Tag: Funk
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Herbie Hancock live at Jazz à Vienne review – world class musician meets world class venue
On a memorable warm summer’s night in Vienne, Herbie Hancock found himself a spectacular venue to deliver one remarkable rendition of his famous compositions after another. Jazz’s answer to Paul McCartney, the 82-year-old remains the unparalleled titan of his genre.
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Dua Lipa live at first direct Arena review – a flamboyant new queen of British pop
No expense was spared on the Leeds leg of Dua Lipa’s victorious world tour, after 2020’s Future Nostalgia changed the face of modern pop. With slick transitions and memorable visuals, this was a performance dense with bona fide pop smashes and jaw-droppingly theatrical highlights.
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Cory Wong live at Manchester Academy review – utterly tireless
On his first post-pandemic UK performance the prolific funk guitarist aptly delivered a vast amount of music with flair, showmanship and boundless enthusiasm. A strong entourage of improvisers helped compensate for weak songwriting on a night when objective critique became difficult.
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Samm Henshaw live at Gorilla review – pristine at the cost of personality
With a lack of the real horns and backing singers that his densely-layered pop-soul hits demanded, Samm Henshaw was always fighting a losing battle on an underwhelming opening night in Manchester.
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Cory Wong: Wong’s Cafe review – nothing new from a band in disguise
Cory Wong’s latest project is ostensibly Vulfpeck’s sixth album, and it’s perhaps telling that the band have avoided official recognition for their efforts – Wong’s Cafe feels rushed and uninspired from start to finish, and is home to some of the most unremarkable songs in the band’s history.
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Silk Sonic: An Evening with Silk Sonic review – a modern blast from the past
When megastars Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars first collaborated under the name Silk Sonic for their gorgeous retro single Leave the Door Open earlier this year they blew minds and topped charts the world over. Could the album that followed ever hope match the stellar quality of the lead single? Alex Walden seems to think…
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Parcels: Day/Night review – a risky, rewarding retro pop quest
Parcels’ unfailingly ambitious and original double album may often be just as irresistibly funky as their debut, but it’s also a huge step forward for the band with its daring genre experimentation and philosophical lyricism. It’s a shame that with such grand aims, there were bound to be a few misfires amongst the extensive tracklist.
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Jungle live at Victoria Warehouse review – cool grooves on a hot night
Jungle topped off their two-night residency at Victoria Warehouse with pizazz and confidence, aided by a dazzling set and the many dance-ready revellers in front of them. All that was missing was some half decent ventilation.
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Royal Blood: Typhoons review – an innovating dance-rock revolution
Royal Blood have successfully carved out their own niche in this dynamic disco-infused collection of rock bangers which sound destined to soundtrack many post-lockdown workouts and dance parties the world over.
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Parcels: Live Vol. 1 review – Magnificent, subtle reinvention
Parcels are not a raw, roughly-cut band. At least that’s what I thought before hearing Live Vol. 1. Their excellent 2018 self-titled debut album was full of creamy-smooth grooves and airy falsetto, with lyrics musing paradise and self-acceptance. They end up sounding like a Vulfpeck that’s taken a breather, calmed themselves down and grown up…
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Songs of the Summer – Part 2
I may have underestimated the extra workload a new term of Year 11 would bring, but finally here is the second installment of “Songs of the Summer”, albeit posted in autumn. Prepare yourself for my favourite ten songs from summer 2018, featuring fantastic tracks from Billie Eilish, Opia and James Arthur. Many of these songs…
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Songs of the Summer – Part 1
It’s been a surprisingly busy summer of music listening, with plenty of time to try out new tracks on long journeys and lazy days at home. As usual, my tastes have changed quite a lot over the past six weeks. It started with a newfound love for the smart and no-nonsense electronic pop of Billie…
Undertone 