Take London cover

Take London

The Herbaliser · 2005

78 min · 21 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and funk that immerses listeners in a London street soundscape.

Why this album works

'Take London' received acclaim for its eclectic mix of genres and was pivotal in the underground UK hip-hop movement. The album featured several tracks that resonated within the scene, earning praise in publications like Mojo and forming a significant part of the musical landscape during the mid-2000s.
Best for
long immersive listening sessions dynamic emotional journeys layered dense sonic textures
Context
By 2005, The Herbaliser had established themselves as prominent figures in the UK hip-hop scene with this album being their fifth studio release. Following the critical success of 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' in 1999, 'Take London' continued to showcase their innovative blend of jazz and hip-hop while solidifying their reputation for intricate production and lyrical depth.
Stylistic neighbors
Hiromi Uehara· Pat Metheny· Sade Adu

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Take London (intro) 0:32
  • 2 Nah’mean Nah’m Sayin’ Standout 4:01
  • 3 Song for Mary 5:16
  • 4 Generals 3:55
  • 5 Gadget Funk Standout 4:07
  • 6 Failure’s No Option 3:01
  • 7 Lord, Lord 4:08
  • 8 'Man Who Knows' (interlude) 0:21
  • 9 Kittynapper 2:37
  • 10 Geddim’!! 4:56
  • 11 If You Close Your Eyes 4:25
  • 12 Sonofanothamutha 8:17
  • 13 Twice Around 3:56
  • 14 'I Know a Bloke' (interlude) 0:21
  • 15 8 Men Strong Standout 5:14
  • 16 Serge 5:34

Disc 2

  • 1 More Tea, More Beer 2:36
  • 2 Meteroic 2:49
  • 3 I Am 4:06
  • 4 How to Keep a Girlfriend 4:14
  • 5 None Other 3:29

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata