Soul Express CD Review BROWN'S BAG US Bush Man Entertainment, 2005 Holla – Things You Say – Love Never Comes Around – Fall In Love – Open Letter – No More Love – Heaven – What About This – Brother As far as new releases are concerned, 2006 has started off fantastically for me. There are a lot of new releases in the pipeline, and all worth our attention, too. I was not overly impressed with 2005 but by the way things are shaping up 2006 will soon put that to rights. How better to usher in the new year with a new release of this calibre. Brown’s Bag is a CD I would like to introduce you to. This group is a duo that features Ward Brown on drums, guitar, lead and background vocals and Sherrod Brown on keyboards, saxophone, lead and background vocals. They see themselves as "defenders of soul". This neatly crafted album does little to dispute this. What the guys have served up is essentially a treat of real soul, garnished with real singing, live instruments and more than enough feeling to really anchor us back in the halcyon days of the 1970s. I have 2 real favourites that I admit to playing over and over and over again, but to be perfectly honest I can pop on the CD and just let it play. Nothing contained here can disappoint one degree, so no fears there. I will start off with my 2 choice selections. "Love Never Comes Around Again" is a FANTASTIC soul offering. Musically the keys are warmer than the most radiant summer day and at once I was transported back to the late 70s and early 80s. Vocally the duo is in the pocket of the sound of the sweet soul groups of the 70s. Real instrumentation and real emotion are the order of the day and has ensured that I cannot get enough of the song. My second massive is "Open Letter". This instantly struck me as a fine marriage of two musical giants. Vocally we have real grit and catharsis wrapped up in a wholesome Southern flavour a la G.C. Cameron. Musically I hear Prince and The New Power Generation during their "Diamonds And Pearls" period. Simply breathtaking real soul, and a powerful combination to boot. I cannot get enough of this music and it absolutely essential listening for 2006. The rest, as I say is also extremely worthwhile. The sheer funkiness and urgency of the frenetic "Holla" acts as the perfect entrée into this tasty dish of an album, and the sheer sublime 70s flavours of "Things You Say" along with hi hat tapping cymbals and rasping flute is just excellent. Fans of the Southern, brassy Malaco / Stax sounds will find the beautiful falsetto of "Fall In Love" irresistable, and fans of those warm, summery jazzy keys will give it up for the 70s styled "No More Love". This is real soul music, and the sort of stuff we need to celebrate. "Heaven" is a breath of fresh air. It is earthy, live and simply does little more than demand the drawing out of the evenings, the blackbird song and the spring flowers. Who wants all the major label tat with this sort of stuff about? Boogie tunes lovers will like the funky slap bass affair that is known as "What About This" – right back to the early 1980s and no quibbling. AND a moral message to boot. Can’t be bad, either. Much of today’s laughingly called R&B is about putting it about and generally being an absolute stinker, it's time someone took the reigns and reminded folks that there is more to life than playing at gangsters. "Brother" is a lot more subdued and melancholic and like the month of March sees the CD go out like a lamb. This CD is available direct from their website www.bushmanentertainment.com/brownsbag, and Soul Brother and Crazy Beat amongst others here in the UK. Highly recommended real soul. - Barry Towler The Latest CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2007 Albums of the Month in 2006 Albums of the Month in 2005 Albums of the Month in 2004 Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 Other CD
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