MADE TO BREAK WITH KEN VANDERMARK - CHERCHEZ LA FEMME
Sharp
improvisations with a decidedly sonic sensibility – music that bridges between
free jazz and much more textural moments! The group features Ken Vandermark on
reeds – sometimes blowing with forward-moving lines that are plenty bold –
sometimes stepping back to merge with the more electronic passages of the group,
handled by Christof Kurzmann. Drummer Tim Daisy is on hand to propel things
forward at all the right moments – and the songs here are dedicated to a
diverse array of inspirations – from Betty Davis to Helen Frankenthaler to
Sleater Kinney! Titles include "Sans Serif" and "Capital
Black". (Includes bonus download!) ~ Dusty Groove
The Spandettes are a fiercely energetic disco band hailing
from Toronto, Canada. Drawing inspiration from jazz-funk, soul and rock-steady,
their original music combines a classic 70's disco approach with a fresh and
contemporary edge. The band's leading ladies, Alex Tait (co-producer of the
album), Maggie Hopkins and Lizzy Clarke lead this dynamic 10-piece outfit
through musical terrain that balances sugary sweet vocal stylings, air-tight
horn passages and hard hitting grooves from their stellar rhythm section. Their
debut album Spandex Effect is a celebration of empowerment and liberation. The
songwriting team within the band always seeks to push the envelope of whatever
subject they are exploring, combining tongue-in-cheek playfulness with deeply
raw emotion. "A lot of what we write dances that line between romantic and
totally sarcastic and dry." The first single from the album, "Sweet
& Saccharine", was released in summer 2013 and generated a buzz in the
global dance music community. It was played by Gilles Peterson of BBC Radio 6,
KCRW in L.A, and spent 8 weeks on J-Wave Radio Tokyo's influential Tokio Top
100 chart. In a musical landscape where trends come and go like the wind, the
timeless sound of The Spandettes truly stands out among the rest. "Our
greatest influence as a band is undoubtedly the Pointer Sisters. We adore how
they jump from genre to genre so effortlessly, which is something we love to
do. We call ourselves a disco band for simplicity, but we also play jazz, soul,
RnB, and funk. Basically, if you can dance to it, we play it." The spirit
of their music celebrates individuality, and everyone is invited to join their
party - "sequins for all people equal"
DOPEGEMS - NECK SNAPPIN'
Dope
gems, indeed – as the album's filled with fierce funky tracks that take us back
to the 70s heyday of CTI Records and blacksploitation soundtracks! Yet the
sound here isn't just fake retro funk, either – it's really well-crafted,
jazz-heavy work that's filled with sweet vibes, keyboards, and massively heavy
drums – all at a level that feels like some lost Johnny Lytle soundtrack for a
black action film, or maybe an undiscovered Bobby Hutcherson gem from mid 70s
Blue Note, or even an unreleased second album from Stark Reality! These guys
are totally great on every single track – no too-modern production or any
programs to ruin the spontaneous energy of the groove – and titles include a
great remake of "Theme From 3 Days Of The Condor", plus "It's
Your Love", "Quasar", "Like A Thief In The Night",
"Solstice", "I Work The Whole City", and "Footsteps In
The Dark". ~ Dusty
Groove
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