Album Review: Americana 2 - Various

  Americana 2 is the latest compilation from BBE and it celebrates some of the American folk and soul influenced sounds of the 1970s and 80s. I've not heard the previous album in this series and I'm not massively familiar with the blue eyed soul scene it ploughs, but there is a lot here to like.

The album has a sunny west coast vibe to match the soaring picture of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge that emblazons the cover. The laid back, highly polished take on soul feels particularly relevant to contemporary music, what with recent fetishisation of the west coast sound on Random Access Memories and the more California moments of Fleetwood Mac that inspire Haim. On the back of years of fascination with disco much of this album sits in a musical sweet spot - perfect for plundering. But BBE know their onions and you can be confident in the selection and intentions behind this album.

There is variety in sound here, but a coherent atmosphere that would make this the perfect soundtrack to long drives with the top down on sunny days... If only it wasn't October!

There are taught, disco numbers such as Breakaway's jiggy "There's A New Girl In Town", a track that feels like a seventies discoteque until precisely the moment a bold yet lethargic steely guitar solo kicks in after the third-minute. In comparison E.J. Stamp's "I Know All About It" is like the Eagles vocal harmonies applied to an upfront and assertive soul record - and that's a pretty glorious thing.

There's so much here that I've never heard before from artists I've never heard of that it is simpler to just recommend you check it out - if you like the premise, you'll probably like the album. However, some further highlights include Freudian Funk Band's frankly ridiculously but brilliantly titled "I'm Ambivalent About You Baby (Yes, Yes, Yes... No, No, No)", an epic put down that rolls on in a largely freestyle fashion to almost eight-minutes.

Also fantastic is the vocodered "You Win, I Lose" by Hal Bradbury, that actually sounds like what I would expect a Daft Punk track to sound like if they had made music in the 1970s, and has the kind of heartbreaking golden chorus you can't help but fall for... And TR's Hot Ice deliver something scratchy and weird that feels part punk-funk, part disco, all sunshine glory.

An album that pulls together some obscure gems from an under-appreciated style in a way that spans genres, Americana 2 is a sunshine holiday roadtrip in aural form.

Americana 2 is released on 11 November through BBE, available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk on CD with AutoRip or MP3 [affiliate links].

Album Review: On My Way - Kon

Kon typifies the crate digger, that form of man that spends an unhealthy amount of time chasing down circular pieces of black plastic in an attempt to unearth a hidden gem. Whilst physical music and even music ownership as a concept appear to be rapidly and irreversibly losing favour and yet the appeal of vinyl has long seemingly held steady, and Kon is a worshiper of the form.

It's logical that vinyl would appeal to Kon. His music is defined by and revolves around funk, a genre vinyl is undeniably sympathetic too. I've been listening to On My Way on MP3 (well, technically AAC) by way of a CD, but there is no doubt it would sound better through the golden and thick filter of some heavy weight vinyl.

Despite this my experience with On My Way shines. Kon creates funk tracks that have a little of the grit of early funk but deliver it with the liberal application of 80s slick soul production and a dash of 90s R&B. As an album it takes some time to get going - the dizzily spellbound interlude of 'Day Dream' that follows two full tracks feels like the first sit-up-and-take-notice moment. But that brief transient moment is immediately followed by the Georg Levin featuring 'Don't Cha Wanna', a sassy track that sways with sunny promiscuity and backs it up with an infectious chorus you won't want to stop listening to.

Kon's passion for music comes through on this album by means of the music he plays. Despite being a focused album in length and scope, it's 51-minutes in length, there is still room for moments in pure tribute, such as the electro-influenced short side-piece '808 State'. Kon's real strength though is in his assertive guest-vocal featuring funk soul songs. Ben Westbeech, whom Kon met at the Southport Weekender, provides vocals on the insistent 'You Don't Know (I've Been Looking For You)’. The disco and boogie influenced keys of collaborator Yuki Kanesaka are all over this album and lend it much of it's upbeat and house-influenced sound.

There's a lot to like in On My Way. Kon's production talent is clear in managing to create songs with clarity and polish that matches their feeling. On 'Blow Me... A Kiss' Kon manages to marry modern house music to an authentically soulful and syrupy vocal from Amy Douglas that gives the track just a bit more guts than most current dancefloor orientate music... It might not capture the zeitgeist or redefine a genre, but On My Way is an unmistakable pleasure.

On My Way is released on BBE on 22 July, available for pre-order from Amazon.co.uk on CD, LP and MP3 [affiliate links]. 

Album Review: Mathias Stubø - Mathias Stubø

Image source: Adressa.noHailing from Norway and at just 18 years old Mathias Stubø's new self-titled album is a lovely collage of electro, tight punchy drums, whirling melodies and loose moments of free-falling jazz. Both of Stubø's parents are jazz musicians and his early years listening to jazz and fusion records provide the muse for much that is offered here.

It feels like some time since we heard a left field record quite like this - a record that is so packed full of joy, with kitchen-sink eclecticism and a happy-melodies-a-plenty. Think Röyksopp and Mr Scruff rummaging through a set of old Blue Note records whilst DJ Shadow focuses on making a few beats in the back room. And beats there are, for while this isn't a dark record it can still rock hard, as on psychedelic, bass-heavy 'Fly With Me'.

This is an album arranged into two halves. Part one is entitled High Frequency Feelings and is a bit grittier with hard beats and heavier bass. Part two, Soul Touch, is where more of the soul and jazz influences break out, as on the snappy freeform drums, stuttering piano and vocal snatches of 'Oss To'.

Whilst this is clearly an album of moments and ideas rather than songs there are still some stand out moments. The big spaces and fuller vocal of 'Soon a Brighter Day' have already seen it confirmed as a single and it obvious why. The penultimate 'Knock On My Door' also leaves a lasting impact, a hopeful prayer of a song with glimmering melodies.

Mathias comes across most comfortable when the jazz flows forward though, as on 'Don't Look Down'. The bass may be large and loud but it is the trumpet work that steals the show, creating a timeless beauty within this record.

Mathias Stubø is released soon on BBE, you can pre-order it on CD from Amazon.co.uk now [affiliate link].

Listen to 'Soon a Brighter Day' on Spotify:

Album Review: Johnny D Presents Disco Jamms Volume One - Various Artists

Johnny D's Disco Jamms is a rapid fire disco assault that manages to cram in 18 classic disco tracks from across the years into an extravagant 77-minute long celebration.

And basically it's brilliant. The mixing may be a little rudimentary, but that was the way things were back in the days of disco anyway and this set really doesn't suffer as a result. The selection of music on offer shows that at its best disco can be glorious. It's a genre that still gets a bad rep in certain quarters, not helped by the fancy dress theme parties and some overly commercialised artists that rode the sound all the way to the bank whilst simultaneously leaving the true spirit behind. For the record I truly believe the Bee Gees and Abba are two or the worst acts to grace the planet. Ever.

But there is nothing of that insipid shiny thin pop here. Cerrone's beautiful 'Look For Love' has a warm shimmering chorus that rides a rainbow unicorn to a string backing before a full two-minute percussive break. It's inventive and extravagant and soulful and real and ridiculous all at the same time. As disco retrospectives go this one isn't in the least bit precious either, so sure, you'd got the O'Jays, but you also have Klein & MBO's electro masterpiece 'Dirty Talk' followed by the large bassline heavy 'For The Same Man' by B-Beat Girls. There are moments of glorious electronic disco from the eighties that run away with my heart here. The System's 'It's Passion' is glossy funk with a fantastic spoken word jogging-on-the-spot synth heavy bridge combined with a simply massive chorus.

Most of all though disco was always about getting on up and over - triumph in the face of adversity, less showing off, more celebrating what you should to be thankful for. And that is what comes through on this album, whether on the enthused 'We're On The Right Track' by Ultra High Frequency or Lafleur's instrumental 'Dub Till We Drop'.

Don't fight it, feel it.

Johnny D Presents Disco Jamms Volume One is released on BBE on 5 March, available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk on CD and MP3 [affiliate links].

Album Review: Soul on Soul (Deluxe Edition) - Jean Wells

I'm sure I point this out every year but December onwards always tends to see a dearth of decent music releases as the industry focuses on milking the valuable casual market for Christmas. The result is all X Factor, greatest hits compilations and deluxe reissues of the year's best (selling) albums.

Soul on Soul is a re-release, albeit one selected from an artist who deserves more exposure rather than less for once. Wells was never a massive star in her own time - her biggest single was the desperate and lovelorn 'Have a Little Mercy', which reached number 25 in the R&B charts on release in 1967. But her voice simply boasts bags of soul, and these songs always leave the gloves off.

Whether it is wallowing in the depths of emotion, as on the aforementioned 'Have a Little Mercy' or the similarly themed 'Sit Down and Cry', or being forthright and commanding respect Wells' songs are beautiful and gloriously sung. ’Somebody's Been Loving You (But It Ain't Been Me)’ is a brilliant example of the latter - a slamming put down to a cheating partner, Wells making it clear that she hasn't had anywhere near enough (ahem) attention lately.

Particularly mind-blowing is the synthesiser backed 'Roll Up Your Sleeves, Come Out Lovin' (Winner Takes All)’. Recorded in the early seventies it feels like a rough take on 80s disco but the fuzzy charm of the bass line gives it an incredible grounded feel. Best of all is 'What Have I Got To Lose', a soaring, string-led epic Philly soul joint that is all butterflies and sunshine of spring love - the all too short moment of contemplation before making your move on a new love.

If, like me, Christmas tends to drive you loopy with the disposability of it all then you could do much worse than keep this on standby throughout the next five weeks.

BP x

Soul on Soul is out now on BBE, available from Amazon.co.uk on CD and MP3 [affiliate links].