What makes Take London by The Herbaliser notable?

'Take London' garnered positive reviews for its inventive fusion of jazz and hip-hop, contributing to The Herbaliser's reputation as pioneers in the genre. It also received notable airplay on various radio stations, helping to further popularize the UK jazz-hip-hop movement during the mid-2000s. By the time 'Take London' was released in 2005, The Herbaliser had already established themselves as key players in the UK hip-hop and jazz scene following their breakthrough album 'Blow Your Headphones' in 1997. This album comes as a follow-up to 'Something Wicked This Way Comes', showcasing their continued evolution in sound and production techniques while solidifying their presence in both genres.

Who is Take London for?

Take London works well if you're into long immersive listening sessions, dynamic emotional journeys and layered dense sonic textures.

How many songs are on Take London?

Take London has 21 tracks, running approximately 78 minutes.

Take London

The Herbaliser · 2005

78 min · 21 tracks · jazz

An eclectic blend of jazzy instrumentals and hip-hop beats that invigorates the listener with its vibrant energy.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Nah’mean Nah’m Sayin’ — This track exemplifies the group's signature style, blending witty lyricism with a groovy beat that captures the essence of their artistic identity.
→
Gadget Funk — With its infectious rhythm and playful instrumentation, this track showcases their ability to meld traditional jazz elements with contemporary hip-hop vibes.
→
If You Close Your Eyes — This song stands out for its introspective lyrics woven over a lush musical backdrop, reflecting the depth of The Herbaliser’s artistry.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album blends jazz and hip-hop effectively, showcasing strong craftsmanship but with some unevenness in cohesion.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of live instrumentation, with brass and woodwind sections layered over hip-hop beats throughout.
Several tracks incorporate interludes that create pauses in the flow, allowing for thematic shifts without losing momentum.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

long immersive listening sessions
dynamic emotional journeys
layered dense sonic textures
atmospheric background focus

Where this album fits

Career context: By the time 'Take London' was released in 2005, The Herbaliser had already established themselves as key players in the UK hip-hop and jazz scene following their breakthrough album 'Blow Your Headphones' in 1997. This album comes as a follow-up to 'Something Wicked This Way Comes', showcasing their continued evolution in sound and production techniques while solidifying their presence in both genres.
Stylistic neighbors: Bonobo· Jazzyfatnastees· Amon Tobin