The Brand New Heavies return
So after several years, the Brand New heavies have returned. They have a new album, a new single, and a new singer (the lovely Nicole Russo, who is the best set of pipes they have had since N'Dea Davenport, and looks taylor made for a Maxim photospread)
They have samples up on their website as well as the first video, for Boogie, a funky, modern, danceable slice of soul. BNH were always a class unto themelves and were part of that early pack of UK acid-jazz acts that have consistently put out great material, along with Jamiroquai, D'Influence, Jhelisa, and Omar (almost all of which got started on Gilles Peterson's Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud labels).
It is definately good to hear them back, after the misfires they had with Carleen Anderson (she only recorded a few tracks with them, and never quiet seemed to gel with BNH as well as even Siedah Garrett). Carleen's voice, while a powerful and expressive instrument, didn't seem to fit with the more laid back nature of BNH (although her material with them and her own solo work is definately work tracking down. The problem with BNH is that is seemed as if she was temporary, so you never got the feeling that there would be much more than there was...so you kind of kept waiting to see who would come in next instead of getting acclimated to Carleen).
Siedah Garrett always gave one the impression that she was not long for this band, even while their one album together, Shelter produced some excellent material. It
If the video is any indication, they once again have a club-cred diva handling the frontperson duties, while Jan Kincaid, Simon Bartholemew and Andrew Levy do what they do best - write, arrange, and perform great grooves.
They have samples up on their website as well as the first video, for Boogie, a funky, modern, danceable slice of soul. BNH were always a class unto themelves and were part of that early pack of UK acid-jazz acts that have consistently put out great material, along with Jamiroquai, D'Influence, Jhelisa, and Omar (almost all of which got started on Gilles Peterson's Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud labels).
It is definately good to hear them back, after the misfires they had with Carleen Anderson (she only recorded a few tracks with them, and never quiet seemed to gel with BNH as well as even Siedah Garrett). Carleen's voice, while a powerful and expressive instrument, didn't seem to fit with the more laid back nature of BNH (although her material with them and her own solo work is definately work tracking down. The problem with BNH is that is seemed as if she was temporary, so you never got the feeling that there would be much more than there was...so you kind of kept waiting to see who would come in next instead of getting acclimated to Carleen).
Siedah Garrett always gave one the impression that she was not long for this band, even while their one album together, Shelter produced some excellent material. It
If the video is any indication, they once again have a club-cred diva handling the frontperson duties, while Jan Kincaid, Simon Bartholemew and Andrew Levy do what they do best - write, arrange, and perform great grooves.
posted by theloniusfunk at 1:07 AM
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