Dedicated listeners to the soul jazz champion’s Radio 1 transmissions will be frothing at the mouth to bag this double CD of some of the most anticipated live sessions committed to tape thus far on his Worldwide show. And, as is so often the case with these things, this collection is a mixed bag, with inevitable moments of artistic self-indulgence rubbing up against the sublime. But, this still makes for a very enjoyable ride and, when that ride includes exclusive recordings from Bjork, Beck, Common, Jamie Cullum, Roots Manuva, N*E*R*D, The Roots, Zero 7, Herbert, Roisin Muprhy, Nitin Sawhney, Cody Chestnut and Four Tet (not to mention former Trouble headliners Homelife, future headliners Heavy, Dfrnt Drum no-shows Spektrum and 11 other burning stars), who’s complaining?

Hobbes

Published by The List, November 2005 and reproduced with their kind permission.