When I woke up this morning I was singing the Plantlife tune “When She Smiles She Lights the Sky” to myself. I don’t know if it was the universe telling me something or if my sub-conscious was reminding me that Plantlife had a new album coming out. But either way it translates into today’s post being (for the most part) about Plantlife and their new record.
Their debut record, 2004’s The Return of Jack Splash, enjoyed widespread success and critical acclaim, which sparked a frenzy of production and remixing gigs for the likes of Alicia Keys, Estelle, John Legend, Natasha Bedingfield, Raheem DeVaughn and others. They even teamed up with rapper/singer Cee-Lo (first as Lovestink, then The Heart Attack) to record a couple of jams that made the promo/download/bootleg rounds and were reportedly a precursor to a full length group project. Somewhere along the line producer/musician Panda One and vocalist/producer/musician Jack Splash (who I always thought were the same person, though I can find no evidence to directly support or refute such a notion online) even found time to work on their sophomore effort Time Traveller, which is out overseas today and here in the states next Tuesday, May 13th.
Time Traveller find Plantlife picking up right where they left off on The Return of Jack Splash, writhing around in a steamy pile of slithery retro-Funk, Disco and Soul grooves that meld samples, loops, programming and live instrumentation, intertwined with Jack Splash’s breathy rasp and piercing falsetto delivering lyrics that bounce from sleazy to sentimental to inspiring depending on the song. They revisit Brick’s “Disco Jazz” sound on “Sumthin’ About Her,” approximate a mating of Prince’s 1999 and Sign ‘O’ the Times era selves on “Take It Off,” riff on Bill Withers‘ “Lovely Day” feel-good vibe on “Your Love” and kick Zapp-esque basslines on “Tear the House Down.” But extended jams — like the uptempo psychedelic Soul workout “Outta Control” and the gooey Bobby Womack-ish album closer “Fool for U” — saccharine slow jams — like the “When She Smiles…” sequel “Sun Shines Through Your Love” — and joints like the bubbly “Rollerkate Jam,” the bombastic “Don’t Go Around Looking for a Broken Heart” and stripped-down album opener “Time Traveller” with it’s cartoon rap and time travelling reminiscence exemplify the group’s strengths and what makes a record like this more than just a fun exercise in throwback aesthetics.
Plantlife “Sun Shines Through Your Love”
Joining tunes from Time Traveller on my playlists of late are tracks from the freshly-released Definitive Jux reissue of Brooklyn-based Disco/Funk band Chin Chin’s self-titled debut album. I already bigged these kids up on two previous occasions. Once when their record dropped last year on French import and again to remind you that their album was finally coming to these shores thanks to fellow blogger El-P’s beast of a label. But now the album’s out, I’ve been playing it on the radio again, and it goes perfectly with Plantlife, so I thought I’d remind you again of how ill these dudes are. I can only equate their sound to Jamiroquai if Jay Kay replaced his band with a bunch of cats from the Daptone Records stable. It’s uptempo live dance music (and a couple slinky slow joints) played on instruments by real honest-to-gosh musicians, but it’s funky and experimental (see: “Don’t You See”) in a way that such projects sometime aren’t. If you haven’t copped this album yet, go get it ’cause you missed out on one of the best releases of ‘07 and you don’t want to miss out on the same record when it’s one of the best release of ‘08!
Chin Chin “Don’t You See”
- El Keter
18 Comments
Fred Janney
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The new Plantlife album is outstanding. So many influences it’s hard to keep them all straight. It’s one big delicious gumbo of funk/soul/hip hop of the last 30 years. Shit like this is right up my alley.
One note, “Your Love” isn’t lifted from Bill Withers it’s a GQ song called “It’s Your Love” from their 1979 debut album (Disco Nights)
El Keter
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That’s what’s up Fred.
And actually, I wasn’t trying to put the sample out there, I was just saying they’re riffing on that feel-good “Lovely Day” vibe.
I try not to blow up people’s spots on samples too much because you never know when something is cleared or not, especially with acts like Plantlife that are so musical and sound so original but are often fueled by samples.
Now that folks know what’s up they can go check the original and compare though.
darrius
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i’m amped for Plantlife. their first album was one of the best things to come out that year.
Melissik
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One afternoon, I was in the backyard hanging the laundry when an old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. But when I walked into the house, he followed me, sauntered down the hall and fell asleep in a corner. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back. He resumed his position in the hallway and slept for an hour.
This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: “Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap. ”
The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: “He lives in a home with ten children - he’s trying to catch up on his sleep.”
I cried from laughter
Sorry, if not left a message on Rules.
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