Gota - It's So Different Here (CD)

All Music Guide

Even if the label on the disc hadn't reassured us that "this is acid jazz, " composer/producer Gota Yashiki's It's So Different Here lets us know with raging electric guitar textures which add an alternative rock zip to '70s flavored keyboard riffs, spacey effects and bouncing grooves even 3rd Force would have trouble keeping up with. The occasional cool down of tracks like "Sensual Wave" keep the disc just cool and romantic enough to achieve mainstream acceptance outside of the acid jazz world. On the other hand, reliance on bland vocals to find airplay possibilities in the smooth jazz world comes across as heavily contrived and fairly uninteresting. While Yashiki, providing all programming loops, leads the way, it's the performances by keyboardist Bernie Worrell and saxmen Ian Kirkham and Jacko Peake which make the positive differences referred to in the album title.

- Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide