David Lyttle covers all bases and then some. He’s a producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performer and label boss. His usual modus operandi is to gather a talented line-up of guest collaborators, with Lyttle serving as writer and producer. His third solo album, recorded in New York, London, Dublin and in his own home studio, includes up to a dozen featured performers and blends a bewildering range of mainly (black) American styles, including jazz, soul, hip-hop and pop.
Where to start? Hip-hop star Talib Kweli raps over a breezy melody on ‘The Second Line’ while the instantly recognisable Duke Special is on vocals, and presumably piano, on the quirky ‘Houdini’, which fuses Steely Dan-esque song structures and stunning harmonies with music hall lyrics. Featuring Lyttle’s mother Anne on vocals, ‘Seek’ is smooth-as-silk supper-club piano jazz. Still keeping it in the family, ‘Detour’ features his sister Rhea on a more contemporary sounding tune, with an infectious melody and an appearance on saxophone by Jean Toussaint.
Elsewhere, UK jazz vocalist Cleveland Watkiss supplies the scat style singing on ‘Faces’; ‘To Be Free’ features rapper Homecut and soul singer Natalie Oliveri; and ‘Game Boy’ sees Rhea Lyttle and Irish rapper Zane swapping out vocals on a hypnotic, soulful and terrifically rhythmic tune. One of the most inventive Irish releases of the year...

Key Track - 'Game Boy'