by JT Griffith
Howie B's Another Late Night was the second entry in the popular series Another Late Night. It (and Fila Brazillia's entry) reflects a more eclectic approach to chillout that often leads to a less-unified album. The collection starts off with an obscure funk/soul track by Motown's the Undisputed Truth called &What Is It.& Next is the Love Unlimited Orchestra's &Love's Theme,& which should appeal to anyone who liked the theme to Shaft or Curtis Mayfield's Superfly and needs a new object of affection. Howie B turns eclecticism up to 11 with the inclusion of Santana's &Mirage& (from the 1974 album Borboletta) and Mayfield's &Summer Hot& from his underrated 1983 Honesty album. In all, Howie B's Another Late Night might not be quite the jazzy, down-tempo chillout disc some expect. It does, however, revel in its diversity and, as such, does a great job highlighting tracks not commonly associated with this subgenre. Another solid volume of the series, but likely to be one of the least popular to those who strictly interpret electronica. Definitely worth a listen.