It may come as a bit of a surprise to see a rock album coming from Brighton’s premier soul, jazz, funk and beats label, home of Alice Russell, Quantic et al.  However, consider that The Broken Keys is actually a new project from label-mates Natural Self, better known for his Brazilian beat workouts, and Nostalgia 77, widely respected for his voodoo jazz, and it all makes sense.  Rooted in the sounds of the late Sixties and early Seventies, with modern studio sensibilities augmenting the vintage recording techniques, at its best Gravity simmers and sizzles over a bluesy fire, its rousing torch-songs recalling the spirits of Morrison, Hendrix and Joplin, while the instrumentals belie an equally misty-eyed reverence for the classics.  It’s heavy.  It’s funky.  It’s got a lotta soul.  It’s another fine record from Tru Thoughts.  

(Published by The List, June 2006, and reproduced with their permission)