NEW RELEASES - YOUNGLOOD BRASS BAND, LUIS LOPES, MASTER PLAN INC.

YOUNGBLOOD BRASS BAND - PAX VOLUMI

Wonderful work from this combo who really live up to the "young blood" in their name – way more than just a standard brass band, as they draw on styles from a range of genres that include funk and hip hop, plus a slight touch of punk as well! There's an edge to the performance that shakes the genre free of any old time cliches – and although the instrumentation is heavy on brass, there's some pretty fierce rhythms too – especially on cuts that show more of a hip hop influence, and which feature lyrics. The blend of beats and brass is really unique, and makes the record way different than even any of the other contemporary attempts to reinvent the genre. Titles include "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot", "Cite The Line", "20 Questions", "The Plank Will Nod & You Will Go", "E La E", "A Gust Inside The God", "Erik Owen", "Wrestlevania", and "Third Half".  ~ Dusty Groove

LUIS LOPES - NOISE SOLO AT ZDB LISON

set – as the album uses guitar noise as much as it does musical sound – but in a way that's quite revelatory overall! Lopes plays live here in a solo performance – and often uses feedback tones in this spare and striking way that rings out with brash tones – almost more of a improvised reed solo than a regular electric guitar piece – given the way that feedbacked notes cascade together in these sheets of sound! This approach is especially true once Luis hits some of the higher registers of sound, too – as the whole thing's got a feel that's different than some of the more familiar guitar noise modes of yore. Lopes uses some nice vintage elements to craft his sound – including a valve Fender Blues De Ville amp, and a Big Muff pedal too!  ~ Dusty Groove

MASTER PLAN INC. - MASTER PLAN INC.

Previously unreleased work from an excellent Chicago soul group – Master Plan Inc, a group with deep roots in the Windy City scene, but hardly ever any presence in the record racks! The combo worked together heavily throughout the 70s – and you can really hear that in their grooves on this set – tunes that are better-crafted than most of their contemporaries' work, and played with this sharp edge that really belies the indie status of the act. The ensemble's got a punch that's past the usual smaller group sound of the funky 45 generation – yet they still have all the rawness of that era too, and none of the disco or boogie modes you might guess from the date of these recordings. Drums are especially nice, and really kick strongly on most numbers – and the set's got some especially nice notes, which feature personal reflections from grup leader Frederick Douglas Shorts. Titles include "Bright Lights Big City", "Heartbreaker", "Bag Up", "Try It You'll Like It", "Younger Generation", "You", "Something To Be Done", and "Special Love".  ~ Dusty Groove