Cosmogramma

iTunes Review

In 2008, Steven Ellison — a.k.a. Flying Lotus — released Los Angeles, a slice of exciting instrumental hip-hop/electronica-infused with a spiritual jazz vibe, and it didn’t sound quite like anything else. (Ellison’s great aunt is the legendary harpist and pianist Alice Coltrane, and his grandmother, Marilyn McLeod, wrote songs for Motown.) 2010’s Cosmogramma feels like an extension of Los Angeles, but one thing that sets it apart is its mix of live playing and electronics. The brief opener, “Clock Catcher,” places digital details next to Rebekah Raff’s harp, which makes a number of appearances here. “Pickled!” is a swirl of motion driven by Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, whose propulsive bass playing evokes British prog rockers Yes. “Intro / A Cosmic Drama” and “Zodiac S**t” are marked by the glowing string arrangements of Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, a key member of the Los Angeles-based jazz collective Build An Ark. Ravi Coltrane plays mellow tenor sax lines on “Arkestry,” an atmospheric cut with jazzy drums and fluttering harp. “Table Tennis” finds vocalist Laura Darlington accompanied by a variety of intriguing sounds, including acoustic guitar and ping-pong ball rhythms.