Thursday, January 07, 2016

NEW RELEASES: DAVID BOWIE – BLACKSTAR; GLORIA ANN TAYLOR – LOVE IS A HURTIN’ THING; KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS - KA RICA-TAR

DAVID BOWIE – BLACKSTAR

David Bowie's late career comeback reaches another lofty peak! If you're like us, and appreciated the preceding effort The Next Day for its reminder of Bowie at his fuzz guitar-graced 70s best while still standing firm in the here-and-now, yet still sort of wished for more creatively daring work, Blackstar might be the comeback you were hoping for. Once again, Bowie co-produces with Tony Visconti, but it's clear from the start that they're going for something deeper and more complex. Chilling bits of strings, keyboards and sputtering beats begin the epic title track, before Bowie's voice comes in like a spirtual guide – augmented by sax and other cool touches. It's an amazing start to an unpredictable set of songs, each as hypnotic as the one before. The stranger vibe of the opener comes in and out as the album plays on, but there's some fuzzier and heavier bits, too – on songs that are enigmatic and anthemic, arty and accessible. Nearly 50 years since his first album, Bowie's back in incredible form! '"Tis A Pity", "She Was A Whore", "Lazarus", "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)", "Girl Loves Me", "Dollar Days" and "I Can't Give Everything Away". ~ Dusty Groove

GLORIA ANN TAYLOR – LOVE IS A HURTIN’ THING

A stunning set of soul – and an album that will win you over right from the very first offbeat note! Some mad guitars introduce Gloria Ann Taylor's title cover version of "Love Is A Hurtin Thing" – and the whole album follows suit with these really unusual funky elements – echoey piano that feels like it was lifted from Charles Stepney, a righteous fuzzy funk part that has a Tribe Records vibe, and even certain elements that remind us of old Italian soundtracks – but mixed with much deeper soul! And the best thing of all is that all these cuts are classics, not some retro remakes – instead these overlooked nuggets that remind us that just when we think we've heard all the great soul there is to hear, a record like this comes around to open our minds all over again. Gloria never had a full length album back in the day, but this set brings together most of her rare singles – a massive batch of tracks that includes "What I Want", "How Can You Say It", "Love Is A Hurtin Thing", "Deep Inside Of You", "World That's Not Real", "Music", "Brother Is Less Than A Man", "Had It All The Time", "Burning Eyes", and "What's Your World".  ~ Dusty Groove


KARL HECTOR & THE MALCOUNS - KA RICA-TAR

Mad sounds from this wonderful group – a combo you might know under the names of Whitefield Brothers or Poets Of Rhythm, working here in a much more global-styled mode! The music isn't exactly African funk, but it isn't far off either – as the Malcouns mix funky drums with a range of retro elements that seem to include balafon, oddly-tuned keyboards, rootsy percussion, spacey flutes, and lots of other sounds that feel like they're lifted off volumes of the Ethiopiques series, or vintage recordings from Lagos! Titles include "Transition G", "The Funk", "Kingdom Of D'Mt", "Leealeah", "Shangold", "Ka Rica Tar", "Transition F", and "Orange". (Limited to 1000 copies – in a silk screened cover!) ~ Dusty Groove


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