Also reissued by Porter, another leftfield gem from Boston. Originally released on Mait Edey’s Seeds label, Natural Food’s eponymous album is a fusion record in the truest sense. Edey takes the lead role as songwriter and keyboardist, the group referencing folk-pop, blues, psych-boogie and vocal jazz, with a band that includes Stark Reality bassist Phil Morrison.

One of two strong reissues from the new Porter Records imprint. Like Birigwa, Natural Food was released on the teeny Boston-based Seeds label (whose owner, Mait Edey, takes the lead role as songwriter and keyboardist), and features contributions from Stark Reality members. The similarities end there though, and this record is probably closer to the jazz-funk-fusion that S.R. is known for...sort of. Natural Foods deftly touches upon boogie rock, Bay Area brass funk, Tapestry-esque folk-pop, free jazz and blues, and the strong, soulful, female led vocals of lead singer Brenda James is the glue that binds all of these disparate ideas together. It's "fusion", if you will, before it was even a coined term. Fans of Julie Driscoll, Chris McGregor and the like will also find much to connect with here. [DH] (February 27, 2008)