Review: The Hot 8 Brass Band 'The Life & Times Of'

THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND
The Life And Times Of
[Tru Thoughts]

Truly funky music speaks to the listener regardless of how polished it is, what genre it is, or when it was recorded. Truly funky music can be painstakingly put together electronica or loose-limbed organic live playing. Despite the good work of the Godfather, it has little to do with "the one", just ask Tony Allen or Sly Dunbar. Hell, even a brass band can be truly, mind-blowingly funky, just take a listen to The Hot 8 Brass Band. Direct from the Second Line streets of New Orleans and breaking out of the city with the most lively and energetic version of Marvin Gaye's classic Sexual Healing these ears have ever encountered, the band's debut album dropped in 2007 on Tru Thoughts. Coming through the horrific experiences of Hurricane Katrina and losing several members of their group (two to street violence) has been taxing for the Hot 8, but they've returned with a brand new album, proving they're no one-trick pony. The Life And Times Of is a trip. A beautifully vibrant and raggedly funky brass band take on soul, funk and hip hop, the record is far from being slickly produced - but the sheer exuberance they've captured among the warts and all is nothing short of infectious. With a clutch of original tunes alongside covers of Basement Jaxx's Bingo Bango and The Specials' Ghost Town, it's clear that while these guys are serious about playing brass instruments, they don't take themselves too seriously. Recommended.

3 and 1/2 stars from 5

Review: Various Artists 'Private Wax'

Various Artists
PRIVATE WAX
Super Rare Boogie & Disco 
[BBE]

This is the kind of compilation which gets nerdy record loving guys of my ilk very hot under the collar indeed. Lovingly put together by a completely obsessed record collector who works in the renowned Reckless Records in London's Berwick Street, Private Wax is an excursion through some of the most excitingly raw and real disco and boogie tracks ever pressed. Not just any old pressings, mind, these fifteen tunes are by genuinely independent artists who had these songs privately pressed to vinyl; an obsessiveness only matched by the fellow who put this collection together. The man we should thank for tracking down (or stumbling upon) this super rare boogie and disco goes by the name Zaf (his Zafsmusic.com website is well worth a look for anyone searching for really, really rare vinyl records), and his taste is immaculate. It's difficult to single out songs from a compilation of such quality as this, but being that I'm writing on a blog, I feel I must: Party Track by Mr Fox takes a ride on a squiggly synth riff which winds its' way through Marvin Gaye's Got To Give It Up via The Gap Band; Chuck Strong frees up a cracking version of the Willie Hutch-penned, Gwen McRae-sung boogie classic Doin' It; and smooth-ass Chicagoans Yohon raise the temperature with Fly With Me, throwing the kitchen sink of disco elements - including laser sounds - at an effortless groove and Jackson 5-alike vocal performance. Flawlessly funky from top to bottom, this set is a sure-fire floor-filler at the most discerning of disco and boogie parties. Next time you're having one of those eparties, make sure you do two things: a) play this, and b) invite me please.

4 stars from 5

For an extra special 45min mix by DJ Chris Read, check this link. I recommend you do.

George FM Playlist 28th Nov 2010

Aloe Blacc - Bailar (Scene 1)
Aloe Blacc - Patria Mia
Massak - B.L.A.
Santana - Wham!
Quantic Soul Orchestra with Noelle Scaggs - Lead Us To The End
JuJu Orchestra with Terry Callier - What Is Hip? (Mo Horizons Latinstyle)
Big Bang with Rasiyah - To The Full Every Minute (Yam Who? remix)
Roots Manuva - Witness Heads (Nostalgia 77 edit)
Nate with Medusa & Raashan - Rock On
Me&You - Love In Be Must We
Al Green - I Can't Get Next To You
Havana - Shine
Sa-Ra Creative Partners - Rosebuds
James Pants - Crystal Lite
Herbie Hancock - Stars In Your Eyes
Sweet Pea Atkinson - Dance Or Die
L.T.D. - It's Time To Be Real
Speedometer - Work It Out (Beatfanatic remix)
Attaca Pesante with Shea Soul - Make It Funky For Me (Rusko remix)
Hydroponic Sound System - Young Ladies In The House
Moka Only - Lowdown Suite
Marvin v WJK - Musik

Waajeed flipping Marvin into some seriously D-influenced hip hop soul groove. I ain't bragging (much!) but am stoked to have the limited ish red vinyl pressing...