Liam Bailey & Blundetto - Heavy Soul
A two-for-one by the talented Nottingham singer-songwriter and guitarist with releases in February and and also this month, the former a fabulous zamrock-influenced psychedelic-reggae fusion LP, the latter with Parisian dub musician Blundetto aka Max Guiget. Following the success of 2020’s Ekundayo album, Bailey, joined by producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair) explore a whole range of styles on Zero Grace, Bailey’s soulful vocals channelling also some Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix on the superbly evocative opener Holding On, to the dub-funk of Dumb, his Jamaican heritage on Sekkle Down, the soulful, smooth but pointed Boy, (“Don’t call me boy”), the 60s soulful reggae-doo-wop swoon of Dance With Me, the beautiful bluesy melancholy of Disorder Starts At Home about his father journeying to the UK, to the catchy old-school reggae rebel piano and synth-organ style of Mercy Tree. There isn’t a dud on this excellent release, continuing with the soul beauty Sour Wine, the squelchy dub of Canary In The Coal Mine, the gorgeous Winter is Within Thee, and closers the psych rock-soul of I Got No Answers and simply beautiful acoustic finale Light Up The Darkness. Timelessly superb. Out on Big Crown Records.
Heavy Soul is more consistently reggae, andt packed with quality, social and political commentary and deep, slow grooves that are also perfect for a summer afternoons and nights. Standouts include the title track and opener, Stand Alone, the deliciously slow-paced Out In The Streets, the soulful Seasons Change, before a variety of ‘Dub’ titles, before a classic closer Stand Together. Out on Les Rythmes Ruban.
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