AMG Review of Progression Sessions, Vol. 4 [Unmixed]

John Bush
All Music Guide

The fourth volume in Good Looking's Progression Sessions series introduced quite a few promising new names to Bukem's imprint, including Rantoul (the epic "Systems Sylence"), Moonchild, Psyne, and Makoto. Elsewhere, LG/GL regulars like Seba, Big Bud, and Bukem himself contribute new tracks (the latter keys in on "Rhodes to Freedom"), and MC Conrad freestyles over the top between tracks. There's a solid balance of breakbeat jazz-funk and more free-form productions indebted to '70s fusion heroes from Roy Ayers to Pharoah Sanders, though as on previous volumes, it helps to be a diehard fan of Bukem's past work. The unmixed version of Progression Sessions, Vol. 4 cuts out Conrad's chatting.