The
Pepper Pots will release their new record "We Must Fight" on the back
of 10 years and 6 albums, world tours that have taken in the United States,
Japan, the UK, France, Russia and Germany and collaborations with some of the
most important artists in the recent history of Soul music (Binky Griptite, Eli
‘Paperboy’ Reed) as well as the past (the Impressions, Maxine Brown). These 10
years have seen the band's approach to Old School Soul mature into this, their
best album so far, representing a leap forward for both the songs and the sound
of the group.
"We
Must Fight" is a record that signals a number of changes. The first
noticeable one is in the vocals, with the group for the first time employing
two voices, those of Adriana Prunell and Aya Sima, who build up layers of
emotion throughout the album, reaching the highest peaks. They are helped by
some of the most personal lyrics that the group has written, inspired by the
social issues around us today and the need for change, while still reaching out
for fun, vitality and also love, the other great inspiration behind the record.
Apart
from the lyrics and vocals, the group's sound has also undergone an evolution
by combining the classic Motown sound, which has made them one of the stand-out
new soul acts, with deep soul from the late 60s and early 70s, incorporating
thrilling string arrangements, percussion, keys and guitars, and creating a
deep groove which was already hinted at on "Train to your lover". For
the album's recording, the Pepper Pots were back in their own studio, brimming
with analogue equipment from the golden era of Soul. Alongside them and
finetuning the vocals has been Binky Griptite of the Dap Kings, one of the most
important names in the new soul scene, a man who lists collaborations with Amy
Winehouse, Janet Jackson, Sharon Jones, Lee Fields, Lily Allen, Ghostface
Killah, Nas and Robbie Williams, among others.
Alongside
this impressive list, the Pepper Pots feel honoured to have crossed paths with
Binky on so many occasions in the last five years, forming such a solid bond
between Girona and New York over time that we can now consider Binky an
"Honorary Pepper Pot!"
No comments:
Post a Comment