Lexx cruises into view with his most rounded album yet. Combining his trademark layered funk with something altogether grown up, deeply melodic and more than a little soulful. These twelve cuts come with more than a smattering of guest vocals, taken together they lift his sound in a deeply satisfying summer direction.

Off the bat, ‘Special’ features Laura Quinn, whose torched vocals play over a laidback guitar groove. Veering ever so slightly toward horizontal, in a very good way. ‘Special’ has an act two that extends the vibe into an instrumental zone, because…well, why not? ‘Right By Your Side’ has Stones Throw alumnus Stimulator Jones on vox, giving it blue-eyed soul feels with proper G-funk undercurrents for added snap and smooth as harmonies.

Meanwhile, ‘Cruisin’’ kind of lives up to its name. Sun roof top, diggin’ the scene. You get the idea. Ella Love pops up on ‘Cherish’ which like that emotion, comes more than one flavour. The ‘High Love’ version is a real fun summer offbeat pop burner. While the ‘Nite Time’ take tightens and toughens up the beats for a more immediate feel as the sun drifts towards the end of the day.

Jones pops up again on the title track, combining with Lexx’s production and Roger Szedlik’s guitar to wrap his vocal around some very elastic bass lines and molten drums. ‘Far Away’ evokes open space and freedom of movement, twisting the tempo dial ever so slightly to another gear. Laura Q is back again on the delightful ‘In Motion’, her vocals interweaving seamlessly with strums of guitar, pitter patter beats and eloquent strings. A bongo and rolling piano vamp makes ‘Holdin’ On’ a subtle anthem in the making for love, (lost?) and found, a perfect counter to ‘Get 2 Know U’s tale of new emotions and the initial heady days in a relationship.

‘Rhythm of Love’ demos a real different and enlightening new side to Lexx. Flexing his emotional muscles through storytelling, the realities of getting together with all its ups and downs - plus the bits in between.

Rhythm of Love is available via Lexx’s Bandcamp and various other outlets.