By virtue of my special powers, I have hovered over the Voodoo Suite Studios in Manchester, England, and I have eavesdropped on the creation of an acoustic work of art.
Simple – one takes a very special and unique vocal talent (JV Johnston) and a band of musicians tempered tight by virtue of their gigging in the likes of London's Jazz venues: Mamma Freedom are the band of the moment. And so recording-wise, one passes the sound of these superb talents over to the production genius of Alexander Johnston and … Voila ! You have “Altered State” - an acoustic celebration of real musical purity, outside of the confines of commercial distortion, crazily chasing any “latest” trend in a cacophony of … (you choose your favourite derogatory word). I warrant that if you can find a better Jazz-influenced achievement than “We Deserve”, I think you need to listen to it one more time, as I think you would be mistaken. Sometimes excellence is not immediately appreciated. That's it. “Altered State” by Mamma Freedom is something else in its purity, scope and musicianship. Give your ears a break from the noise, and listen and relax. Mamma Freedom have it covered. The new “Altered State” album is coming very, very soon and if you are insistent and impatient, I'll use my special powers to speed up the release! And here's what they do when they're in their Soul R&B persona … pick the bones outta that if you can!!! And my own single track? Well it's Done a Dusted too, but …. later.
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Yes, Europe, particularly England, has had a huge downpour this last week, and it put me in mind of a song by a great friend to musicians, from Detroit, Michigan - David Wirtanen, and I happen to know he will have this song, “When It Rains” along with a bunch of others out on his “Mystical Spies” album around 21st September.
Now some of his songs I like, and some less (and Dave knows that), but this song is, I think, a really good song and I believe it is his producer Andy Patalan singing the lead on it and his voice fits it really well. He is also a touring and performing musician, so he would sound pro, wouldn't he? So here's a link to "When It Rains" and if you like country I think this works. Give it a listen. The album has a “trains” theme, I believe, running through the tracks so if you're into songs featuring trains, well …. And I also hear, out of UK, that my favourite R&B group Mamma Freedom are into the TOP TEN WORLDWIDE at Number 7 today and climbing, and you ain't heard nothin' yet, just wait till the acoustic “Altered State” album gets released cos they've got one of the best Jazz/Soul voices in JV Johnston doing his thing. And produced by the brilliant producer of my own song, Alexander Johnston– and the release is coming very, VERY SOON. Alexander Johnston ... JV Johnston ... Bob Marsh
Bruce Springsteen once said in an interview that songwriters are “desperate”, but before I go on here's the link on YouTube. Anyway, talking about songwriters he said ,“They are desperate, they always have to have something bothering them, all the time.” I am paraphrasing, and he was talking about great rock 'n roll musicians, but I think it translates to almost every songwriter who is writing “about” something rather than just rhyming to the rhythm. So I just finished working on a composition of my own and it will be finished production – mixing – mastering and all that NEXT WEEK ! And I am so, so, lucky to have had guidance, assistance, support and encouragement from a producer whose main man is Beethoven – yes, Beethoven and because of that, I let him play Piano on my song. And his brother who has Chopin as his maestro – I let him play guitars on my song. So all I needed to finish off was a Trumpet, and I got a terrifically soulful Miles Davis sound from Bob Marsh, one half of the duo who make up the honkingly good horn section of Mamma Freedom. They are all, of course, part of the brilliant Mamma Freedom group, currently Number One on the R&B Soul charts on Reverbnation. They are superb musicians, and so all I had to do was talk my way through the lyrics and not get in the way of their great sound. I did give it one try singing, but they all shook their heads slowly, and looked very sympathetic and understanding – so I got it, no singing. So here is who “done” what on my song, and getting back to Bruce … well, you'd need to hear the song before I explain. I'll post when it's out, and even if you just listen to the sample, you'd get the idea. It's called, “Stopped Making Plans” Produced by Alexander Johnston for the CMI Music Group Mixed, Mastered and Recorded at a the Voodoo Suite Studio, Manchester. Alexander Johnston: Drums, Bass, Piano, Organ, Percussion JV Johnston: Guitars Robert Marsh: Trumpet I HOPE TO HAVE IT OUT on iTUNES and AMAZON within the next week or so. And talking about very soon upcoming music releases, Mamma Freedom themselves have an acoustic album “Altered State” comprising songs from their first two albums “Preachers and Criminals” and “Voodoo Suite Sessions” coming out this month. And JV Johnston is the voice fronting the Mamma Freedom sound, and he DOES sing brilliantly – which is very annoying to guys like me. And of course it is produced by the Main Man, who also produced my song, Alexander Johnston – who also plays just about everything in addition to being musical director. So with my song pretty much done and dusted, here's their “Done and Dusted”. Informal video, like a docu/diary or “cinema vérité” if you wish, but we go along with this knockout group as they perform in London, England.
Their “Altered State” acoustic album will feature renditions of some of the top tracks off their full rocking band iTunes album “Voodoo Suite Sessions” ; and the acoustic “Altered State” is out this month – and I will certainly post when, BUT give these guys a listen now, here on this YouTube video, and then you can catch some of their tunes in Studio Quality from the album on Reverbnation. It doesn't get much better if you like excellence – remember Excellence? Here is the link to the YouTube vid And to hear a playlist FREE of their best on Reverbnation (where they've been in the Top Rankings, as high as Number 4 Worldwide, I think. Anyway, well they've been in Top 20 Territory for about 10 months !!!) More announcements coming VERY soon, and some about Masters, too. Maybe it is time to “DO”. |
Robertson Tait
~ Author of fiction Archives
January 2019
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