Muki, a.k.a. Luke Mullen and Jules Evans have been making luscious, laid-back music for over three years now, combining intelligent programming with live musicianship to create beautifully blissed-out atmospheric grooves, and their latest sounds present Muki's natural musical and personal progression to date.

Muki's musical history is both rich and varied. Jules was a session drummer until he ventured into engineering from an early age producing music for the likes of Tony Sapiano and The Sabres of Paradise. He has also released his own tracks as Jata on Subconscious Records. These days, Jules can be found working on various projects such as the The Underwolves, The Western Rebel Alliance and Salmonella Dub which has involved him globally trotting to lands as far as India and New Zealand.

Having played in a jazz funk band since the age of 16, Luke began playing jazz piano and funk at an early age, which led him onto programming which he has been actively involved with ever since.

Released early 1998, their debut single on Mantra Jahbar was a track which explored a mix of minimal electro grooves, funky space age techno, atmospheric drum and bass and the most laid-back sounds imaginable. They pushed on with similar releases such as 'Chinese Whispers', Shine, 'Ki Juice', 'Nite Lite' and Fullscope, all illustrating their own eclectic style of music for the soul, and further gaining them respect in their musical field. And so, the debut album Cabin Fever, released July 1998, received much critical acclaim, being hailed as "a gorgeously individual piece of forward-thinking music" by DJ magazine (5/5), and "exotic enough to gain permanent airtime on the Mata Hari's bedside soundsystem" by Muzik (10/10).

With the release of Cabin Fever, Muki steadily gathered praise and followers from all areas of the music press, as well as DJ support from the likes of Laurent Garnier, Howie B, DJ Food, Mr. Scruff, Pork Recordings, DIY, Bob Jones, Harvey, Patrick Forge and Gilles Peterson among others.

Now, with the turn of a new millennium comes an advanced and developed sound from Muki. Their first single Munk Funk released in April 2000, is an extravaganza of jazz-tinged-funk, echoing the sounds of suburban street life through its layering of traditional jazz sounds with drum & bass beats. 'Munk Funk' is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming second album Quiet Riot, which is due for release on 29 May 2000.

This album takes a step in a different direction, but one which is brimming with cool, calm and collected sounds. With tracks such as 'Quiet Riot', 'Funky Sofa', 'Floating' and 'Spaceout', the general mood of this album is definitely chilled; the perfect means of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life and taking a step into Muki's world. Featuring guest vocals from Sophie Barker on I Don't Want To Know, Steevie Braithwaite on 'Quiet Riot' and Winston Roberts on 'Judy', we are offered a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks, giving the album a variety of sounds and styles to suit most moods. A definite summer album for the post-party crowd.

DAISY @ New Cross Inn

Performers