snobb
Third album of this Dutch band attracted me by it's cover. Sure,I knew the band before (still being relatively unknown,with no releases at all they played in Vilnius Jazz in 2004),but some years of my life strongly related with Amsterdam just didn't let me to pay more attention to Rotterdam-based band.Seriously, I believe that almost in every country exists such kind of hate between two biggest cities. At least in Holland everyone related with artsy and grassy Amsterdam hates Rotterdam dockers and workers districts.I was a supporter of this tradition with all my heart (ok, to be honest I worked in Rotterdam port territory for few weeks,but it doesn't count).
Back to album - I really like that Citroen 2CV on a cover,and a girl: sentimental picture of old/new continental Europe charm. From very first seconds music just catches you - very funky dance-able rhythm with strong melodies. Opener "The Muscleman" is a gem - heavy Fender Rhodes leads song almost in "Smoke On The Water" key,well - just funky one,with lot of brass over it.Real Muscleman!
"Blacklights" are based on African percussion,but with strong melodic line over it.On "Dance" musicians openly show how much they are influenced by old generation funk bands - the song sounds as slightly adapted to modern clubbing culture Tower Of Power composition.
Other songs are less groovy (still with some funk rhythms included), not so fast and explosive,combining the tradition of pop-jazz and nu jazz.The closer "Chouffe Chouffe" begins with Russian speaking female voice speaking about "Monseuir Dubois" on a manner of Russian films from 70s (about France I believe - all such films were filmed in Ukrainian Crimea (for Southern France actions)or in Baltics (for North/Western European decorations)and had not many relations with reality,but for Soviet people who never been abroad and almost never saw how Western Europe looks like even on TV,Communists TV never showed pictures of "rotten Capitalism" as rule) illustrates with humor that nice 2CV on cover...
Don't look too serious on this music - not too complex groovy melodic modern jazz equivalent for clubs - and you will really enjoy this release.