"Mettle" is defined as the inherent quality of character, spirit and temperament, and when referring to Mettle Music’s Moodswings LP, the exceptional quality is evident from the first note. First, a little history lesson- Nic Conef & Mark Wadsworth formed Mettle Music in June 1999. Coming from two distinctly different musical backgrounds, Nic revered artists like Salt City Orchestra, Attaboy, Ashley Beadle, Faze Action, Idjut Boys and Swag, while Mark was heavily influenced by the likes of Weather Report, Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock, Studio One Recordings and Airto Moreira. This clashing of musical tastes proved to be a perfect fusion, and the boys proceeded to release a number of seminal singles on labels like Toko, Freerange & Low Pressings under aliases such as Mettle Music Collective, M-Trax, and Square One.
Moodswings could be described as the quintessential album designed to remind you of everything we’ve come to love about life. Very tall order, I know, but hearing this album conjures up visions of life’s perfections- love, nature, beauty, fruity cocktails, fluffy pillows...you get my point.
You’ll find Nic’s funked-up jazzisms interlaced with Mark’s discofied percussion as the tunes waft effortlessly through many musical genres like Latin, reggae, samba, downtempo, and house. Naked Music fans will surely find favour with "Back Again," while "On The Bounce" recalls some of Swag’s finer moments. "Capture," the album’s first single, is a dubbed-out affair featuring the seductive vocal stylings of Susanna Montero from Malena. Mettle Music’s latest effort delights at every turn and would truly qualify as one of life’s perfections.
