Monday, April 13, 2020

New Music Releases: Marvin Gaye, Siaosi, Kathleen Grace & Larry Goldings

Marvin Gaye - More Trouble

A hell of a bonus for any fan of the fantastic Trouble Man soundtrack – as this sweet little set adds in a full album's worth of extra material from the original sessions – and thus doubles a record that's already one of Marvin Gaye's greatest efforts of the 70s! The set was done after the huge step forward that Marvin took with What's Going On – and uses the more sophisticated sense of arrangement and instrumental adornment that made that soul record so great – served up here in a cinematic mode that's right up there with Isaac Hayes' music for Shaft, or Curtis Mayfield's famous Superfly soundtrack! The titles of the tracks here give a good idea of what they've got to offer – brought together here on vinyl for the first time ever – with tracks that include "Main Theme From Trouble Man (alternate take with strings)", "Trouble Man (vocal version from score)", "T Stands For Trouble (unedited vocal version)", "Main Theme From Trouble Man (vocal version)", "Trouble Man (extended version)", "T Plays It Cool (unedited)", "Poor Abbey Walsh (part 2 take 1)", and "T Stands For Trouble (alt version)". ~ Dusty Groove

Siaosi - 5:55

Born in Oahu, Hawaii, Siaosi grew up influenced both by R&B musicians, such as Babyface, Jodeci, and New Edition, as well as heavy reggae influences with the likes of Gregory Isaac, Beres Hammond, and none other than the “King of Lover’s Rock” Maxi Priest. Incorporating those sounds into his music, Siaosi started his musical journey as the original lead singer of the Hawaii based reggae rock band, Inoa’ole. He eventually spun off as a solo artist whose sound evolved into a sensual and soulful blend of lover’s rock reggae with Polynesian inspired harmonies, sweetened with poetic and uplifting lyrics and sentiments. The aptly titled new release, 5:55 represents Siaosi’s angel numbers - numbers that occur randomly in our everyday lives and that have strong significance to the observer. Often interpreted as communication from an angel and for Siaosi the number sequence from his angel was the powerful 555; representing important changes in the works -- positive life changing changes. He reflects, “Each song on 5:55 is a chapter of my story that represents a transitional point in my life. Every chapter is a collection of emotions felt and experienced during my journey.” The EP kicks off with chapter 1: “It’s Not Easy” a story of heartache, betrayal and divorce. Chapter 2, “I Wanna Love You,” is a tribute to Siaosi’s parents and new found love. Chapter 3, “Happy,” is about finding joy and happiness after trying times. Chapter 4, “Midnight Snack” is a look into the playful moments between lovers. And chapter 5, “Perfect Melody” is the ultimate feeling of being in love and noticing that everything has finally fallen in place.

Kathleen Grace / Larry Goldings – Tie Me To You

Vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Grace delivers her most intimate recording yet with the release of her debutt album, Tie Me To You, with renowned jazz pianist Larry Goldings. The album was born from a place of new awakening and self-discovery, the kind that can trigger massive change and devastating loss, but ultimately, also hope. Grace is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, while embracing her own eclecticism within the blues, folk and pop realms; her sound moves between the traditional and an approachable modernity. Tie Me To You features original music by both Grace and Goldings as well as covers of pieces by French icon Francois Hardy, blues great Son House and The Beatles, and standards by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hart. As Grace describes it, she didn’t make the album exactly—it arrived fully formed just as her life both fell apart and came together. Her personal awakening cost her the marriage that had consumed her adult life. She wanted a recording that would be spontaneous enough to capture all that she was feeling, without big arrangements or post-production fixes. She envisioned simple songs broken down into their most basic parts. What emerged was a portrait of a mourning woman as she must let go—the end of a relationship, the transition into the love of another and the struggle in realizing one’s own personal identity. At once viscerally relatable and powerful in its intimacy, the album beautifully weaves Grace’s evolving perspective on the human condition with an open vulnerability that invites listeners to be just as sensitive with themselves. 




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