VENUECONNECTION Madrid Boogie
German Phazz-A-Delic, 2008
1) Madrid Boogie 2) Cool Vanilla 3) Stay At Home 4) Syand Up 5) Bring Back The Fun 6) Walkin Your Dream 7) Not In Luck 8) Mar de las Calmas 9) MMM Song 10) Art Of Disappearing 11) Lo Siento 12) Oriental Glamour 13) Let's Freeze 14) The Guitar 15) Goodbye 13th Century 16) Is It Right
Now, if you are amenable to different, then check this out as this is different,
and if you are an ardent believer that variety is the spice of life and you like
your flavours spicy and tangy then Spain's vibrant Venueconnection will be a
CD you should seriouly check out. "Madrid Boogie" is, in fact, their second album
and intelligently fuses jazz, funk, soul all with a flourish of Spanish, Cuban
and Indian flavours. This approach is not unique, and you will remember
Xantoné Blacq's recent album which was one I praised very highly here
on Soul Express previously.
"Madrid Boogie" is a set that you can put on and leave on, to be honest. The different musical textures and tempos add light and shade and keep the old grey matter constantly interested in what is going on. Like I said, this is intelligent music. Some may not equate flamenco, Hindu or Afro-Cuban music with soul BUT each nation should have it's own identity and Venueconnection prove – not that they need to – that they can not only compete with the American and British Big Boys but can mark out their own territory to boot. For the former, let us examine “Madrid Soul”. It is very much in an Impromp2 style but the lyrics are different in that it is a celebration of Europe, especially Madrid, and their culture. Why the hell not? So many people are putting each other down within Europe, let's have some positivity! Besides, the groove is also an addictive one so it scores on may points for these ears.
Another stand-out is “Stay At Home”; the slight US Garage rhythm ups the game and the horns blast in atop the Latin groove and sends it into the stratosphere! It is later in the track that my juices got going when it chills down, hits a jazzy laid back tempo and the approach is very much in the vein of Eryka Badu's “Orange Moon”, though I would say these vocals were better on this album. “Stand Up” is a real winner! An excellent, soulful groove with nice synths and blinding sax playing. Having worked with Steve Cole in the past, you know we ain't gonna have anything other than class here!
Although terribly short, “Bring Back The Funk” is very good and the sax and slap
bass really has a New York flavour, the organ a la Magic Disco Machine is also a
nice touch. If only this were longer! “Walkin' Your Dream” reminds me of an
Isabelle Antena cut to start off with, but lopes into a more funky UK sounding
cut – think Bah Samba or 4Hero with a flamenco twist! The “MMM Song” features
some excellent warbling guitar and a deep rumbling bassline. The acoustic
guitar adds a nice jazzy touch too. The female scat is very, very good to boot.
The beat changes throughout and gives us plenty of texture! Tasty indeed!
A cut that you may need to soak in is the superb, albeit brief, Hindu
flavour of “Oriental Glamour”. Imagine what Hiroshima is to jazz, but with
an Indian twist. This is very sexy and chilled. Please don't overlook this one,
or indeed the entire album. Its different and in an age where acts are rolling
off the Fordist production line I like different! Please check this out on
www.soulchoonz.com
- I think you won't be disappointed.
