It is known that my musical taste runs the gamut, and my latest musical muse this week is Quantic & Alice Russell. When listening to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 Music she played “Looking Round The Corner” by them from their 2012 album of the same name. I felt like I had been transported back in time to the 70’s, wedged between Buenos Aires and San Francisco. The music, although classed as R&B/Soul has such an instinctive aptitude towards Latin lounge music with a touch of Klezmer. I started swaying with the rhythm and instantly became hooked on the style and feel.
Alice has a voice that I can only describe as melted chocolate with an undercurrent of aged oak, in that I mean smooth, velvety and more mature than her tender 42 years.
This is a delicious album that is packed to the gunnels with musicality, a vast arrangement of instruments that just keep going, and sitting here listening to it whilst writing (I had to put down my knitting as I wanted to write about it), there is so much for the ears to take in, and I think, when listening to it again, I will hear other tonal styles and influences. The track “Su Suzy” made me feel that I was listening to the inner thoughts and musings of Gloria Estefan. “Boogaloo 33” pulls me to the swinging 60’s, with Bee Hive hair styles, jazz influences and wild dances that were born in that decade. “Similau” has a dark, of the night, feel to it, as though walking through the dusky streets looking for a lover for the night.
If you have iTunes click here, I heartily recommend a listen to it, if like me, you will immerse yourself in this not so guilty pleasure.
Mr Knitter 