests, including Beck, Feist, Pat Sansone of mustacheod electro prankster Gonzalez (with production by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor). Lidell has stated that Motown and British Northern Soul were the big influences on the record. Promising ingredients but, for all that, this soufflé fails to rise.