Since the mid-nineties, London’s Herbaliser (Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry) have shared their passion for hip-hop, funk, soul, disco and rare grooves with audiences the world over. The duo’s known for albums for such notable labels as Ninja Tune and that of the legendary nightclub Fabric and working with legendary UK MCs such as Roots Manuva, Blade and New York’s Jean Grae (then performing as What What). Their new release for Studio !K7, “Same As It Never Was,” builds on their classic sounds established over fifteen years of Teeba and Wherry’s collaborations, and sees the band move further to incorporate the live horns of studio-mates Easy Access Orchestra and reveling in high 1960s swinging-London camp, rather than the traditional sample-based hip-hop of earlier releases like 1997’s “Blow Your Headphones” and 2002’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” “Same As It Never Was” also introduces The Herbaliser fans to the group’s new vocalist, Jessica Darling, whose contributions reveal a far more soulful edge to the band’s new work. In celebration of this new release, Ollie Teeba has embarked on a DJ tour of the US introducing American audiences to the group’s deep roots and diverse influences—from DJ Premier to James Brown to David Axelrod and Serge Gainsbourg. Chicago’s DJ Intel opens the night. (Andrew Lochhead)
Olli Teeba of the Herbaliser drops a DJ set, with DJ Intel and DJ Trew at Darkroom, 2210 West Chicago, (773)276-1411, August 6 at 9pm. $10.
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