Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro - Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro (2008)

Sounding pretty much like a brew you might find on the menu at Starbucks, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro are, in fact, a new six-piece Japanese funk band who deliver a very tight and tasty blend of funk sounds. Their self-titled debut sees them doing everything from performing and composing to producing and arranging. Their sound pays respect to the sound of The Meters, The JBs and, from more recent times, The New Mastersounds, though they are much more than simple imitators. There is a punchy edge to their sound that suggests that their live shows would be worth seeing, and there is sufficient variety in the tunes to keep you dancing, or tapping your feet at the very least. ~ Sean Smith