Nubiyan Twist are a remarkable success story: what started as a college project for bandleader Tom Excell has blossomed into a celebrated nine-piece ensemble, exploring everything from jazz to afrobeat to hip-hop. Now with the release of their sixth studio album, the group have what they do down to a science. ‘Chasing Shadows’ isn’t the most daring or boundary-pushing project out there, but its remarkable fusion of soul and whimsy should keep you returning to it anyway.

The name ‘Chasing Shadows’ feels pretty ironic when Nubiyan Twist indulge in so much brightness and joy across these eleven tracks. The record is peppered with memorable brass lines that often make up the core of each song, and they’re consistently delightful— right from opener ‘Azimuth,’ the interplay between eniola’s gorgeous lead vocals and the wandering guitar and piano accompaniments feels completely and unquestionably natural. Excell and company are a group who tout a wide variety of influences, which makes the easy-going nature of their latest project all-the-more impressive: a cut like ‘Echoes’ is packed with jazzy chord changes, synthesiser solos and a radical transition into funk music by its end, yet Nubiyan Twist somehow manage to comfortably integrate these elements into a highly accessible (and enjoyable) package. In no moment does the album feel lacking in momentum, surely thanks to the phenomenal percussive choices that act as our musical backbone. The reggaeton groove of ‘How Far,’ confident jazz playing of the title track and diverse beats of ‘Body Flows’ all do wonders to empower the record with energy and charm.

‘Chasing Shadows’ could only have been made by a group of musicians with an immense level of chemistry, and you can really feel just how much fun the band were having when it came to the endearing melodies of ‘Red Herring’ and the genre-defying ‘Mlonje: Voices Joined’ (which somehow manages to feature the most adventurous jazz performances on the album, on a song firmly rooted in hip-hop sensibilities). At times, it can honestly feel like Nubiyan Twist have grown a little too comfy with one another. Their sixth album really doesn’t hold much back, laying bare all its purposeful bass lines, soulful vocal chops and easy-going instrumental performances from the off— the combination of those parts is so seamless, it becomes almost unexciting. Every moment of ‘Chasing Shadows’ is a sweet collection of strong harmonies and rock-solid musicianship, no doubt, but the record’s focus on unwavering brightness can leave a cut like ‘Threads’ or ‘Sunlight’ feeling somewhat unmemorable. Ultimately, Nubiyan Twist are an experimental band that don’t fully take advantage of that fact.

The group themselves prove this point effortlessly on ‘Message,’ which flies in to completely steal the show. If other songs here are more substantive than their style gives them credit for, this is the track that puts Nubiyan Twist’s gift for memorable hooks, electrifying percussion and bold genre combinations on full display. Mr. Williamz steps in to instantly hold the entire project hostage, commanding the song with a delivery full of a fire and intensity we’d been sorely missing up to that point. ‘Message’ is far from the most complex or intricate song on ‘Chasing Shadows,’ and that may honestly be to its betterment: it really only needed that funky bass line and the odd surprise flourish to draw out the fun from this arrangement, and the track is undoubtedly the standout because of it. That’s not to say there aren’t highlights, of course— ‘Rhythm Of You’ is a lovely sentimental note to round the record out on, and the opening suite of ‘Azimuth,’ ‘Red Herring’ and ‘How Far’ is certainly striking. Still, one can’t help but wish that Excell and company had gone just a step further in places.

The overwhelming impression that ‘Chasing Shadows’ will leave you with is a hearty respect for all the musicians involved with its creation: the number of fantastic rhythmic accents, instrumental inclusions and vocal displays on offer here is really quite impressive in hindsight, and they all serve a collection of tunes that is anything but inconsistent. Those elements are something to be marvelled over, if not fully appreciated in the moment— in the end, Nubiyan Twist don’t push their strongest traits as hard as they should. Still, there’s only so much criticism you can levy against a project this rock-steady, especially when it also happens to be as funky and fun as this one. When all is said and done, you can’t really go wrong here.