Proud sons of the extended
Daptone Records family (though they officially record for their sibling label
Dunham Records),
the Menahan Street Band often get lumped in with the neo-soul revival, largely thanks to their label associations and their work backing up powerhouse R&B vocalist
Charles Bradley. However, while 2021's
The Exciting Sounds of the Menahan Street Band sounds very soulful indeed, it doesn't often sound like soul music. On these 14 instrumental tracks, the band's music frequently plays like a collection of soundtrack pieces to forgotten movies and television shows of the '70s. "The Duke" and "Cabin Fever" evoke the spirit of a weekly detective drama featuring cops who don't play by the rules, "Stepping Through Shadow" could accompany a slinky love scene in a drama starring
Richard Roundtree, "The Starchaser" was made to order for the dance club scene in a '70s comedy-drama, and if you were looking for the right piece to go with a big romantic breakup sequence, "Rising Dawn" would be a superior pick. There are plenty of crate-diggers who would jump for joy if they ran across a vintage album that sounded like this, and those same folks will doubtless appreciate
The Exciting Sounds of the Menahan Street Band. The vintage-style compositions, arrangements, and production are almost spooky in their accuracy, and more important, the musicians have the skills as well as the vibe to pull this off and make it great listening. The music is thankfully free of ironic nudges and winks;
the Menahan Street Band clearly love this kind of music and play it with genuine care and appreciation, and if you're looking for cool atmospheres for your home or automobile with a large percentage of vintage flair, this is an ideal aural backdrop, not to mention a showcase for some excellent instrumentalists with an appreciation of things past and present. ~ Mark Deming
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