Reviews

When Black Pumas unleashed their self-titled debut in 2019, it was as if a soulful explosion had rocked the music world. The Austin-bred duo of singer/songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada not only earned critical acclaim but also won over the hearts of fans, who were spellbound by their electrifying live performances. Four years later, the highly anticipated sophomore album, “Chronicles of a Diamond,” has arrived, and it’s a wild and mesmerizing journey that cements Black Pumas’ status as an unstoppable force in the music scene.

In the world of music, the return of Ed Motta is nothing short of a grand spectacle. After a five-year hiatus, the musical “Colossus of Rio” reclaims his throne with his 14th studio album, “Behind The Tea Chronicles.” This musical journey transcends boundaries and welcomes us to immerse ourselves not only in groovy, soul-stirring tunes but also in cinematic reveries.

Named after a cartoon character, the Buster Brown Band from Texas evolved in the 70s and early 80s from a classic blues rock band into one of Dallas’ hottest blue-eyed soul and funk outfits. Unfortunately, a planned album never materialised at the time and numerous demos disappeared into the archives. Thanks to the Parisian label Providenciales Records, these songs oscillating between funk, blue-eyed soul and West Coast AOR have now finally been officially released on “Popsicle Toes”. West Coast music aficionados who love bands and artists like Pages, Earth, Wind & Fire, Eric Tagg or LeBlanc And Carr should definitely give it a listen.

79.5 describe themselves as “the sound of New York City” – and they don’t exaggerate, especially when it comes to the sound of dark R’n’B and disco clubs in Brooklyn, where longing, ecstasy and breakdown are celebrated every night. On their now released sophomore album, the Brooklyn-based band captures all these emotional states in great songs that oscillate between 70’s underground disco, electro boogie, acid jazz and sugary sweet pop – somewhere between the cool funkiness of the Universal Togetherness Band and the catchiness of the Scissor Sisters.

With their second album “Soul Steps”, the Berlin and San Diego based soul outfit The Everettes follow in the footsteps of their musical idols and catapult the classic sound of Motown, Stax and Northern Soul into the 21st century with a lot of finesse and dedication. Anyone who can sit still while listening to these stirring soul stompers is beyond help. “Soul Steps” is definitely a must-have for the upcoming Northern Soul party.

When a music professional like Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner sets out to record a tribute to the L.A. sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s, she doesn’t do things by halves. On her new album ‘Business & Pleasure’, the artist gathers session musicians from the golden age and, with the help of producer Fred Mollin, transfers the mellow sound of the past into the 2020s. The result is a varied album that will not only please lovers of classic yacht rock.

The year is coming to an end and it was again a year of great new releases and discoveries. Of course, it was and is always impossible to limit a year to just ten albums, but the following records have left a lasting impression on us and accompanied us through the last months. It’s time to honour the best albums of the year: Here is the West Coast Soul.de Top 10 of 2022!

For their second album “Hidden Gem”, German band The Zenmenn teamed up with singer-songwriter John Moods to magnificently fuse sun-drenched, laid-back yacht rock harmonies with atmospheric ambient landscapes into a kind of cosmic West Coast AOR.