ERIC GALE – BLUE HORIZON / ISLAND BREEZE
Smooth fusion from guitarist Eric Gale – 2 80s albums for
Elektra, back to back on one CD! Island Breeze has a sound that lives up to its
name – one with slight tropical touches in the rhythms and the instrumentation,
and a way of recording Gale's guitar that brings out a bit more brightness in
the tone. Arrangements are by Bob James and Jimmy Kachulis – and titles include
"Boardwalk", "We'll Make It", "Island Breeze",
"Dark Romance", and "I Know That's Right". Blue Horizon is
a bit more focused – a record with a style that's still relatively smooth, yet
a bit more in the mode that we like on Gale's 70s work. The core group features
some nice keyboards from Peter Schott and drums from Freddie Waits – and Hugh
Masekela guests on flugelhorn on a bit of the album. Tracks have a solidly
fusion-based approach, yet are relaxedly soulful, never with too much jamming –
and titles include "When Tokyo", "Clock A Pa", "Call
Me At The Same Number", "97th & Columbus", "Wait Until
The City Sleeps", "Blue Horizon", and "Mako D'Amour".
~ Dusty Groove
MODERNISM – 24 TRACKS OF HIP-SHAKING CLUB SOUL &
VINTAGE R&B
Not the modernism of high art or experimental literature –
and instead the upbeat, totally groovy sound of British mods in the 60s –
served up here in a wicked batch of American soul tracks from the time! The
style here is a bit Northern Soul, but also has a bit more of the blues and
R&B elements that inspired some of the Brit rock acts of the time – but
served up here by the originators from our side of the Atlantic, and with the
kind of attention to special tracks and rare singles that we've come to expect
from the great folks at Kent Records! This is more than just a rehash of older
hits or overplayed numbers – and instead, the carefully-chosen set list really
gets right to the heart of the matter – and backs up its musical magic with a
great set of notes, photos, and label scans. Titles include "Ain't That
Soul" by Teddy Reynolds, "Do It" by Pat Powdrill,
"Crossroads In Your Heart" by The Shirelles, "Beg Me" by
Chuck Jackson, "Cinderella Jones" by Sammy Jones, "We Gonna Rub
(part 1)" by Joe Johnson, "Night Beat" by Kenny Smith & The
Lovelighters, "Magic Potion" by Lou Johnson, "The Life Of The
Party" by Joan Moody, "The Phillie" by The M&Ms & The
Peanuts, "Private Eye" by Wallace Johnson, "Listen To Me
Baby" by Ralph Ventsha & Red Julian Quartet, and "When One Of
Them Won't" by The Turn Arounds. ~ Dusty Groove
MAMMAL HANDS – FLOA
A cool cascading mix of piano, saxophone, and drums –
wrapped together in a way that's extremely fluid, and filled with lots of warm,
lyrical touches! The approach here is a bit like that of GoGo Penguin – a trio
with a style that's almost as pulsingly rhythmic as it is melodic – as the
saxes of Jordan Smart dance along with the piano of Nick Smart, and get some
nicely kicking energy from the drums of Jesse Barrett! There's some soulful,
spiritual currents in the music that really make things powerful – and titles
include "In The Treetops", "Quiet Fire",
"Hillum", "Hourglass", "Eyes That Saw The
Mountain", and "The Falling Dream". ~ Dusty Groove
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