Album Reviews

Peter Brown-Do you Wanna get funky?



Watching Summer of Sam recently inspired this album review.It was only after investigating later that i realised "Do you wanna get funky with me?"-(burning love breakdown-more of an extended dub version of the original title-paradise garage classic) was the first dance record to sell over a millon copies.Not bad for a track too slow to be a typical disco record(102 bpm).More on that later!

I went for "Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me" and "Dance With Me" But fell for "Fantasy Love Affair," "For Your Love (a really good song)," "You Should Do It" and "Singer Becomes a Dancer."

Brown was an early pioneer in dance music,with his versatility he could simulataneously make emotion and movement work.Each track is unique in rhythm & sound.The rhythm in fantasy love stands strong & is very striking with catchy lyrics.Do you wanna get funky shruggs along just enough to move you on the inside.Theres a very raw live feel about this one"

The synth-laden grooves of "You Should Do It" bounce draws you in which could be rinder and lewis/wonder collaboration,maybe!
"The Singer's become a dancer" has tight harmonies and the production is class.
"For Your Love" is a stand out with its simple melody.For the curious, he supposedly has 50% writing credit for Madonna's song "Material Girl."Dance with Me"-Summer of Sam (soundtrack)-You gotta keep on makin me high..hmm!"Without Love" is orchestrated perfectly and is simple in its elegance.This is a timeless album of great quality!

In a genre that was predominantly black Peter Brown went against the grain and proved white boys got soul!


















The Best Of Both Worlds - I want the world to Know



A soul satisfying album...I want the world to know has a true love beat.The harmonies are just right,the blends beautiful...It's funky;it's the best of the NOW Disco sounds today.

The most impressive thing about their use of the 'funky way'is how the love beat,harmonies and strings blend so beautifully to continuously restate the theme..The Naked Truth.The Big Beat and the solo voice of the lead singer are infectious.

There is no distortion,no blaze exaggeration..when this group picks up their instruments..you are taken on a journey into beautiful,moving,and yes!instantly recognizable sounds.

Anyway the Wind Blows



Broad Jumping



I Want the World to Know



Invisible Flowers



Greedy Green



50-50



Lost In a Shuffle of Love



Momma Makes Biscuits



Naked Truth



Theme From I Want the World to Know

Bobby Hutcherson - Montara

Bobby Hutcherson's Montara captures the very core spirit of jazz through fusion,latin and salsa rhythms.There's a subtle warm full bodied sound that could be compared to Roy Ayers.Each track is complex as it is simple bringing a different sound and feeling.
The album opens with camel rise.What struck here was the percussion Harvey Mason (Groovin You).A travelling track if there ever was one.A worldpool of sound that trickles in and out but always complements each musician.
Montara backed by rhodes and bongo let hutcherson off for a full vibe expression with Ernie Watts(Cork Jazz Festival '09) tenor sound putting clarity to the track.
La Manga stands up and takes your full attention for a full salsa shake down.
Little Angel not disimilar to Montara balances expression with hutcherson and Blue Mitchell going head to head.
The bass in yuyo cohesively adds strength or the steaming, burning gasoline orgy of Hutcherson's read of Santana's "Oye Como Va.Montara is one of the feel good jazz album.

Camel Rise


Montara


La Malanga


Love Song


Little Angel


Yuyo


Oye Como Va


Wally Badarou - Echoes

It might be a hard to imagine an all instrumental album capturing a sound still fresh today as it did twenty five years ago.
Wally Badarou's echoes brings you on a journey through soundscapes holding the listener's interest all the way.Its genre bending to say the least.Tracks fade like dreams,but not necessarily having a connected relation to one another.
Hi-Life jumps for joy and eptomises everything that is good with life.
Mambo is a delicately crafted piece.Check the sample in Massive Attack's blue lines.Chief Inspector bounces along right down to the club!Enya meets Kate Bush could best descibe Voices as the rhythm drives right into the sunshine.
The quasi-African rhythms and melodies set echoes apart.Badarou sheen over gives the overall sound a warm elegance that sounds seamless and fresh.

Keys



Hi-Life



Mambo



Voices



Canyons



Endless Race



Chief Inspector



Waltz



Jungle



Rain