Part of the new French school, (see Dajla, Wise, Electro Deluxe, Tassel & Naturel, Hocus Pocus, C2C…), Wax Tailor is the alter-ego of talented French DJ and uber-producer du jour JC la Saout. Heavily influenced by the Mo’ Wax label and DJ Shadow, the former member of the French rap band La Formule in the early 90s launched his solo career because he was so disappointed by the French hip-hop scene. On his second album, Hope & Sorrow, Wax Tailor breaks barriers between different styles of music to create his own sound - which was his method on Tales Of The Forgotten Melodies. Wax chose this title because he thinks “hope” and “sorrow” balance each other in life. One listen and you will hear the balance between the old-school style and new school flavour as well as between acoustic sounds and new technologies.

Though he is French, don’t expect to hear accordions or even any French language on the album. Some of the guests on the album are French, but they all sing in English. The album is a patchwork of soul, funk, jazz and hip-hop woven together by Tailor’s personal touch and style. Wax Tailor used to listen to Eric B & Rakim, Public Enemy and EPMD when he was young along with original movie soundtracks and jazz – listen to the funky “Once Upon A Past” or the jazzy “That Case” and you will clearly hear those influences.

Singer/poet Ursula Rucker (4 Hero, The Roots) brings her spoken-word touch to “The Way We Lived,” while Sharon Jones pours her heart in her signature retro-soul style on “We Be.” Charlotte Savary and Marina Quaisse, two close friends who had already sung on Tailor’s first LP, are back in the fold again, bringing a classical touch to the record. The general mood is more joyful than the first album, but there are still moments when Tailor can be sensuous (“The Man With No Soul” and “To Dry Up” for example).

Wax Tailor’s street background from the early days of hip-hop days to the Philadelphia nu-soul sounds and the Bristol trip–hop beats paved the way for the creation of an outstanding album like Hope & Sorrow. Highly recommended, indeed.

Wax Tailor | MySpace