The Bamboos - 4 (2010)

Bamboos vocalist Kylie Auldist’s work on this album could truly be described as virtuoso, especially on tracks such as “On The Sly”; huge live number “The Ghost” – in which she really changes up the vocal style range-wise and shows us she’s got many more tricks up her sleeve – and the hard-hitting track “Keep Me In Mind”, that sees Kylie delivering possibly her best ever recorded vocal performance on a chorus hook that is equal parts gospel soul and hip hop. Other vocalists also add a major degree of excitement: adored US rapper Lyrics Born features on the party funk number, “Turn It Up”; and the incredibly catchy, fresh and unique “You Ain’t No Good” features the mysterious and reclusive Tongan, King Merc, more of whom may become known when this tracks drops as the second single, later in 2010. The brooding guitar figure, ’60s soul drums and reverbed-out claps come across like the mutant love child of Phil Spector and Gnarls Barkley – setting up King Merc’s soul-drenched vocal like a rough mounting for a fine stone.

‘4’ is one of the most exciting, original, vibrant and downright addictive albums of the coming year, and could easily see The Bamboos catapulted beyond the confines of a genre to permeate the international mainstream musical consciousness
…The Bamboos have arrived!

Bamboos @ Tru Thoughts - "On The Sly" - The Bamboos Home Movies pt.1 -