(Warp) www.warprecords.com

Although he made his name in techno/electro circles with flashy beatboxing and laptop magic carpet rides, Jamie Lidell relies on his voice to carry his third album. You can almost see him with his eyes closed, pretending he’s at Stax laying tracks with Booker T. and the MGs, high on a funky good time. Maybe he’s thinking the root influence—soul and funk—is where it’s at. Or where he’s at. On Jim’s opening shot, he says “…I’m searchin’ for/Another day/Another way/For me to/Open up to you.” If he means that reducing his use of percussive mouth sounds and a blip bank, and just coming at us live from Jim, will achieve a stronger connection with the listener, he’s right. These ten warm, joyous songs—which draw liberally from Stax, Motown, Vee-Jay and even Paisley Park—cruise by like an old convertible on two-lane blacktop, and Lidell’s natural vox are the happy chatter of passengers, eyes wide shut, high on a funky good time.

Standout tracks: “Another Day,” “Hurricane” RANDY HARWARD