Latest CD release reviewed

OSUNLADE
Aquarian Moon BBE ***

For veteran New York producer, deep house kingpin and Yoruba label boss Jerry "Osunlade" Rodriguez, the Greek island of Santorini has long been more than just somewhere to go to unwind. It has cast such a spell on the one-time Sesame Street presenter that he has now turned his hand to producing a lush, symphonic ambi-house homage to the island. While Aquarian Moon has much in common with those chill-out albums that filled record shelves four or five years ago, it may also cause a Greek by the name of Vangelis to pop into your mind too, thanks to the soundtrack-friendly drag of the sound on occasions. Recorded over 12 days on the island, there are traces and hints of Latin, Afro and jazz sources, but it's Osunlade's housey textures that really dominate the album's plot and makes you forget about the copious amount of chanting and rather trying jazz-funk fusion going on in places. www.bbemusic.com Jim Carroll