Quantic (producer moniker of Will Holland) and Roberts were naturally in each other’s orbits beginning when Holland’s live band project The Quantic Soul Orchestra opened for The New Mastersounds in Brighton, UK around the time of the exhilarating funk resurgence in the early 00s. The two would stay in touch to check out each other’s performances when time would allow and eventually, would both relocate to the states. Holland would move to New York City and Roberts has resided in San Francisco, New Orleans, and eventually planted roots in Denver, CO, headquarters of Color Red.
While routing through Colorado to perform at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, Holland and Roberts spent time at Macy Sound Studios laying the foundation for the session shortly before the completion of Color Red Studios in 2018. The initial session featured Josh Fairman (SunSquabi, Analog Son) on bass and Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation, ETHNO) on drums. Once Color Red Studios was completed, Roberts invited The New Mastersounds’ horn section of Mike Olmos on trumpet and Jason Mingledorff on saxophone to lay down some horn parts while they were in town tracking Shake It. As Holland completed his new studio build in NYC, a year later, he and Roberts linked up again to add guitar overdubs and effects. After one more trip to NYC while performing his Grant Green Tribute project Green is Beautiful, the duo brought in Chris Spies (Matador! Soul Sounds) to overdub keys and the tracks were completed.
“The Clock Won’t Tick” is an exemplary track to introduce the collaboration between Quantic & Eddie Roberts. Not only are its physical origins the results of multiple sessions throughout the US, but you can hear an arsenal of music influences, which is to be expected in a duo with a top-tier musical pedigree and curational prowess. You’ll hear the Memphis-style horn lines and a refined wah-wah guitar solo courtesy of Roberts. As for the origin story behind the name, Roberts explains, “My old pal, singer Iain Mackenzie gave me an old 1940's clock for my 40th birthday. It worked just fine in the UK, but when I moved it to the US, it never worked again. I wrote this one afternoon starring at the clock that just wouldn't tick! The tune really reminds me of a T Rex vibe, especially when Will came up with that quirky fuzz guitar line.”
The EP’s name, Sheepskin Sessions, is a nod to both Holland and Roberts’ Welsh heritage and the common English insult for Welshmen and their love for sheep. “We definitely share the same sense of humor and taste for orange wine,” Roberts remarks.
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