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"Tide's Arising", the long anticipated full-length CD from New Zealand native Mark de Clive Lowe, gets a U.S. release this spring on ABB Soul records. The 4-track sampler teased us unmercifully, offering pure madness in classic MDCL style. Dancefloors from L.A. to Tokyo writhed to the groove of "Slide" featuring The Incomparable Bembe Segue, and rocked to the rhythm of "Traveling," also with Ms. Segue and MC Capitol A.


"State of the Mental" let us know that "Tide's Arising" was guaranteed to be just that, mental.
Mark knows music. A hip-hop and soul head during his high school days, Mark grew up playing mostly classical-styled piano. He delved into jazz styles in his later teens and early 20s, and rediscovered his soul leanings when he met up with the West London folks (IG Culture, Phil Asher, etc). His style now is truly and amalgam of all life-long influences and with "Tide's Arising," MDCL solidifies his place at the helm of the nu era of jazz dance or danceable jazz.

But enough with labels, "Tide's Arising" has it all. Whether you want hip-hop, broken beat, acid jazz, whatever you want to call it, "Tide's Arising" is a CD full of good music, pure and simple. MDCL breathes life into sound, creating a collection of songs expertly structured and sensible, but imaginative and free. There's not too much or too little of anything here. He compliments his undisputed talent as a songwriter with fellow musicians and vocalists like Segue, Abdul Shyllon, Vanessa Freeman, Pino Palladino, Miguel Fuentes, Nathan and Joel Haines, and Kaidi Tatham, who know exactly how to take the music to the next realm.

If you know MDCL, and you're wondering if he can top the anthemic "Relax Unwind" or his lush remix of "Return to Paradise," trust when I say he's reaching the heights with this album. If you don't know Mark and you're wondering where the music in dance music went, then this album will restore your faith.