The music group Dynamoe appears to be quietly but steadily doing the free and legal thing for awhile now. They have three full albums with the earliest going back to 2001, and two compilations of unreleased materials. I figured it is time to give these guys their due. They have a solid professional sound that ranges from electronica to trip-hop to soul jazz and are deserving of a bigger audience.

The interesting thing to me is how each album has a distinct sound. Jump Start is from 2001 and is clearly a electronic music album clearly in the Techno / House tradition. It is purely instrumental, heavily percussive, and sounds like it should be played onthe dance floor. Not my cup of tea but good for what it is.

Coming Home is from 2004 and more to my taste. The opening track”Absent” is out of the acid jazz/jazz fusion arena and features a soulful vocal and great Richard “Groove” Holmes styled organ. Most of the album stays in the groove with jazzy solos and urban beats. “Geneve” is an especially tasty instrumental with a good sax solo and some nice arranging. “Mistress of Spice” has a nice female vocal paired with a slow-tempo blend of soul and trip-hop. The entire album sets off a calming but groove-filled atmosphere. This is the one I would recommend most.

In the Wake of Time is the latest and was released in 2007. The band has now shifted to a more commercial sound of smooth jazz and trip-hop. Vocals are now in the forefront giving a decidely mainstream feel. Yet there is still a tight interaction with the band members. and good arrangements throughout. “You Convinced Me” has a Tricky influence while “Rita Come Here Quick” is a track ready for prime time. This is a good album for easy listening; not as good as Coming Home but more my type than Jump Start

Rounding up the pack are two compilation albums of unreleased materials from 1998-2000 and 2001-2003. Mainly electronic dance music, the first collection does have some really funky tracks. I especially like “Chinese Food” and “Yellow Cab”. The second collection has a lot of soul and jazz oriented materials such as the trumpet sampled “If it Twinkles Snatch it”. Like most collections of unreleased material there is an unevenness but still plenty of good tracks.

All albums are available from Dynamoe’s web site in either 128kbps or 192kbps MP3 format. If you enjoy the music, be sure to support the band by sending them a donation.

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