LIONEL LOUEKE - GAIA
Maybe the most dynamic record we've
heard from guitarist Lionel Loueke so far – even though it's only a trio set,
with less musicians than some of Lionel's other albums! The approach here is
pretty fierce – heavy drums at most times from Ferenc Nemeth, and brooding bass
from Massimo Biolcati –both of whom really follow Loueke's lead sound, which is
more brash and hairy than before – still filled with that sense of color we've
always loved in his playing, but at a level that's more growling, and which
demands attention in a far more direct way. The shift is a great one – and once
again, Loueke's really keeping us on our toes – on titles that include
"Gaia", "Even Teens", "Broken", "Sleepless
Night", "Aziza Dance", "Wacko Loco", and
"Procession". ~ Dusty Groove.
A FUNKY TRIP – DETROIT FUNK FROM THE DAVE
HAMILTON ARCHIVE
A killer little set that's as heavy
as it sounds from the title – a wealth of rare material pulled from the studio
of Detroit producer Dave Hamilton – a good deal of it never issued at the time!
Hearing this set is like finding a pile of rare 45s stuffed in the back corner
of a long-lost record shop – because although much of the work was never
issued, it crackles with the intensity of the best funky 45s – lots of funky
drums, offbeat guitar, and raspy soul vocals – produced with a real edge to all
the work, so that all of the hardest elements of the tunes really come through
in the mix! The album features one track appearing here for the first time ever
– "Remember" by Chico – plus other rare tracks that include
"Marriage Is A State Of Mind" by James Carpenter, "Soul
Suite" by Dave Hamilton, "You Fool You Fool" by Prophet &
His Disciples, "The Deacons" by Dave Hamilton, "Funky Trip"
by Johnny Walker, "A Drop In The Bucket" by The Deacons, "Brand
New Girl" by Billy Garner, "The Devil Is Gonna Get You" by The
Future Kind, "Party Time" by James Carpenter, and "Grown Folks
Thing" by OC Tolbert. ~ Dusty Groove
SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS – IT'S A HOLIDAY SOUL PARTY
A wonderful
Holiday set from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – easily one of the coolest
albums you'll ever hope to spin in December! The group really recreate the vibe
of a classic Christmas soul album – like records from James Brown or Stevie
Wonder – and do an excellent job of moving between funky numbers, deeper soul,
and some righteous message cuts that remind us that the Holidays aren't always
happy for everyone on the planet. And these guys also don't just hang out at
Christmas – and instead touch on other December holidays too – in a sweet mix
of cuts that features Sharon in the lead on many numbers, plus some great
instrumentals from the Dap-Kings too. Titles include "8 Days",
"Ain't No Christmas In The Projects", "Big Bulbs",
"Funky Little Drummer Boy", "World Of Love", "Got Rest
Ye Merry Gents", "Silent Night", "Just Another Christmas
Song", and "Please Come Home For Christmas". ~ Dusty Groove
No comments:
Post a Comment