Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

2 February, 2012

Suen Kuti & Egypt 80-Rise

Filed under: afro-beat,funk,Recorded Reviews,reggae,world music — Tags: rise, suen kuti & egypt 80 — willmunn @ 19:59

Around Christmas, here at Rhythm & Booze CDs seem to fall through the floorboards only to be discovered a month or so after the silly season is done and dusted.

One such single that got a little neglected under the heavy workload (of the day job) was the stunning single, Rise by one of current kings (and son of the legendary Fela Kuti) of Afro-beat Suen Kuti and his band Egypt 80, having rediscovered the single I thought I ought to write a few words in retrospective appraisal.

For those of you who’ve never heard the gloriously funky sounds of Suen Kuti & Egypt this serves as a stunning introduction to the man and the band, imagine if you will, infectious African percussion colliding with political (Marley like) near-reggae, funky horns and a biting yet irristibly contagious vocal that’ll have you on your feet dancing in defiance whilst shaking your fist in unsion to the tight grooves.

Rise is backed by a couple of remixes including an intoxicating remake by US DJ and Rapper Swizz Beatz, who strips the track down to glitchy beats and vocals, enhancing the impact of the delicious backing vocal harmonies further.

If you need further encouragement or convincing to checkout Suen Kuti & Egypt 80, checkout the band’s brilliant and exhilirating performance on last years Later With Jools Holland show to capture the band in full flow or trust me and take a punt on one of the fnkiest and stirring bands on the planet.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

www.myspace.com/seunkuti

 

29 November, 2011

Bear Cavalry-Maple Trails EP

Filed under: funk,indie,pop,Recorded Reviews,world music — willmunn @ 18:16

Bear Cavalry are a four-piece hailing from the unlikely musical mecca of Gosport over on the Southern English coast, but despite their unusual location the band are beginning to make something of a splash having been championed by the likes of Radio One’s Kissy Sell Out and Edith Bowman among others.

The band’s blend an unusual mix of indie rock, afrobeat, post rock, pop and god only knows what to create a unique, yet instantly accessible sound that should find favour with just anybody who calls themselves a music fan with their finger on the pulse. Pulsating intricate guitar work blends effortlessly with groove-laden bass, funky horns and African inspired , whilst the band run through numerous time and style changes throughout the four track duration of Maple Trails.

The opening number, Roman Summer is all tricky guitar interplay, oft kilter bouncy rhythms, poppy hooks, tasty harmonies and deliciously catchy lead vocals serving as a stunning introduction to the bands potent sound. From there the band add funky horns, changeable rhythms, choppy guitars and glorious African inspired harmonies to create the stunning, unique and delightfully infectious Custom Hands, a track that brings to mind a loser more eclectic Vampire Weekend.

The intriguingly named Will Smith Solves The Rubiks Cube begins as a subtle slice of indie pop with delicately crooned vocals and drumstick clicks that rises into a dazzling, almost orchestral, horn laden chorus. The rise and fall of the track is simply stunning, whilst the trumpet hook will have you hitting replay and humming happily along for hours. The EP is completed by Dragons Milk Pt II a track that opens with a wee bit of electronica before developing into a widescreen indie epic that leaves the listener desperately aching for more.

Maple Trails is intriguing, contagious and oh so very special, Bear Calvery have delivered a mesmeric debut, that’ll have you dancing, clapping, singing and frothing at the mouth (well it did me anyway!), they are certainly one of the must see bands of 2012.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

http://www.facebook.com/bearcavalryband

10 May, 2011

Lady Indiraa-Shrink

Filed under: dance,electronic,pop,Recorded Reviews,world music — willmunn @ 12:43

 

Lady Indiraa is not a name that I’ve stumbled on before, however after listening to Shrink, her brand new single it’s certainly a name I won’t be forgetting.

Firstly before talking about the single I should tell you that a whilst back Lady Indiraa suffered a near fatal horse riding accident and ever since then the practicing Hindu has a new focus on life and that focus is music. Not only is Lady Indiraa writing and recording her own tracks, but she has also formed an online company called The Function Junction, which tries to help out other artists and bands receive some exposure by securing them gigs around the UK. As well as all that if Lady Indiraa wasn’t busy enough she has also found the time to perform at a number of charity events in a bid to raise funds for the Haiti appeal.

With all the different projects Lady Indiraa has going on you have to wonder where she finds time to create such intoxicating music that incorporates both Eastern and Western influences, but somehow she manages it. Shrink is a stunning infectious electro pop monster, a catchy club banger that’s just perfect to losing yourself on the dancefloor to. The contagious beats combine brilliantly with the intriguing lyrics and Lady Indiraa’s evocative vocals, whilst the middle section break down gives you just enough time to draw your breath before plunging you headfirst into this massive anthem. 

The single is backed with a further three Lady Indiraa originals, each of them could have been released in their own right, from the Eastern/Western soundclash of Take Me with it’s delicious combination of Indian instrumentation, rock guitar riffs and hard hitting beats to the throbbing seductive sounds of Kamasutra via the hook-laden Bombay Dreams.

Anyone who knows me will know that I’m not the biggest dance music fan, it takes a real special talent to make me sit up and take notice and I have to say Lady Indiraa fits that bill like a glove, pop hook, danceable beats and (most importantly) originality. 

If you like you’re dance floor anthems but want something a little bit different I suggest you checkout the cutting edge sound of the new queen of the club, Lady Indiraa.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

19 May, 2010

Ena Vie-From Within

Filed under: dance,folk,pop,world music — Tags: ena vie — willmunn @ 15:28

Ena Vie maybe something of a new name to one and all, but the American singer-songwriter has been hard at work making waves across the big ocean performing everywhere from small coffee shops to more standard music venues through to high profile festivals, seducing audiences along the way. 

Ena combines rootsy acoustic rock and pop with stripped down folk and world influences to create a warm and welcoming sound that nods and winks towards the likes of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple and Nelly Furtado (before she discovered her inner diva) yet still manages to sound fresh and valid in a world that seems to be currently over run by a deluge of female singer-songwriters.
The album opens with Kissed, a contagious, funky pop number that serves as a fantastic introduction to Ena’s infecctious and seductive vocals, from here we’re taken on a journey through melodic rock, pop and folk via the odd excursion a little further left of the mainstream. Whilst the likes of Firebird showcases that obvious, perhaps slightly more generic pop influence (though in this case done with an undeniable charm), Channels Of Creation weaves an intoxicating ethnic mix of sultry piano and pipes brilliantly to creature a gorgeous backing to Ena’s heartfelt croon.
Elsewhere, Saturn Man adds a new electronic twist creating a chilled out anthem that wouldn’t sound of place on an early Sneaker Pimps or Air album, You Say The Word is a more upbeat rockier proposition complete with hammond organ and tasty refrained guitar, whilst the album concludes with Temple Between Us, a sensational mixture of Eastern and Western influences complete with twanging strings and pattered percussion that leaving you breathless and begging for more.
With From Within, Ena Vie has delivered a diverse and spellbinding album that both seduces a the listener and blurs genres and boundaries, a majestic release from start to finish.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 9
www.enavie.com

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