Those, who have seen the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble in concert before, know of the intoxicating music and impressive live show by the brass brotherhood of nine from Chicago. Thanks to their busy touring, numerous collaborations with well known artists and some releases on their own, the band succeeded in establishing their very self-composed sound. This sound is – besides being accompanied by drums – generated by brass instruments only, wherein classical brass-harmonies are combined with funk and jazz grooves. Tracks like ÂStarfighterÂ, Touch the Sky, Kryptonite and Champion are highly danceable, while a piece like Pluto would be well suitable as the soundtrack for a Blaxploitation detective-series. The band’s toasting and rapping takes some getting used to: on the record, it’s definitely up to one’s personal taste, whereas on stage it will probably work very well. All in all, it’s a very danceable record with a pressing and hypnotizing, yet very innovative and fresh sound. The biggest problem with this mini-album is its comparatively short playing time, so that one immediately starts looking for the B-side, once the six tracks are over.
Various Artists
Shanghai’d Soul: Episode 12
The Numero Group