When the JTQ signed to Acid Jazz in late 93, only James and his guitar-playing brother David remained from the original Quartet, whose punky reworking of Herbie Hancocks Blow Up was an indie smash and John Peel favourite six years earlier. Albums for Urban and Big Life had shown Taylors music continually evolving, while the group became an exciting live draw. His then-latest LP, Supernatural Feeling, and soulful single Love The Life, featuring vocalist Noel McKoy, both made the Top 40 in early 93. With Jamiroquai and Brand New Heavies enjoying huge chart success it seemed time for Taylor, as the godfather of acid jazz, to hit big. It wasnt to be. In The Hand Of The Inevitable scraped in at No 63 in March 1995, but has since sold nearly 200,000 copies. One of Taylors most adventurous, satisfying albums, it ranges from smooth modern soul (the Alison Limerick-sung Love Will Keep Us Together) to retro Hammond funk (Haitian Breakdown) and includes a scorching instrumental cover of Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love. Bonuses from 1994s tougher-sounding Extended Play, including the Meters- styled funk strut Redneck and the frantic Earth, Wind & Fire-indebted Europa, make this essential.
