With influences by: Sharon Jones, Lee Fields, The Mohawks, The Dap-Kings, Bobby Byrd, Fontella Bass, The Beginning of the End, Daptone, Jazzman, Funk 45, Keb Darge, Shadow, Madame Jo-Jos, Timmion, Tim Buckley, Stevie Wonder, BGP, Soulfire, K7, Roy Ayers, Grand Slam Magazine, Jazz Cafe, London, Texas.
Black Water Gold
African Music Machine
Soul Power Records
First issued in 1972 and I think the first album for the group. Whilst already building a name for themselves as session musicians and working with artists like, Fontella bass (see sevens) and Roscoe Robinson for the Jewel/Paula label, they take it a step further with their own releases and top the soul charts with creations such as this album, 'Black Water Gold'. The music is not as African as the name implies and the band totally hand it over to the funk/soul listeners of the world, with a quality approach to smoothing out the funk and very soulful. There are also a number of 7" titles available when in the right crates. We couldn't find this title for sale.
Usually found on Timmion or Sahco records, Finish and Swedish labels. So how did they make it over to NYC? I don't know, but fair play to The Soul Investigators. After all funk is a universal music, isn't it? So here they are teaming up with Calypso King and bringing some more of those lovable funky numbers, although I have to say, I do prefer the sevens releases, a whole album of instrumentals does get a bit tedious, I do need vocals. Which is why I'd say this record is for the DJ, you could slide most tunes in and out of a good funk set and it comes complete with a couple of floor fillers. Overall it's a classic outlook on some of funks most fundamentals, the heavy drums, Hammond, bass and funky guitar. What I'm wondering is, where does the Calypso King fit in? I just can't stop thinking about the seven they released with Jimi Tenor and Nicole Willis on Sahco. Ooooh! And I have just noticed that was written by one, C King and also this album was recorded in Helsinki, Finland. Sweden, Finland, NYC, this universal funk thing gets confusing but all we really need to know is that it's all good. Keep your eyes open for this band, we have a feeling there's a lot more to come.
A stunning score for a film made in 1929 by Russian Movie maker Dziga Vertov, together they create a very emotional experience. This album alone will definitely stand the test of time as the film has and should rate high in the Cinematics repertoire. The Jazz and Orchestral combinations are a norm for the bands style and never fail to reach the highest chords of your soul, always bringing over something new in the finer details of a sweet ambience. Listen, float away, enjoy the moment the mood, let yourself sink into the deep bass, become soothed by Cellos, Violins, leave the hustle and bustle and marvel in this emancipative album. It's an all in and out and out mellow jazz experience.
The film has been released in box set form, also on Ninja, but is, we believe, a limited addition and is not so readily available. But it is out there and worth hunting for. Perhaps BBC 2 should take the initiative and do a late night viewing, or are we not that lucky, hey maybe in three years time yep.
Crazy Penis started out as a duo made up of jim baron and chris todd at Nottingham Uni. They have come along way with their groovy occasionaly laid back sound.
