The most notable thing to date about the Helsinki based Five Corners Quintet is their three absolutely stunning singles on Helsinki’s Ricky-Tick Records. These records have garnered plenty of four and five star reviews from the specialist music press. Aside from saying they alone make this album worth buying, I’m going to leave them out of this review. Okou provides this album’s inspiration, fusing soul and jazz with lush production, setting the tone for the rest of the set. My copy either has a digital glitch or she sings a bum note towards the end of Blue Cycles, either way this is the only split second fault on the entire recording. Sauntering around to This Might Be The Start Of Something Big, vocalist Mark Murphy takes centre stage for the first time. This track is beautifully produced and big. Big on strings and cheese, it’s not one for the Viking, but every jazz album seems to have its obligatory cover, this one is from Steve Allen’s 1959 album of the same name. Later on Murphy puts in his second and most compelling performance accompanied by lush strings and a hip-swaying rhythm on Before We Say Goodbye. Okou shines on Case Study. This song has classic written over it. Lighthouse follows with another trademark Five Corners melody underpinned by a driving bassline. This will hit you square in the jaw and, despite dragging on a bit, is fantastic. Unsquare Bossa fuses a Hammond organ that could have been lifted from an early 90’s house record with Latin rhythms, then the vibes, wind and brass kick in. This is followed by a driving drum solo, which should pull you back to your lounge rug to get cutting. This album reaches a climax with the spoken word Jamming (with Mr. Hoagland). The fat, punishing bass makes this essential for club play. Although Mark Murphy is a class act, he only reinforces the opinion that the Five Corners Quintet’s strengths are their instrumental pieces, with unforgettable melody and beautiful, warm vibes. And it is not often your ol’ pal the Viking would say something like that.
