Saturday, October 20, 2012

The New Mastersounds - Out On The Faultline (2012)


As their live shows continue to charm audiences in USA, Japan and Europe, The New Mastersounds have built on their own impressive musical heritage and produced a soulful, funk-drenched eighth studio album - real instruments, recorded this time in downtown San Francisco.
The record opens with a classic slice of organ funk (think The Meters, but edgier), quickly followed up with other seriously catchy syncopated gems full of solos, inventive arrangements and gang vocals. There's a nod in the direction of jazz-house (à la Saint Germaine), a rolling-piano-&-spoken-word homage to New Orleans (where the band has performed for the past six consecutive years), then a massive horn track before the tone of the album gradually shifts to close out with a psychedelic Hammond-rock sound reminiscent of Brian Auger. Eddie Roberts' vintage production delivers warm soulful bass, choppy drums, funky organ & piano, and with Eddie's signature roughneck jazz guitar throughout.
Out On The Faultline is another corker of an album from the stalwarts of the global funk and soul-jazz movement.


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