!Exclaim.ca Reviews - Soul, Funk & World Reviews

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound - Howl

editorial@exclaim.ca (Jason Schneider) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:54:16 -0400

The rise of Daptone Records has done much to further the cause of soul musicians everywhere, yet it's understandable that the label's commitment to vintage sounds isn't the approach everyone is comfortable with. Case in point is Chicago, IL's JC Brooks, who on this follow-up to 2011's Want More, made the unconventional move of hooking up with Arcade Fire/Wolf Parade producer Howard Bilerman at his Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal. The results are a sleek and, at times, powerful combination of old and new, with strong echoes of Al Green's classic Hi Records sound. At the same time, tracks...Read More

Oliver Mtukudzi - Sarawoga

editorial@exclaim.ca (Michael J. Warren) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:18 -0400

The Shona term "sarawoga" means "to be left alone," but Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi has always made sure his fans are never left wanting. On the Zimbabwean's 61st album, he's forced to reflect on his solitude following the sudden death of his son in a 2010 automobile accident. But those who cannot understand Shona may overlook this sorrow, as the album's blend of layered guitars, sharp drums, upfront bass and locked-in grooves has a distinctively feel-good vibe. Sarawoga's brightest moments are when Tuku and his fellow Black Seed band members are able to flex their playing skills on...Read More

Laura Mvula - Sing To The Moon

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:24:14 -0400

UK singer-songwriter Laura Mvula seemingly popped out of nowhere to deliver her dreamy debut, Sing To The Moon, an album that shines with earnestness, was composed with deftness and presented with the bearing of a more journeyed artist. The 25-year-old immediately invites comparisons to a modern day Nina Simone, with acute "Erykah Badu meets Jill Scott" sensibilities. "Like the Morning Dew" kicks it off with layered brightness, setting the tone. "Make Me Lovely" is as orchestral brassy as all get out, letting listeners know that this isn't your standard retro-soul affair. Giddy,...Read More

A Tribe Called Red - Nation II Nation

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:20:27 -0400

On their second full-length release, A Tribe Called Red have improved in every way. This nation's foundation is derived from access to the rare assets of multi-tracked pow wow drums and vocals. On the group's first record, they dealt with straight samples, but given stems to work with, the music has become deeper and richer, to say nothing of their ability to craft better songs from these ingredients. It's not even the unique qualities of pow wow drums that make the difference; it's their use of vocals. At times angry, pleading, testifying and celebrating, it's hard not to get swept up in...Read More

The Heliocentrics - 13 Degrees Of Reality

editorial@exclaim.ca (Matt Bauer) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:53:41 -0400

2007's Out There established London, UK-based the Heliocentrics as a formidable psychedelic jazz ensemble, offering instrumental, head-bobbing funk and hip-hop grooves soaked in Sun-Ra-inspired, cosmic Afro-futurism. The last six years have seen collaborations with like-minded sonic adventurers DJ Shadow, Quantic, Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke (on 2009's Inspiration Information 3) and Oriental jazz trailblazer Dr. Lloyd Miller (on 2010's Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics) that raised their profile to greater heights. Therefore, it shouldn't come as any surprise that...Read More

!!! - THR!!!ER

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:37:11 -0400

Getting an Eno to produce your album is a surefire way to extract a distinctive quality from your music. With Brian, you get something ethereal and translucent, but when you enlist Jim, expect something more concrete and indulgent. Working with the latter Eno (the Spoon drummer and producer extraordinaire), !!! have crafted THR!!!ER, their crispest, cleanest and most infectious album to date. By placing a much greater emphasis on uncomplicated beats and traditional rhythms, the Sacramento sextet find themselves easing through de facto melodies and sleek electro-funk tones. Although...Read More

Alice Russell - To Dust

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:35 -0400

If anything, Alice Russell is consistent. The UK soul singer-songwriter is now on her fifth studio album, but crossover success (à la soul-inspired contemporary Adele) has largely eluded her. No matter, Russell is clearly committed to a purer strain of "blue-eyed" R&B — To Dust is unabashedly so. In fact, discard the "blue-eyed" tag altogether; Russell embodies American soul in a richly authentic way. That said, To Dust is a notch slightly removed from extraordinary. Long-time collaborator/producer TM Juke returns to help fashion a project where the title track sounds like...Read More

Coultrain - Jungle Mumbo Jumbo

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kevin Jones) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:56:08 -0400

While his collaborative efforts as a member of Platinum Pied Pipers, and more recently Hawthorne Headhunters, may have brought him a bit more shine over the years, the slow build of Coultrain's conceptual Seymour Liberty solo projects has long kept ardent fans waiting and wondering. On new disc Jungle Mumbo Jumbo, the St. Louis native finally embodies the unrestrained creative adventurism hinted at on those sporadic solo releases, crafting its outer worldly compositions with exploratory melodies and dizzying musical arrangements, each demanding a few spins before fully settling into...Read More

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kevin Jones) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:46:48 -0400

While the humanity and personal growth shown in Snoop Lion's Reincarnated documentary granted the legendary rapper some sympathetic cover for his dubious rebirth as a reggae-singing Rasta, the eponymous album at the heart of that story affords him no such luxury. The Diplo-directed record is a somewhat sloppy mish-mash of reggae cuts that rarely attain an authentic air, a couple of Rita Ora- and Miley Cyrus-assisted pop write-offs, and one bit of Major Lazer-lite, in the oddly-placed "Get Away." Snoop does best when he steers far clear of his weak attempts at Jamaican patois, and some...Read More

Kobo Town - Jumbie in the Jukebox

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:23:04 -0400

The sophomore album from Kobo Town finds Toronto, ON's unique neo-calypso/funk/reggae raconteurs expanding their sound and scope. However, the results are mixed. Here, Kobo Town work with Ivan Duran, a producer who burst to international renown for his work in shaping the music of the Garifuna people of Belize into a compelling and popular series of records and tours. The pairing makes sense: Kobo Town's loose, relaxed grooves have a similar lope to most of the records Duran has made. Somehow though, this collaboration feels overdone. The beats are often unnaturally processed, which isn't...Read More

Gregory Isaacs - Gregory Isaacs - Remixed

editorial@exclaim.ca (James Williams) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:27:55 -0400

Coming from UK reggae revivalist label Necessary Mayhem, Gregory Isaacs — Remixed is a collection of new interpretations of the cool ruler's prodigious output by producer Curtis Lynch Jr. Featuring remixes of well known tracks such as "Night Nurse" and "Private Beach Party," with lesser-known gems like "Temporary Lover," Remixed works well both as an introduction to Isaacs' amazing back catalogue and for fans hungry for new material following his unfortunate passing in 2010. Lynch's remixes complement the original Augustus "Gussie" Clarke productions with panache,...Read More

Sign of Four - Hammer, Anvil, Stirrup

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:03:35 -0400

The revival of classic funk and soul has lasted far longer than the original era. What's more, contemporary analog fetishists have mixed up sonic signifiers from the '60s and '70s so thoroughly that, at worst, the results have become beige homages. However, at their best, they can turn into Sign of Four's Hammer, Anvil, Stirrup. Proving that there can indeed by new wine in old bottles, mastermind Ryan Newbold (of the Natural Yogurt Band) lays down live jams that groove hard yet loosely. His melodies are the key to the success of this project — long form and simply rendered, these...Read More

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Jama ko

editorial@exclaim.ca (Vincent Pollard) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:04:20 -0400

Malian musician Bassekou Kouyaté has an unquestionable pedigree when it comes to African blues. An expert ngoni player, he's performed alongside such luminaries as Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal (the latter featured here on penultimate track "Poye 2"), as well as being one of the key musicians on Ali Farka Toure's posthumously released Savane. Jama ko (meaning "a big gathering of people") is the follow-up to I Speak Fula, his excellent (and Grammy-nominated) album for Sub Pop in 2009, and it's every bit as good as its predecessor. Opening with the transporting title track,...Read More

Maylee Todd - Escapology

editorial@exclaim.ca (Carly Lewis) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:35:48 -0400

For such a bold, impavid performer, Maylee Todd seems overtly aware that a sophomore album often means a sophomore slump. On Escapology, the self-produced follow-up to 2010's Choose Your Own Adventure, she does everything in her power to not sink into it. Album opener "Baby's Got It" is zany and so vintage-playful anyone who's seen her live will already picture her hopping around in a zebra-print onesie belting it out, but it's also a clean showcase of how much stronger her voice has become since 2010. Similarly, "Did What I Could" soars thanks to the power of her thick,...Read More

Charles Bradley - Victim of Love

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:37:40 -0400

If the buzz around soul singer Charles Bradley represents the feel-good musical success story of late, someone needs to tell Bradley about it. "Right now I'm still in my solitude on that," he says in that distinct gravelly voice. "And I'm still kind of struggling to get where I want to be at." And if 2011's No Time For Dreaming was the dark soul introduction, this year's Victim of Love is the light heart of the matter, a raw and psychedelic look at soul from the vintage perspective of "the Screaming Eagle of Soul." More than merely a soul revivalist, the former James Brown...Read More

Sheila Rickards - Jamaican Fruit of African Roots

editorial@exclaim.ca (Vincent Pollard) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:43:18 -0400

Several years back, Australian ex-pat Chris Flanagan (aka DJ and reggae enthusiast Earl Grey) came across a mysterious track by a young Jamaican singer (mis-credited to Shella Record) on a reggae compilation released locally in Toronto in the mid-'70s. The track struck such a chord with Flanagan that he decided to make it his mission to track down the diva behind this virtually unknown song. After several years of digging, Flanagan decided to make a documentary about his search for Sheila Rickards and, after a trip to Kingston, Jamaica to meet the track's producer, Bunny Lee, he was granted...Read More

Various - Eccentric Soul: The Dynamic Label

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:06 -0400

Numero's next stop on their continuing quest to reconstitute the lost soul scenes around the U.S. and beyond hits San Antonio, TX for the first of three planned volumes of music exploring that city. The Dynamic label produced about 20 singles representing talent in the area. It was notable for its colour-blindness: whether black, white or Tejano, if you had soul there were five minutes for you at the microphone. With such a small scene, it's difficult to ascribe a definitive sound to the city's output, but generally the pop-friendly sensibility (especially in the wailing brass arrangements)...Read More

The Delfonics - Adrian Younge Presents The Delfonics

editorial@exclaim.ca (Matt Bauer) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:25:53 -0400

Aficionados of sophisticated, sweet and sensual soul music need no introduction to William Hart. He's the leader and prominent songwriter of legendary trio the Delfonics (originally featuring his brother, Wilbert, and the late Randy Cain as well), which helped put Philadelphia on the map as a soul music capitol in the late '60s and early '70s, with a string of classics like "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and "La-La-Means I Love You." While even the babies conceived to those luxurious grooves are pushing midlife at this point, Hart's voice has aged like fine wine on his collaboration...Read More

Various - FE Music: The Reworks

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kevin Jones) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Long on a steady build towards gaining traction as an official collective, the Foreign Exchange-led FE Music team are now taking the next big step along that journey with an illuminating collection of remixes and lesser-known cuts by the crew and their varied co-conspirators. With a running time of nearly two hours, tracks on The Reworks offer a fair bit to choose from stylistically without diverging entirely from their largely soulful beginnings. And while many cuts don't necessarily top their originals, there are a number of strong exceptions. Nicolay's take on RJD2's "Games You...Read More

Cesaria Evora - Mae Carinhosa

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kerry Doole) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:29:29 -0500

This legendary world music diva no longer treads the Earth in her trademark bare feet, having passed away in late 2011. Posthumous releases are always a cause for trepidation, but thankfully the legacy of Evora is enhanced, not diminished, by this topnotch addition to her catalogue. The album is comprised of tracks that never quite fit on her earlier releases, but her vocal performances and the production work of long-time collaborator Jose da Silva remain of a very high quality. The title song has a lovely, warm vibe and touching lyrics (it translates as "Mother Tenderness"), while "Dor Di...Read More

Lady - Lady

editorial@exclaim.ca (Shannon T. Boodram) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:27:34 -0500

This is the self-titled debut album from American Billboard-charting Nicole Wray and UK chart-topper Terri Walker. After both finding commercial success, at the cost of artistic integrity, they joined forces to create an album that's soul-baring and soulful. The 11-track effort sounds like an ode to your favourite '60s divas, one fused with contemporary bass lines and production, best exemplified on their viral pre-release, "Money." Though nostalgic acts in R&B aren't rarities, what separates Lady from Solange or even Canada's Divine Brown is their sound, created by blending the two...Read More

Rhye - Woman

editorial@exclaim.ca (Michael J. Warren) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:14:13 -0500

You would be forgiven if Rhye's Woman immediately brings to mind Quadron's self-titled 2009 album, with both sharing similar usage of ethereal synth pads, sparse percussion and a smooth soprano voice. Many of those similarities are due to Robin Hannibal's presence in both duos. Toronto, ONs Mike Milosh (the other half of Rhye) acts as the crisp, ambient voice in the forefront throughout the album. A distinct effort has been made to play up the sexiness of the project and, thankfully, the music lives up to that imagery. The appropriately titled "Open" greets the listener with grand...Read More

Bilal - A Love Surreal

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:10:37 -0500

If Bilal's 2010 effort, Airtight's Revenge, functioned as an electro-funk "fuck you!" to the unfortunate neo-soul label that has dogged his career, A Love Surreal is a Salvador Dali-inspired outing that juxtaposes soul, funk and jazz sounds to create an imaginative redefinition of R&B. The Philly-based artist has always existed in the highly respected wing of the R&B pantheon and his fearlessness in feeding his musical muse — commercial considerations be damned — has been a defining characteristic of the artist's career. Bilal describes creating A Love Surreal...Read More

Inc. - No World

editorial@exclaim.ca (Matthew Ritchie) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:38:12 -0500

Following in the footsteps of late '90s neo-soul crooners Maxwell and D'Angelo, the downtempo alchemists of industrially-minded duo Inc. deliver a sparkling mix of new age trip-hop and minimalist dubstep on their expansive full-length debut. The by-product of L.A. fraternal songsters Daniel and Andrew Aged, No World is a heady mix of opaque beats and Romy Madley Croft guitar lines that reverberate throughout the band's 41-minutes of modest club bangers. Starting off with the smooth, jazz-inspired keyboards and raindrop beats of album opener "The Place," the Brothers Aged run through a...Read More

Various - Lula Lounge: Essential Tracks V1

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:04:00 -0500

Over the past decade, Toronto, ON's Latin music scene has reached an artistic apex, as home-grown artists such as Alex Cuba and Hilario Durán have enjoyed success across the globe. Although many would credit this to the immigration of veteran Cuban musicians onto the scene in the mid-'00s, the importance of Lula Lounge (a colourful, petite club in Toronto's Little Italy neighbourhood) can't be overlooked. Working as a home base for Caribbean, Latin American and Canadian musicians, Lula Lounge's first release, Lula Lounge: Essential Tracks V1, showcases a handful of artists that have...Read More

Jamie Lidell - Jamie Lidell

editorial@exclaim.ca (Shannon T. Boodram) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:29:22 -0500

The first thing you're going to do after hitting play on Jamie Lidell's self-titled album is slide across the floor and rip off your shirt. The second (awkwardly enough) is call your mom to prove you in fact do know good music. Lidell kicks off his self-titled album with "I'm Selfish," a track so funky it sounds like a Morris Day and the Time cover. Lidell, who's notorious for his experimental sound, delivers 11 electro-funk songs over live instrumentation and plenty of talk-box vocals. This consistency is the only criticism, since today's charts favour versatility as much as musicality. But...Read More

Ballake Sissoko - At Peace

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:43:44 -0500

Kora player Ballake Sissoko's Chamber Music was one of the most notable releases in world music in the last five years — "world music," as in a highly successful fusion of musical elements that actually explores new musical territory. In this case, the marriage of kora and cello in some interzone between Europe and Africa. At Peace is the follow-up and its title seems like an acceptance of Sissoko's internal musical drive, as well as implicit commentary on the current strife in Mali. Sissoko was never formally trained on the kora, which opens him up to incredible...Read More

Boogat - El Dorado Sunset

editorial@exclaim.ca (Erin MacLeod) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:30:08 -0500

It's clear from El Dorado Sunset that Boogat has spent time honing his chops live, in front of audiences bent on dancing. This album understands the importance of keeping things moving, and from beginning to end, each tune will get folks moving. The production on El Dorado Sunset, courtesy of everyone from Montreal hero Poirier to Munich's electro/tropical/dancehall dons Schlachthofbronx, varies wildly. And this is a very good thing. Influences from multiple corners of the globe (or, more properly, multiple quarters of Montreal) have been injected. The many instrumental...Read More

Various - Pop Yeh Yeh: Psychedelic Rock from Singapore and Malaysia; 1964-1970, Vol. 1

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:29:21 -0500

With specialty labels like Pharaway Sounds, Putumayo and Soul Jazz dedicating themselves to unearthing vintage sounds from around the globe, the unifying language of music has never been more apparent. Focusing heavily on the Middle East previously, Seattle-based label Sublime Frequencies has turned its eye to Southeast Asia for Pop Yeh Yeh. Collecting 26 two-and-a-half-minute pop songs from rock's golden era, Pop Yeh Yeh shows just how quickly the British Invasion infiltrated every corner of the world. With vocals (mostly) sung in Malay, each number on this collection sounds...Read More

Saffron - Dawning

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:26:28 -0500

Within the small space of seven tracks, Saffron put forth a passionate exploration of Persian and Indian philosophies. The five-member collective (vocalist Katayoun Goudarzi, pianist Kevin Hays, percussionist Abhiman Kaushal and accomplished sitarist Shujaat Husain Khan) leverage the poetry of 13th-century Persian Muslim poet/philosopher Rumi in a respectful fashion via impressionistic musical backing and vocal interpretations. The result is Dawning, an immersive and contemplative aural experience. Within the short run time, the sitar-/table-/sax-driven record is best listened to...Read More

Fela Kuti - The Best of the Black President 2

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bryon Hayes) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:30:32 -0500

Fifteen years after his death, the musical legacy of Fela Kuti — the king of Afrobeat — continues to thrive. A living legend while he was alive, his music has been influential to scores of musicians worldwide. This begs the question: how does one distil the musical output of a man who has released more than 70 scorching albums of politically-charged jazz-funk over the course of his decades-long career into a two-disc "best of" collection? Knitting Factory undertook this daunting task in 2009 when it issued the first edition of Best of the Black President. Four years later,...Read More

Dawn Richard - Goldenheart

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:38:50 -0500

On the surface, there's a certain "je ne sais quoi" to former Danity Kane/Ex-Dirty Money singer Dawn Richard's latest effort. Kudos to Richard for getting out of the Diddy shadow, but even after giving the artist the benefit of the doubt, the "quoi" in this instance turns out to be quite bland. "Let's start a riot/Give love a fighting chance," Richard croons on the appropriately titled "Riot" and things rarely get more inspired from there. To be fair, a track like "86" has a cool R&B vibe and "Break of Dawn" is a sincere-sounding power ballad that sticks the landing. Clinging faithfully to...Read More

Orchid Ensemble - Life Death Tears Dream

editorial@exclaim.ca (Michael J. Warren) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:48:09 -0500

Orchid Ensemble's latest, Life Death Tears Dream, is said to be inspired by poetry, both old and new. Certainly the opening track, Lan Tung's "Dancing Moon," best exemplifies this, with its swinging juxtaposition of traditional erhu and zheng instrumentation, which then darts into wild marimba and cajon punctuations, provided by percussionist Jonathan Bernard. This is the group's follow-up to 2004's Juno-nominated Road to Kashgar, and it demonstrates that the trio of Tung, Bernard and Haiqiong Deng are masters of their instruments, willing to break new ground. While numbers like...Read More

Tania Maria - Canto

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kerry Doole) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:37:27 -0500

The illustrious recording career of Brazilian pianist/singer/composer Tania Maria now spans 44 years, but there's been no reduction in her multiple skills. I'm not quite sure why an album comprised of sessions recorded in Sao Paulo and Paris in 2005 and 2006 took so long to surface, but we can be glad it did. As has been typical of Tania Maria's career, she is able to move between jazz and Brazilian styles like samba and bossa with graceful ease. The six songs recorded in Sao Paulo feature a three-piece horn section integrated seamlessly into compositions showcasing Tania Maria's ever-fluent...Read More

Minotaurs - New Believers

editorial@exclaim.ca (Jason Parker Quinton) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:17:49 -0500

On New Believers, Minotaurs employ pastoral imagery and metaphysical musings to show swelling discontent with how the world works. It's an evolution of societal ideals as natural phenomenon, that resisting tyrannical (if democratic) government is as natural as a breeze feeding a fire. It's perfect for the politically minded lover of indie poetics who needs to get down to fat beats as often as they get down on fat cats. This record answers the plea: "Fleet Foxes are nice, but would it kill them to switch dreamy harmonies for a hot horn section?" With a creed that "everyone in the band...Read More

Stick Against Stone Orchestra - Get It All Out

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:32:37 -0500

With Get It All Out, cult collective Stick Against Stone Orchestra continue their unapologetic Pittsburgh post-punk exploration on all things funk, jazz and Afrobeat — to better than average results. Currently functioning as a 12-person ensemble, the current incarnation of Stick Against Stone Orchestra are determined to live up to the legacy of deceased ex-frontman John Creighton, right down to the album title (taken from one of the last songs penned by Creighton prior to his departure from the group). Get It All Out exists as an attempt to capture and distil the band's...Read More

Daniel Nebiat - Sealitya Adey

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 10:52:58 -0500

Toronto, ON's premier krar (Eritrean harp/lute) player, Daniel Nebiat has released a strong follow-up to his debut. The production has a greater unity of live and electronic elements. However, let's be clear: this album is largely electronically driven, even though there's a strong folkloric base. But what programming! Nebiat's dulcet vocals weave hypnotic, free-floating melodies within the interlocking, spiralling 6/8 rhythms. Moreover, Nebiat's pentatonic singing is given a fascinating twist with fairly prominent Auto-tune use. Its robotic qualities and Nebiat's love for wah-wah on his...Read More

Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:00:27 -0500

For singer-songwriter Miguel to create a straight-up R&B album (in today's musical climate, no less), putting forth a specific creative vision that manages to transcend the hip-hop pop swill presently produced by his so-called R&B brethren, yet avoiding coming off as pretentious is a crowning achievement in and of itself. The fact that the 11-track project actually warrants Best of Year discussion is nearly a moot point. After operating on the underground R&B fringes with the poorly marketed and criminally overlooked Sure Thing in 2010, Kaleidoscope Dream goes for broke. The...Read More

Bomba Estereo - Eleganza Tropical

editorial@exclaim.ca (David Dacks) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:00:22 -0500

The title is apt. On Bomba Estereo's long awaited second album, they might have been expected to deliver a dozen blazing variations on "Fuego." That song had incredible staying power within Tropical Bass DJ circles and the band's urgency was more than convincing live. However, they've smartly dialled it back on this second album. Vocalist Li Saumet proves to be an able balladeer, though still forceful, as on "El Alma Y El Cuerpo," where she sounds like she's reaping a whirlwind of Hammond organ on top of a Champeta groove. The production and sense of variation, particularly in the...Read More

Flying Down Thunder & Rise Ashen - North Wind

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:45:11 -0500

In 2011, an Ottawa-based electro DJ teamed up with a Long Point First Nations member to release One Nation, an inventive, mesmerizing and refreshing piece of art. With North Wind, the duo's follow-up LP, Flying Down Thunder & Rise Ashen expand upon this rock-solid blueprint, inviting a stable of musicians, vocalists and teachers to add a distinctive flavour to the mix. Ashen's beats come off as leaner and sharper, managing to complement Flying Down Thunder's musical vision faultlessly, as the rhythms never approach genre travesty. In fact, this time around, it's Flying Down...Read More

Isra-Alien - Somewhere is Here!

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:42:57 -0500

Somewhere is Here!, first and foremost, is a guitar album. Despite its deep ties to traditional Jewish song, its melding of rock and jazz or the musical kinship between the Toronto, ON-raised Oren Neiman and the Israeli-born Gilad Ben-Zvi, it's simply two acoustic guitars that define the music of Isra-Alien. On Somewhere is Here!, the duo's sophomore release, Isra-Alien strive to become much more inspired, both on record and principal. Providing the listener with compelling interpretations of Israeli dance ("Horah-Alien"), dedications to family members ("Valentine") and covers of homeland...Read More

Hidden Orchestra - Archipelago

editorial@exclaim.ca (Vincent Pollard) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:03:03 -0400

This is the second album release from Edinburgh, UK's Hidden Orchestra. Consisting of duelling drummers Tim Lane and Jamie Graham, with piano and violin from Poppy Ackroyd and Joe Acheson on bass and samples. Standout track "Spoken" also features skittish, muted trumpet of Phil Cardwell. An immersive union of downtempo jazz and post-rock, Hidden Orchestra occasionally skirt the borderline of cheese, but thankfully manage to stay on the right side of it, for the most part, losing their way slightly on tracks like "Flight," but regaining it fully on "Vorka," which features Su-a Lee on the...Read More

Jaffa Road - Where the Light Gets In

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:58:01 -0400

What sets Jaffa Road apart from the latest crop of Toronto, ON-based world music revivalists might just be theoretical. On their second LP, Where the Light Gets In, the Toronto quintet choose to summon the musical spirits of the near-East through melody and execution rather than rhythm and structure. Aviva Chernick's grounded vocals, paired with Jeffrey Wilson's chill-out-inspired beats, allow each track to have a genial effect. But Where the Light Gets In works best is when instrumentalists Lightstone (oud), Gartner (bass) and Viswanathan (sax/flute) are allowed to stretch out, giving tracks...Read More

Breezy Lovejoy - Lovejoy

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kevin Jones) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:16:03 -0400

First featured on this summer's TiRon & Ayomari-led, collective spotlighting HNGRY release, street-slick R&B man Breezy Lovejoy wheels out an immediately impressive repertoire of bass- and rhythm-focused backdrops topped with his distinct season-player vocals on new disc Lovejoy. The singer's uniquely divided drum patterns play a leading role throughout, whether softening neck tissue on cuts like bass-heavy standouts "Turnips" and "Ms. Parker" or holding things down with both jazzy and more straight-ahead fair in "Home Going" and "Straight Jacket," respectively. Breezy's...Read More

Jesse Boykins III & Melo-X - Zulu Guru

editorial@exclaim.ca (Kevin Jones) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:09:52 -0400

Romantic Movement leading lights Jesse Boykins III and MeLo-X have been making plenty of moves below the radar over the past couple of years, the former dropping a number of earthy, soul-rich solo experiments, along with a buzz-catching mixtape with Theophilus London, the latter reconstructing popular tunes into a slew of deadly remixes. The two join forces here for their first industry-backed release, melding traditional rap and soul with an expansive, genre-snatching palette of dynamic sounds and rhythms, running from the thick, dance floor-directed "Primal Chance" and "I'm New Here" to the...Read More

House of David Gang - Reggae Warrior

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:29:22 -0400

A constant fixture in Toronto's touring scene, the reggae collective known as House of David Gang have the roots fundamentals down pat, no doubt. Reggae Warrior represents the band's earnest attempt to capture the same live vibe and energy on a full-length studio album, to raw results. Not that the record is lacking in authentic grooves; rather, the bare lyrical content feels somewhat disconnected from the lush instrumentation throughout, at points. Nonetheless, tracks like the upstart "This Fya," the earnest "Sunny Sunday Morning" and the wholly referential "Toronto, Ontario"...Read More

Brandy - Two Eleven

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:43:29 -0400

It's been a while since anyone has considered Brandy as leading the way when it comes to the R&B genre. After a four-year absence, she aims to change that with Two Eleven. Described as a back-to-basics approach from the former '90s R&B music superstar, the project succeeds in positioning Brandy as someone who still has a lot left in the tank. Getting past the obviously geared for urban radio "Put It Down" (featuring tabloid favourite Chris Brown), Two Eleven (named after her birthday and also the day her idol Whitney Houston died) offers up a slickly packaged project. The...Read More

Bill Laswell - Means of Deliverance

editorial@exclaim.ca (Matt Bauer) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:23:48 -0400

At age 57, and with a career that includes over 700 recordings in genres ranging from hip-hop to world to funk to metal and production and recording credits with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Material, Motörhead and, well, you can look up the rest, you might forgive producer, remixologist and bassist Bill Laswell for resting on his laurels. If his first acoustic solo bass recording (exclusively featuring his Warwick Alien fretless four-string bass) is a return to his musical roots, it also sounds unlike anything he's recorded before. The debut production by wife Gigi Shibabaw showcases an...Read More

Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream

editorial@exclaim.ca (Ryan B. Patrick) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:10:40 -0400

For singer/songwriter Miguel to create a straight up R&B album (in today's musical climate, no less), putting forth a specific creative vision that manages to transcend the hip-hop pop swill presently produced by his so-called R&B brethren, yet avoid coming off as pretentious is a crowning achievement in and of itself. (The fact that the 11-track project actually warrants Best of Year discussion is nearly a moot point.) After operating on the underground R&B fringes with the poorly marketed and criminally overlooked Sure Thing in 2010, Kaleidoscope Dream goes for broke. The best...Read More

Various - Zendooni: Funk, Psychedelic and Pop from the Iranian Pre-Revolution Generation

editorial@exclaim.ca (Daniel Sylvester) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:00:28 -0400

In the early '60s, Mohammad Rezā Shāh introduced the White Revolution to the Iranian people, incidentally delivering the British Invasion, Motown and Stax Records directly to the ears of this freshly (culturally at least) liberated society. By the mid-'70s, the children of this revolution were beginning to reinterpret these sounds, crafting their very own brand of R&B, prog and rock filtered through traditional Khorasan and Turkmen music. Light in the Attic's Pharaway Sounds has done an outstanding job highlighting the best and most intriguing material from this fertile youth...Read More