The Bamboos have been a request guest in our playlist for long time now. On their 10th album they really have refined their craft of finding the sweetest spot between Soul and Funk to the finest point. Hard up was released some days ago and is still running on heavy rotation here.
Cannot remember listening to the band with the fine soul sound for the first time. But what I know for sure is that listening to the The Bamboos feels alwas like a special journey back to the golden years of soulmusic.
Hard Up was announced by five great singles. All five had been chosen wisely and present the whole spectrum of the record. Starting with the title track in the middle of lockdown it all began. The great single was followed by While You Sleep feat. Ev Jones and the amazing cover of Black Box´s Ride On Time. Even these three may be enough to start a good party.
Party on!
Going on listening to the album I realize, that the description of a band who arranged a special sound is more than true. The Bamboos have once again put together an album with collaborations with well-known artist like Duran Jones. Happy to hear him on If Not Now (Then When) a song as uplifting as we remember the Durand Jones & The Indications on stage in October 2019
Once again it seems to be on a journey back in time. Back to the days we just to dance and celebrate the good times together. While we still wait for the live music stating again, the small island on the other side of the world seems to be one step ahead. And even this album is a sign from better times because most of it was recorded before all the epidemic started and the world was standing still.
The album is signed by the great voice of Kylie Auldist. So much emotion, like in Just Heard You Leaving with the horns and the soft drums, inevitably leads to holding your breath and almost having your heart broken. At the beginning I still miss the typical background choir, but then it becomes clear again that Kylie Auldist’s voice fills the song completely.
The full greatness of the band, on the other hand, can be heard in the song Upwey Funk. The track flows straight into the legs, performed by some of Melbourne’s best jazzers. They bring the full sound of Melbourne funk, jazz and soul together with the groove from LA or New Orleans.
Last but not least we have to keep our fingers crossed that The Bamboos will have the chance to cross the ocean for a tour around the world with a stop near us. After two real gigs this year we are waiting for more shows to come. For a first glimpse on the music, try out the online gig from April that can still be watched here on demand.
Picking a favourite track from such a great album is not easy and after listening to the Australian combo’s tenth album over and over again, I’m still not sure. New fans of the Bamboos should check out Power Without Greed and long-time friends will of course love Hard Up as well as Nothing I Wanna Know About. A song that also carries the full power of band and singer into our living rooms and souls.
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Hard Up is released by Pacific Theatre / BMG and can be orded as golden double vinyl or CD. even on digital streaming plattform it is listened. More about The Bamboos can be found in the Band webseite, on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Spotify and Soundcloud.
Fotocredits: The Bamboos by Ian Laidlaw
