This is a quick post about my favourite French bands of the moment.
Some kind of a hip-hop, funk, jazz and soul. Kind of hard to define actually. The groove is awesome, the lyrics are beautiful/funny and the mix is perfect.
A soft voice tinted with sugar and velvet, a smooth jazz guitar, a good beat and a lot of creativity. What could you ask more?
Everyone says he is the French Ben Harper or John Butler. Well I do not think so. He does not have their technicity or their commitment. But he has the same guts, the passion, the poetry and the amazing simplicity. Yes, the genuine simplicity, a pure sound and an unmodified voice. The ability to play great basic riffs or easy chords but to put all his musicality and his feelings into it. His bassist and drummer are also worth a carefull earing.
Enjoy!
Two amazing discoveries from Nova’s podcast “Out of the blue”.
First one: Coke Escovedo and his album “I wouldn’t change a thing”. (For sure he doesn’t look back in anger)
One of those lost musical blessings that DJs often loot. This is not so far from Sly and the Family Stones’ sound (especially Coke’s voice).
Second one: The heavy
And I can tell you that this sound weighs a lot. I do not know what you think about this little abstract but it completely turned me on. The singer has one of the highest and softest voice I know. The groove is smooth and the chorus dances in my head.
Hope you’ll like it!
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE
A great band that mixed soul and funk in a creative whirlwind. You cannot miss the specific colour of their sound. Dance to the Music, I get High on you, If you want me to stay, The Underdog, Family Affair… All these famous hits have inspired the new generation (the Red Hot, Jamiroquai, George Clinton…).
Live performances were amazing; people danced on the stage, the band improvised a lot and Sly was just amazing. His voice seemed to be made to bounce on Larry Graham’s (the guy who invented slap) groovy bass line.
Another point that explains the whole magic of Sly and the Family Stone is their fight against racism. At a time were black music was highly feared and criticised by the WASP they managed to write engaged song (such as the beautiful: don’t call me nigger whitey). Moreover, their band mixed black and white players. The result was certainly the best example that such a union could be most fruitful. Then came the usual troubles: drugs, big ego and divides… And the story ended.
Anyway, the groove remains the same. If DJs were playing more funk like Sly’s in the clubs, I am sure that there would not be so many guys drinking at the bar. Any time you need to cheer up, just listen to Sly. Your mouth will start smiling and your feet will start taping. Watch out, some say that after a few minutes the devil could go inside your head and make you dance like a demon…
