The Final Note

(SJCTurntable)

On this second album, Al Spx’s experimentation knows no bounds, but if she were to take something from the title of this second release, defining the brain’s ability to learn something new, it would hopefully be to ‘unlearn’ just some of these. This is because this album compares so unfavourably to her phenomenal debut. Yet, when it works it does so brilliantly as on the demonic horns accompanying her outstanding vocals on album opener, ‘A Broken Memory’. ... read more

A return to consistency in their trademark revivalism of traditional bluegrass music, from the hoedown album opener, ‘Carry Me Back to Virginia’ to sumptuous ballad, ‘Genevieve’. This collective, as always, display their ability to fashion simple but effective compositions. ‘Best of these are ‘Ain’t It Enough’ and ‘We Don’t Grow Tobacco’. What has grown with their maturity is an ability to vary the pace across their album to much ... read more

A fantasy reimagining of his childhood, which it appears is immersed in the tropicalia of Brazil than his native Paris. The merging of these cultures, where every track is delivered in French, is aided by collaboration with Jean Michel Jarre on the one hand, and on the other, cult Brazilian composer, Arthur Verocai, noted for his eponymous 1972 debut album in which he mixed samba with soul. Standout tracks here include the hypnotic ‘Ricky l’adolescente’ and the trippy ... read more

Son of an abusive Washington DC church preacher, Gaye started singing in his father’s church at the tender age of four, seeking solace in music throughout his childhood amidst his father’s merciless beatings. Following his discharge from the Air Force in 1957, he co-founded the vocal harmony group, ‘The Marquees’. However it was his solo performance at Motown’s Berry Gordy’s house during the Christmas vacation of 1960 which secured him his first major ... read more