More Skank by essence, “Highway One” is a straight nod to Mulatu Astatke and the Ethiopian jazz scene. Pulling out the frenzied congas and fluttering 70's melodies, “Gold Chain” attacks, pedal to the metal, blazing with drums reminiscent of the mastered tribalism of Tony Allen’s compositions. Showing off its playfully syncopated swagger, 'Walk N Talk' merges a skittish drumwork with dusty synths and moody trumpets out of a neo-noir detective flick shrouded in meditative oneirism.

It all starts with the slap-n-brass-laden dub-funk of “Kleeer”, taking us to another dimension of vaporous daze with its cartel of hip hop-laced drums and jaunty Rhodes, before “Steam' embarks us on a further guitar-strewn, highly dynamic voyage across Ethiopian jazz-infused sonic horizons. The music is Afrofunk-informed boogie, the album a languid ice-melter, engineered to beam groovy, defogging solace and soul-warming slabs. Now he’s turned up on Urban Trout (label of brother Aron) with “In The Flow”, a new album from his Australian outfit Mister Ott. For the past two decades, New Zealand saxophonist Matthew Ottignon has honed his skills and vision through a string of shape-shifting solo projects and collaborations.

Ott bandcamp