TUXEDO (MAYER HAWTHORNE & JAKE ONE) – TUXEDO
A sweet modern take on post-disco funky soul from Mayer
Hawthorne and Jake One, working together as Tuxedo! It's a pretty remarkable
creative step for both parties, and classy enough to make the Tuxedo moniker
fit. We've known for years to expect the unexpected from Mayer Hawthorne – we
never would've predicted his step from Stones Throw upstart to credible retro
soul singer – but Jake One's boogie soul-styled production here is a bit of a
surprise, and a sweet one at that. Lots of soulful synths back the solid vocals
here, along with some strings and other cool touches. Without solid songs, it'd
be a mere stylistic exercise, and the songs are slickly soulful and a total
delight! Includes "Lost Lover", "RU Ready", "Watch The
Dance", "So Good", "Two Wrongs", "Tuxedo
Groove", "I Got U", "The Right Time", "Roll
Along", "Get U Home", "Do It", "Number One"
and more. ~ Dusty Groove
QUINTONAL – QUINTONAL
A sweet funky combo from the Montreal scene of the 70s –
working here in a killer set of never-issued material! Quintonal have an
approach that's tight and right on the money – electric, but never in a
too-fusiony style – and instead kind of a step forward for 60s soul jazz or
European modal grooves – served up by a quintet lineup that includes tenor,
trumpet, and some mighty nice keyboards! The combo got their initial
inspiration from Canadian jazz legend Nick Ayoub – who was their teacher – and
you can definitely hear some of Ayoub's modern inspirations in the music at
times, mixed with warmer, more soulful elements that also tie them to the
hippest funky jazz in the US – particularly small groups working far from the
major label scene. Most tracks are originals, and the material here was pulled
from vault tapes for an album recorded by the band in the mid 70s, but never issued
at the time – although one track was issued on a rare tour EP that came out in
1976. Titles include "Poster", "Sept Quatre", "Running
Shoes", "Soul Love", "Time Compulsion",
"Switch", "Antoine", "Ballade Pour Liane", and
"Push Up". ~ Dusty Groove
REAL SIDE RECORDS PRESENTS SOUL ON THE REAL SIDE #3
A set that's heavy on classic cuts from the 70s, but throws
in a few contemporary numbers too – all in this wonderful blend of music that's
got a wicked mellow groove all the way through! The style is a bit modern soul,
but more in that smooth 70s mellow style we love so much – lots of midtempo
rhythms, less disco inflections, and plenty of room for amazing lead vocals
that really send the tunes home with a hell of a lot of warmth and soul!
Familiar cuts mix with lesser-known gems we'd totally missed – and titles
include "Getaway" by Walter Thomas, "All I Want Is You" by
Convertion, "I Need You More Than Ever" by The Montclairs, "Keep
On Pushing Love" by Al Green, "Work To Do" by The Main Ingredient,
"Don't Walk Away" by General Johnson, "You Got It" by Roy G
Hemmings, "The Walk" by Jesse Gomez & TCB, "If Loving You Is
All I Have To Do" by Anna Brooks, "Corazon" by LTG Exchange,
"Mercy Mercy Me/Inner City Blues/What's Going On" by The Shirelles,
"Love Knocked You Down" by The Nights, and "Just To Be With
You" by The O'Jays. ~ Dusty Groove
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