This band are a loose collective from Brooklyn who got together in a Menahan St apartment to record an album of soulful music that harks back to the JB band or Parliament with some jazzy tracks of loveliness. It has a real retro sound to what could at times be a blaxploitation film soundtrack. They are all accomplished musicians in their own right and this shines through with the 10 (+1 bonus track) compositions. Track 2 "Tired of Fighting" is a direct lift of St Etienne's "Spring" from Foxbase Alpha and although slower and only an instrumental really works.
They themselves have had the compliment of being sampled not only with "Tired of Fighting" but also by Jay-Z, Kid Cudi and 50 Cent. This shows how influential this album is although it never really achieved mainstream success. The album, "Make the Road by Walking" is, in my opinion, a classic and a must have for those Sunday lunchtime wind downs. Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of jazz funk as it can all get a little bit too pretentious for my tastes but this album is as tight as a mosquito's tweeter.
If you love Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye then I really think you ought to give this band a listen.
There's a bonus track on the album that's got enough wakka-wakka-wakka and digetydiggetydiggety to sound like it should be on a dodgy adult film or blaxploitation track at least. I love the flute playing on this. You almost expect Isaac Hayes to start rumbling away. Marvellous!
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