Super review by Cal Gibson, of The Secret Soul Society. 

Ulyssa issue Craig Peyton’s Overflight, in which the venerable veteran vibraphonist’s career gets an extremely well-deserved thirty-three track salute: everywhere you listen there’s sparkling melodies, sweetback basslines, creamy horns and wistful memories. It’s what Jon and Ponch from the California Highway Patrol used to cruise the streets listening to (probably). It’s Daisy Duke shaking a tailfeather or two. It’s America utilising all the soft power in its locker: and yet the skill levels are such that you never really notice the join.

Drop the figurative needle wherever you choose and you’re surrounded by wonderful things. Deep Hawaii is an early favourite – keening, leaning into that fretless bass, the wind whistling through the palm trees. Hell yeah, you’re on vacation now and you’re loving every second: get room service to bring up another dose of the good funk.

Sure you might label it frivolous, but right now I’ll take all the frivolity you’ve got and more. It’s Martin Denny via way of Fire Island, if you like. Of course Craig’s famous cover of Be Thankful is included: a lo-fi throwdown version excursion of the highest order. Gino Soccio sideswiped by a bad case of electro blues. Patrick Cowley gone to seed. An alt-disco classic.

Inner Navigator rides drums that Geoff Barrow would die for: ‘Trust that inner voice to guide you…’ runs the lyric and the Spanish guitar riffs pull you in – helpless and loving it. The sweetest pain all over again. A backroom banger without a doubt.

Funky Boogie fires up from the kitschiest of beginnings: the soundtrack to a million day time soaps playing somewhere, somehow, over and over unto damnation. Hurts so good though: hurts so good. The vibes sliding in halfway through, expertly caressed into place. The players enjoying the ride, switching it up, switching it down, and ending with a hey nonny nonny no. Medieval badness.

There’s a whole world here, a sugar-spun creation designed and refined over many long years. There’s jazz and soul and disco wrapped in candy-coated flavours, sugary as hell but never sickly. It’s a million miles away from Albert Ayler of course, but let’s not kid ourselves: this is a collection of beautiful tunes polished until they bleed. We’re mixing metaphors now but what does it matter – there’s a depth and emotion to Overflight that truly marks it out as a special listen. An absolute peach of an album: you’ll be feasting on this for years to come.

Craig Peyton’s Overflight is out now on Ulyssa.