Lord Newborn & the Magic Skulls

iTunes Review

Some might call Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls a supergroup: fans of electronic music know that the names behind Lord Newborn are as good as it gets in the realm of soul-driven breaks and beats. Esteemed keyboardist Money Mark, aural globetrotter and musician Shawn Lee, and skateboard kingpin/groovemeister/musician Tommy Guerrero shine in this collection that sizzles from the heat of electronic worldbeat spice (“Astro Blue,” “Ringa Ding Ding Ding”), simmering, downbeat dance grooves (“Ancient Scrolls,” “Dime Bag Conspiracy”) and kicked-back, West coast, jazz ’n’ pop excursions (“She’s My Melody,” “Rainy Day Dog”). The cheekily titled opening track, “A Phase Shifter I’m Going Through,” exemplifies everything great about this collection, with its hissing, interstitial percussive beats leading the mellow but funk-drenched guitar and bass into a time traveling mash of ‘70s grooviness. After enjoying their own musical successes in a variety of musical guises, it’s fortunate they came together to make such soulful, earthly delights, and one should hope it’s not the end for Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls.