Posts from — September 2009

Released: 1976/1999/2009

This an absolutely massive cut – so happy you can’t help smiling. From the very start the horns lead you into a cheerful vibe, the chorus just brings you along and then it breaks down into psychedelic rock guitars and classic drumbreaks. Add some sax and you’ve got a feast! What a track to end the night with.

The original was released on Shadybrook Records back in 1976 and was produced by Gene Russell. Cheyenne Fowler is the name of the vocalist and her records also go under the name “Cheyenne”. The track was part of the album “Cheyenne’s coming”  - and judging by the the few cuts I’ve heard from it, it’s a brilliant record. If you have the full album, let me know as I want a copy!

I don’t know whether it also was released as a single back in 1976, but it was re-issued ten years ago as a 7″ vinyl on Dom Servinis excellent label Wah Wah 45s.

However, it was the recent re-release on Black Cat with “Hanson – Take Me To Your Home” on the B-side that brought the song to my attention. “Take me to your home” is a rhodes-driven, psychedelic funk-rock cut from their obscure LP on Emerson, Lake & Palmers’ Manticore label. Sweet downtempo, smokefueled funk for the late hours. Both tracks are quality and obscure, so don’t miss out on this release.

You can get your copies from Fat City, Juno and Phonica.

Listen to “Come back to me on YouTube |

Released 09/09/2009

It is finally here. The hugely anticipated debut album from Mayer Hawthorne and the County. The long player is definitively my number one record of 2009. “A strange arrangement” is packed with classic soul of the finest Motown vintage, only with the magnificent feat of being recorded today.

I first wrote about Mayer back in November last year and have recommended the first two singles – “Just ain’t gonna work out” and “Maybe so, maybe no” –  The first one catching everyones attention with its characteristic red heart-shaped 7″ vinyl. I still can’t speak highly enough of this artist.

Born Andrew Mayer Cohen, Mayer Hawthorne grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, and was raised on the rich soul and jazz history the region provided. Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson, Isaac Hayes and others provided the inspired Hawthorne playing instruments from an early age, but he never intended to become a singer. He isn’t formally trained, and never went the traditional route of singing in the church choir. More than anything, it was hip-hop that brought him onto production and dj’ing and that put him in touch with Stones Throw head honcho Peanut Butter Wolf.

The stage name “Mayer Hawthorne” is a combination of Cohen’s real middle name (Mayer) and the name of the street he grew up on in Michigan (Hawthorne Rd). “Mayer Hawthorne and The County” is a name Cohen often uses when performing live or recording as Mayer Hawthorne with other artists. In Cohen’s words, “The County” is basically anyone who plays an instrument or sings on his album.

It is easy to brand the sound “neo-soul” or “retro”. Personally, I think timeless would be a better term. He pays homage to his musical roots, yet clearly establishes his own authentic and personal musical expression. In an interview with L.A. Weekly he recently expressed this intent – “I really wanted to make sure that I put my own stamp on it, and I moved the music forward, and I’m bringing it to a new generation of kids who didn’t grow up on that music, or missed out on it.”

“A strange arrangement” is packed with soul-gems, and it is the strength of the overall package that is most impressive. There are no fillers on the album, the singles are complemented with equally good hits such as personal favorites “The Ills”, “Make her mine”, “One track mind” and the title track. The heart-melting ballads about love won and lost blends well with more uptempo, horn and breaks fueled songs for the dancefloor. The distinctive elements of Motown, such as the orchestration, string and horn sections, tambourines, the interplay between the lead singer and his backing vocalists, and of course foot-slapping drum breaks are all vividly present and arranged perfectly by Hawthorne himself.

MySpace | Spotify | Amazon | iTunes | StonesThrow

Groove Armada have just finished their new album entitled ‘Black Light’. The release isn’t scheduled until February 2010, but to celebrate its completion Andy and Tom have decided to give away the track “Warsaw”.

Yesterday marked the launch the whole album campaign in Warsaw, because the first new track people will hear is called Warsaw. The event held a 70,000 crowd in Warsaw, basically just a massive, free party with an enormous soundsystem. Yesterday, the track also became available for free at Groovearmada.com

I got to hear a version of the song at Lovebox this year, and this album opener featuring on vocals Nick Littlemore from PNAU & the ever so popular Empire of the Sun is marking a really exciting musical direction for the band. It is a very Gary Numan-80s-electro inspired number for the big stage.

There is a lot of exciting collaborations to look forward to – numero uno being Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry! – but also the likes of Lovefoxx (CSS), Saint Saviour, Jess (She keeps bees), and Ben (Fenech-Soler).

Head over to groovearmada.com to get the free track!

The band just announced that they will be giving the UK its first taste of their all-new Black Light live show, with six dates across in October – with Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh, London, Birmingham and the wonderful Warehouse Project in Manchester the chosen destinations.