Paul Murphy is among an ultra-rare group of eclectic UK DJ’s, whose remarkable path of music history continues to this day. He currently DJ’s internationally and head’s the esteemed Afro Art label. He used to even run a record store. (One of his employees was a young up-and-coming DJ named Gilles Peterson). Surely, the years of spinning and collecting music must have facilitated a library of musical ideas and directions for a debut album.

If you think you know what to expect, be prepared for The Trip. It’s akin to a future soundtrack of the past, like a well-used passport to choice musical avenues around the globe. It’s elegant, cosmopolitan and sophisticated; the antithesis of the 4/4 dance album expected from the typical dance music DJ. The focus isn’t squarely on the beats; like those few works that stand the test of time, it’s about the music and melody after all.

“Seven Samural” sounds as epic a remake as you can imagine, toiling on the classic Kurosawa film; Ashley Slater’s front-and-center trombone contribution, which cannot be overstated, works alongside wicked basslines, meeting bossa sensibilities. “Mr. Cosmic” has a worldly exotic pace that feels like an eternal Sunday afternoon. Roger Beaujolais does an exquisite job with beautiful vibe work, which can be heard on other tunes throughout the album). One must surely feel that Zeljko Kerlata of the underrated Cosmic Sounds label (and the person for whom the tune’s dedicated to) must be smiling and sipping fine wine somewhere.

The Trip is a culmination of one man’s lifelong journey through music of many genres and cultures. Welcome to Paul Murphy’s mid-life opus; a worthy contender for one of the best albums of 2006. Dust off your passport and take the trip.


Paul Murphy's The Trip is out now on Afro Art Records.