STR4TA
STR4TASFEAR
Brownswood Recordings
Buy via Official Store & Bandcamp | Listen Below
In the spring of last year, Bluey (of Incognito) and DJ/Producer Gilles Peterson teamed up to remind the world of the wonders of the Brit-funk genre that sprang out of the UK in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their debut collaborative album Aspects (2021) arrived as Spring was about to do its thing and it was zephyr light and effortlessly smooth, reflecting the season perfectly. When I interviewed them close to the album launch, it was clear that work was already under way on a follow-up project, such was the sense of fun and positive energy created between the two long-time friends.
The fruit of the partnership continues then, as promised, with their just-released new album STR4TASFEAR. This time around, there are some pretty stellar names littered across the album in support of the outing. British soul guru Omar, the inimitable trumpet stylings of Theo Croker and the effervescent wonder that is Emma-Jean Thackray (fresh from winning Jazz FM’s Album of the Year for her magnificent Yellow) all make appearances on the noticeably more diverse set of funkiness.
Overall, its themes are still very much the same aspirational search for love and/or a higher consciousness born of positivity that the genre was mainly noted for first time around—the song titles alone give that away. If there is anything that holds back the album from even greater heights, it is its limited lyrical content—in these troubling times, I’m sure even just a little ire and anger could go a long way.
That minor gripe aside though, the album does a fine job of expanding the musical palette from last time round too. “Turn Me Around” is blessed with stellar bass work, lending a heavier feel to the groove and there is a palpable 80s rare groove feel to “When You Call Me” and the Theo Croker featuring “Soothsayer.” “Night Flight,” meanwhile, is shot through with an ‘80s micro funk, while the two pieces entitled “Reflections” are slight piano-led pieces that are peaceful intermissions from the unrelenting groove of the rest of the album.
As well as those aforementioned illustrious guests, there are a couple of other interesting voices that add vocal variety to the album, indeed the presence of all the guest voices this time around adds an extra layer of interest to the whole enterprise. Valerie Etienne (once of Galliano and many others) sounds delightful on “Find Your Heaven” and Anushka pop up on “Bring On The Bad Weather”—both stand out as a result of a fresh vocal sound.
Lurking at the end of the album though is “Something, Anything” and it offers an intriguing glance at what could come with any future work from the duo. Amidst all the positivity and light, airy vocals lie the somber grizzly vocals (presumably of Bluey) against a downtempo Fender Rhodes-led gem. The little bit of roughness around the edges that his voice has is an excellent addition to the array of textures on offer here—I’d love to hear more of that if there is a next time for the duo.
Notable Tracks: “Bring On The Bad Weather” | “Find Your Heaven” | “Lazy Days” | “Something, Anything”
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