Who Stole The Soul?

I’ve long been a fan of 1970s soul and funk. In the early part of that decade, exemplars like Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Marvin Gaye transformed soul from the three-minute pop wonders of 1960’s Motown into a complex, album-based genre. These pioneers produced some of the finest music extant; transcendent yet accessible and with a depth and social conscience to match any of the rock world’s heavy hitters.

But what happened? Where are the true 21st century descendants of this rich lineage? I ask because the singular crassness of 1990s “R & B” casts a long shadow even now. I use the phrase “R & B” with huge reluctance - singing 12 notes where one would suffice over a synthetic karaoke backing counts neither as Rhythm nor Blues, just excruciating dirge.

It is my contention that soul music never recovered from the technological advances of the 1980s. For me, a genre so reliant on the expression of human emotion, frailties and idiosyncrasies is fundamentally at odds with the cold metallic precision of a drum machine or digital synthesizer.

Perhaps the rise of hip-hop is also to blame. I’ve never quite been able to get my head around hip-hop; the machismo, posturing and self-aggrandisement of much of this genre are at odds with the vulnerability and everyman appeal of soul.

I’m generalising, of course. For example, I respect Chuck D (of Public Enemy) for his intelligence and righteous anger, which he channels in a positive way to provoke debate and make change for the greater good. Indeed, I’ve often read that the post-millennial production chicanery of Timbaland and The Neptunes is far more innovative and worthy than guitar-toting white boys plundering old Joy Division riffs. This is pretty much undeniable, but to me it just ain’t soul.

Bands to watch in 2008

Last year I chanced upon several bands in the embryonic stages of success/recognition, they may or may not make it big in 2008 but they are all worth a look if you’ve not come across them yet:

The Runners – I saw them at a festival last year and immediately yawned at the prospect of another bunch of skinny-trousered indie boys thrashing Telecasters to dancey rhythms. I was, however, wrong as this bunch do it rather well and just seemed to want it that little bit more than every other band in the place. A professional, well-oiled machine with great tunes to boot, fronted by a young Mick Jagger-alike who sings like an angel and plays guitar like a demon. Accessible, anthemic, passionate…can’t fail really.

http://www.myspace.com/therunnersband

Popular Workshop – A trio with just the right balance of abrasion and tunes. Live, their bassist is a fantastic showman, practically body-popping despite wielding a huge Rickenbacker. Apparently he's a frustrated guitarist, relegated to bass as a punishment for his penchant for Led Zeppelin riffs (nothing wrong with that, I say.) Perhaps his frustrations are manifested in his onstage frugging.

http://www.myspace.com/popularworkshop

Hey Gravity – Melodic, thrashy and intense with a mesmerising lead singer who scared the bejaysus out of me when I saw them play – I was most relieved when her mic cable didn’t stretch far enough for her to enter the crowd, despite her best efforts. The two videos on their myspace page hint at this, though I think she was on her best behaviour/final warning as her performances are restrained by comparison.

http://www.myspace.com/heygravity

586 – A welcome alternative to all the identikit indie bands out there; they offer an impressive line in cabaret, fronted as they are by an ex-performance artist/diva and a 7ft Nick Drake lookalike who share a blatant onstage chemistry. Incidentally, I wish their song I’m Not A Fucking Monkey was on their myspace page. Must be seen live.

http://www.myspace.com/586

Blood Red Shoes – My initial, lazy-hack impression was that they struck me as a kind of White Stripes in drag: girl guitarist, boy drummer, both singing. They don’t sound much like the White Stripes though, and Laura-Mary is far too pretty to resemble Jack White in a frock. Sledgehammer riffs welded to drumming so intense it almost qualifies as an Olympic event, overlaid with cutesy voices. Primal stuff.

http://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk/