SEAN KUTI
& EGYPT 80 – BLACK TIMES
Some of the
most righteous and furiously funky Afro Soul since Fela Kuti's prime – and it's
beyond appropriate for such a committed, perfect personification of a classic
sound via a modern player come from Fela's own son Seun! As strident as Seun's
approach is, much like his father at his best, the call for revolution is as
personal and soulful as it is political – this is a universal that's as
riveting as you'd hope. Joined by veterans of the Egypt 80 band that Fela
helped form back in the day, and featuring guests as legendary as Carlos
Santana – who sounds SO good in a supporting roll on an Afro Soul tune – and
modern soul jazz heavy Robert Glasper, this is among the finest new albums on
the Strut label in years. Includes "Last Revolutionary", "Black
Times" feat Carlos Santana, "Corporate Public Control Department
(CPCD)", "Kuku Kee Me", "Bad Man Lighter (BML)",
"African Dreams", "Struggle Sounds" and "Theory Of
Goat And Yam". ~ Dusty Groove
DELVON
LAMARR ORGAN TRIO – CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
An organ
trio, and one with plenty of soul – romping drums, riffing guitar, and some
mighty sweet work on the Hammond by Delvon Lamarr! This is the first we've ever
heard of the group, but they're rock solid and right on the money – working
with a lean, hard style that's completely classic, but also a bit contemporary too
– maybe swinging in the best sort of space between the Jack McDuff Quartet of
the 60s and the Sugarman Three group of Desco Records fame! David McGraw
handles the drums with a clear love of funk, and Jimmy James is wonderfully
wicked on guitar – never trying to dominate too much, as there's no need –
given how much he brings to the overall groove. Delvon's a hell of an organist
too – the kind that knows that a little can often go much farther than a lot
when handling the electric keys – which he does to set up some sweet solos on
cuts that include "Ain't It Funky", "Al Greenery",
"Can I Change My Mind", "Walk On By", "Between The
Mustard & The Mayo", "Raymond Brings The Greens", and
"Little Booker T". (Black vinyl pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove
MONOPHONICS
- MIRRORS
A nice
little project from The Monophonics – one that has the group turning their
fuzzy funk talents towards a host of classic cuts from the 60s and 70s – which
they remake with a very distinctly different sound! You're bound to recognize
most cuts here, but it might take you a minute or two – as the Monophonics
bring plenty of instrumentation that wasn't on the originals – from heavy
drums, to Hammond, Fender Rhodes, electric sitar, mini moog, Arp, and trumpet –
along with vocals from a few different singers, both male and female. Titles
include "Summer Breeze", "Lying", "I'd Be Nowhere
Today", "California Dreaming", "My Heart Cries", and
an especially nice version of "Beggin". ~ Dusty Groove
No comments:
Post a Comment