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If you are a soul, funk and jazz fan, you will love this; the ninth studio album from the amazing New Mastersounds.
What we have is an English band recording in Denver, Colarado and being released on a German record label – Legere. It is the same label that put out the incredible Pepper Pots LP recently.
This is a brilliant mixture of funky Hammond grooves such as ‘Monday Meters’ and soulful dancers like ‘I Want You To Stay’ featuring Kim Dawson on vocal duty. Kim also gives her best interpretation of Lyn Collins on the funky groover ‘Soul Sista’. New Mastersounds are comprised of Eddie Roberts, Simon Allen, Joe Tatton and Pete Shand. What they present here is quite simply the best album of its type so far this year and I doubt if it will be equalled.
It reminds me of the truly great jazz-funk LPs and singles of yesteryear. George Benson’s ‘In Flight’, Brand New Heavies self titled debut, Ramsey Lewis’s ‘Spring High’ or The Innversions “Mr Mack’ for example.
But, as usual, I have saved the best ’till last. I have had the last track on this LP on repeat for weeks. As Eddie Roberts has admitted, this is the band giving a ‘George Benson’ twist to a contemporary pop song. That song is ‘Treasure’ by someone called Bruno Mars? I have no idea what the original sounds like as I do not frequent the ‘muggle’ pop world, but this cover by New Mastersounds is just brilliant. It hits the nail squarely on the head. It does sound like George Benson in instrumental mode (and that is no mean feat in itself !) It has a jazz-funk groove that rattles along at an infectious pace and it is just sublime.
The purists among you may reel in horror at this progressive modernist singing the praises of a jazz funk band, but I make no apology. My job is to review material that is sent to us and it is at times like this, when something very different comes our way, that my job becomes an even more glorious pleasure.
(Nick Waterhouse, New Untouchables)
- Old Man Noises
- Morning Fly
- I Want You to Stay (feat. Kim Dawson)
- Monday Meters
- When it Rains…
- Whistle Song
- Soul Sista (feat. Kim Dawson)
- Stop This Game
- Slow Down (feat. Ryan Zoidis)
- WWIII (and how to avoid it)
- Detox
- Treasure
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