The New Orleans, Louisiana jam band GALACTIC formed in 1994 as a project and has always been ambitious.
A key part of the creative spark of GALACTIC comes from the team-work between Ellman and Mercury and the other talented musicians — whose continued development in production & arranging skills have helped usher in a new phase in the band’s studio work, which began with Ruckus in 2007.
The band has developed from funk inspired beginnings to a more universal style, and continue to go it alone with a unique sound that has been influenced hip hop, electronica, world music, jazz and blues.
New album “Into The Deep” features collaborations with Macy Gray, Mavis Staples, JJ Grey & Mofro, folk-rocker Ryan Montbleau, David Shaw of The Revivalists, singer-songwriter Maggie Koerner, raw and soulful Brushy One String and vocalist/songwriter Ms. Charm Taylor.
We had a listen:
A ‘Sugar Doosie’ is (we think) a lemon and vanilla cookie.
So this has strands of mature yet juicy horn and delicate orchid-lips of bass munching right through it. As a fantabulous party-time number, you don’t get more flavorful than this.
After this opener, you get the delightfully rugged ‘Higher and Higher’ (the track featuring JJ Grey.)
This is a song of praise and glory in all its grandeur. A delicious juice-box filled with rhythm, glory and intoxicated adulation.
‘Into the Deep’ features Macy Gray and steps carefully and safely along a cobblestone path, with a blue heart and strength in its tendons.
Macy’s voice is, of course, holy-joy and carefully narcotic. This is simply the best we have heard her for years. Soul-filled perfection.
‘Right On’ featuring Ms. Charm Taylor is a jazz-based bumpalicious R&B number…With a sexy sax that is almost, but not quite, funky. And that crazy/sultry vocal from Taylor is hypnotic in its undeniable witchcraft.
‘Does It Really Make A Difference’ featuring Mavis Staples has more hot-front than a rum-boogie jook joint down the Black Pearl.
And more rare romantic pride than a weekend hooker working a blue-fronted honkatonk dive. Witty, irreverent and thoroughly neat. This is very, very special.
This album is filled with super-intelligence, vitality and animal magnetism.
It has more huckle-bucking boogie than you could possibly ever wish for.
You’d be a fool if you didn’t let this music take you…
Words: @neilmach 2015 ©
New album available July 17th. Into the Deep (Deluxe Edition) – Galactic
RAW RAMP 