After the atmospheric detour of their acclaimed previous album, Gondola, ("The sound is big and the effects gorgeous - a beautiful release" - The Wire, UK) Village returns The catholics to their trademark fusing of jazz with various dance grooves from around the globe, a meld which has cemented their popular appeal here and abroad. From the mid-sixties Blue Note boogaloo of Half a Shark and the cumbia of Salaam, through African tones and island jive, to the freeze-dried Gilberto-esque bossa of Sugarloaf, this is another joyous and sensual album from The catholics, imbued with humour and warmth.

Beautifully recorded and mixed, Village represents a stepping-back by bandleader Lloyd Swanton from the chief composer role. Says Swanton, "I'm delighted to be opening up the band's palette to other composers, both within and outside the band. On Village, we've got first-time contributions such as our guitarist Jonathan Pease's beautiful African tune Pelicans and slide guitarist Bruce Reid's exquisite Grace, we've got a great samba tune from our saxophonist Sandy Evans in Sun Dance, but we're also playing contributions from legendary saxophonist Bernie McGann, Ernest Ranglin's drummer Dion Parson, and that great Australian pianist, Barney McAll."

One listen to Village will show that it is the work of superlative artists, clearly devoted
to the joy of melody, of rhythm; in fact the sheer beauty of sound.