Nov 26, 2011         Editorials         by Chris Z

For Five Coffees it all began as an invite-only jam between formally-trained Jazz musos, Guy Elsom and Dean Adams. After including freestyle MC Nick Knowledge, Brazilian monster guitarist Murilo Tanouye, Old-school Boom-bap drummer Uncle Phil, Dave Groves on double bass and the beautiful Ayla on vocals, they soon found they had a unique blend of styles, founded on improvisation but ending in great music. 

Inspired by the likes of Mark Ronson, Erykah Badu and Don Blackman, Five Coffees’ music has been likened to the illegitimate love child of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Jeru the Damaja and Glenn Miller. Live, audiences are treated to live horns, male and female vocals and a phenomenal rhythm section. 

The Sydney jive jockeys latest effort is their debut EP Flatline…  Known for their unforgettable live shows and voraciously claiming to be Sydney's favourite hip hop/jazz/folk/rock/funk/neo-soul crew, they present music that's so chilled-out, it's going to reverse climate change.

Boodah is a breezy guitar lick and horn driven opener which transforms into the upbeat Johnny Walker Gives Sound Advice (One Foot, Next Foot) which features guest vocals by Charmaine Bingwa. Charmaine appears again on All You Need To Know. The EP is drizzled with fun and bright lyrics and word play and is a perfect summer BBQ backdrop. The Plantlife helmed We Can Get High has a more rock edge and adds a new dimension to the already colourful EP.

I’d liken them also to fellow Australian funk/soul/hip hop genre benders Kid Confucius and King Farook. The total effect of the Flatline… EP is more than the sum of its parts – the various, very different musical styles combined with undeniable chemistry; create a wholly original sound that has never failed to entertain.

Nick is a thinking-man's rapper whose cleverly crafted lyrics deal with important social issues such as poverty and urban decay. Put that together with Guy and Dean’s cool-to-the-bone jazz horn lines and you’ve got tunes to sooth the soul and move the body. 

Mastered by Ben Feggans (Empire of the Sun), Produced by Steeve Body (De La Soul), Flatline… sees the band being loyal to their roots and recording something for their fans.