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Recommended Listening - August 2011

These are the latest albums reviewed by Scootering Magazine.

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Andy Lewis – A Good Soul In The Good Times (Acid Jazz)

The new single from Andy Lewis is his first since Are You Trying to Be Lonely (with Paul Weller) and ticks three boxes in my record collection. Firstly, he appears to be a musical genius, to my ears at least, and this is a great appetite-whetting release his forthcoming new album, now even more eagerly anticipated.

Secondly, together with vocalist Jess Roberts he has created what can only be described as a classic piece of Acid Jazz. By this I mean if you close your eyes, you’re whisked back to the early days of the club and a sweaty club somewhere in London where such steady beats and groovy sounds would have you up and dancing – just months before the sound exploded on to top of the pops.

And thirdly, Acid Jazz have released it on 7in vinyl, so yet another excuse to use the gorgeous old Rega turntable I got for my birthday a couple of years ago. The B-side, The Words Otis Sang is a bit too ballady for my liking, but the A-side of A Good Soul In The Good Times more than makes up for it, pretty much doing what it says on the tin. Simple, funky, contagious, danceable and leaves you wanting more. Nice!

Andy

Various – Superfunk Mission Impossible (BGP)

The term funk is subjective, like R’n’B, disco etc, as in it can and often does mean different things to different people. This is compilation number seven in BGP’s Superfunk series, and if you like your music rare, obscure and hard to find this will tick all the boxes.

There’s a total of 20 tracks, many of which are literally impossible to hear unless you own a copy of Superfunk Mission Impossible. All recorded originally between the late 1960s and early 70s, a dozen of the included tracks are seeing the light of day for the first time. For me the cream of them are Chico and Buddy It Ain’t Beauty It’s The Booty, a pounding backing overlaid with call and response vocals, and OC Talbot – Fix It which is a prime example of the type of funk tinged dance tracks gaining huge popularity on the northern/rare soul scene currently.

Of the the previously issued, albeit big ticket rarities, and in a similar direction as the OC Talbot track, are Cross Bronx Expressway – Help From Your Brothers, half of a double sided in demander on the Zell’s label. Also What The Matter For Ya – Eternal Flame is a blistering street funk tune, S.O.U.L’s 1971 released version of Burning Spear as well as Betty Gouche – What More Can I Ask For stand out for me. That said, it’s an all-round quality collection that will not only sound, but will be, fresh to most ears. One for the more discerning soul connoisseurs, nonetheless recommended, highly.

Sarge

New Town Kings – M.O.J.O. Music Of Jamaican Origin (Bomber)

Whenever I hear an album like this I ask myself why there are so many covers bands doing the scooter club circuit out there, while acts as obviously talented and in love with their sound as Colchester’s New Town Kings get criminally overlooked by a scene that is meant to love their sound.

Calling an album Music Of Jamaican Origin could be seen as leaving yourself open to ridicule should you get it wrong, but in this case, they absoultely get it right.

Eleven tracks of traditional ska, rocksteady and skinhead reggae make up their second album, and as far as I can see, not a cover track among them.

Okay, so at times the sound may perhaps be a little bit too clean sounding to fool the purists among us, but that in no way detracts from the fact that the band have got that period down pat.

The clean sound occasionally leads them to stray into territory more commonly frequented by bands such as the US’s Deals Gone Bad, but when they do, it’s the earlier sound that came out of JA, not out of CA, and they do it so very well indeed.

If you bought and enjoyed Intensified’s recent release, or even if you just have a passion for the musical roots of the skinhead scene, then you’ll love this album and it is undoubtedly one that will get repeated plays. Out on July 18.

Nik

Sonic Boom Six – Sunny Side (Rebel Alliance)

Sonic Boom Six take a sudden and fairly unexpected change of direction on their new single. Steering away from the loud, shouty rock and punk infused ska towards a somewhat more indie guitar based stab at pop reggae, they mount their attack on chart success. Although still carrying the usual SB6 trademark social commentary, this is a lightweight and almost summery track that has more in common with their early track Under Northern Skies than the material they’ve become better known for.

In fairness, there are suggestions of a more streetwise Lily Allen at times, but this isn’t a bad thing and works well with the subject matter of the tune and will hopefully propel them into the public eye at last.

Not the ‘in your face’ ska/punk that we’ve perhaps come to expect, but a good enough laid-back tune all the same, and released at just the right time of year.

Nik

The Q – Sonically Sound (Time For Action)

Sonically Sound is The Q’s debut album (The Q are not to be confused with Southampton’s The Queue incidentally), consisting of 10 uplifting, upbeat original songs, that come with an added feelgood factor plus the glasical, emotive ballad, Trinity. Earlier this year The Q embarked on a European tour where the German-based Time For Action label picked up on the band, Sonically Sound being the result of that meeting.

Elements and hints of tracks and acts, with a classic British guitar leaning from over four decades pop up throughout the album, track two, Ego for instance, borrows from Start. Growing Up the opening number, which sets a high standard for the tracks to follow, there isn’t a bum track or a filler included. No Compromise with buzzsaw guitars bludgeoning the listener into submission, Sunday’s Girl a more jangly, summery sounding number and the killer title track being favourites of mine from a outstandingly high quality debut offering.

Another outfit to keep tabs on, on the strength of Sonically Sound, its vibrant times for classic British guitar bands currently, The Q are without doubt right in thick of it with their no nonsense approach. www.timeforaction.de for mail order details.

Sarge

Various – Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Soul (Kent)

Kent records has come up trumps yet again, with another collection of gems from the archives of legendary 1960s Detroit guitarist, writer and producer Dave Hamiliton. Previous releases in the Dave Hamilton Kent CD series have contained in the main the dancier end of his output, whereas, as the title states, this 25 tracker leans more towards the soul end of the equation. If Detroit 60s soul floats your boat though, this will undoubtedly already be on your shopping list.

Packed with spine-tingling soul nuggets, it is a bit of a mission to flag up a few tracks over others featured on the collection. Nonetheless ones that capture the essence for me are JT Rhythm – My Sweet Baby a big ticket track on vinyl via the Palmer label, Billy Garner – You’re Wasting My Time part 1 which has relatively recently had collectors scouring all known sources to find the uptempo, funk tinged original on New Day and The Webb Brothers – I’m Sending Vibrations is another with soul and dance floor credentials. From more of a soul direction are Billy Soul – You Gotta Show Me, Chicago Pete – I’m Begging You, unissued until now and the stunning Missing You – Sue Ann Jones.

As with many Kent compilations there is something for almost every soul aficionado contained on Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Soul.

Sarge

Jeramiah Ferrari – The Mighty Sparrow

Jeramiah Ferrari

Lancashire’s breakthrough act continue their assault on the ska and reggae scene with their second release, coming hard on the heels of their killer debut EP.

Arguably following in the footsteps of their 1979 predecessors Madness, they kick off their vinyl releases with a song about a fairly obscure artiste, in this case the ‘King Of Calypso’, The Mighty Sparrow.

Although the subject matter may be that of a calypso singer, the style is pure reggae. Lilting along gently, it forms a pleasing counterpoint to the rock edged sound of their debut. That’s not to say that it’s lazy, there is a lot of top grade musical skill on show on this release.

A track to get your breath back to in the middle of a set of upbeat monsters, or a relaxing tune for the stereo on a lazy summer afternoon, this number hits the spot.

Available on good old 7in vinyl, and backed with Butterfly Sex Bong from the ‘Cactus Killers’ EP, the release comes with a digital download code so that you can rip it to CD or play it through an MP3 player.

Nik

Wonderlust – The Möbius Strip (Wearewonderlust)

Less than a year old, yet the St Albans-based four-piece have notched up some plum gigs. All pretty much on the strength of their self released debut CD The Möbius Strip, a five track offering that paints a picture with sound of where they’re at and where they’re coming from.

Catharsis is an in your face laddish anthem, the multilayered guitars and incessant unrelenting rhythm conjure up images of OCS, influences equally shine through on the blistering New Boy with a nod to The Jam and The Chords. Real contender for debut single proper has to be 6 O’Clock, served up in a less frenetic pace than the two predecessors, it shows a gentler side to Wonderlust’s talents. Now You’re Mine brings another aspect to the fore, with a hint of White Album era Beatles and early Lennon solo material.

Concluding the EP comes Dreammaker an epic number that builds and builds, tailor made for huge stadium shows. Granted their influences are there, yet Wonderlust definitely put their own slant on all their songs. With an eye on the past but forward-looking Wonderlust are one to keep both an eye and an ear open for. www.myspace.com/wearewonderlust

Sarge