Shindig! Last Man On Earth Album Review Big Boss Man

Published on 1st August 2014 (UK)

Media title : Shindig!

Author : Neil Hussey

Recorded in finest analogue splendour in the Welsh mountains, Big Boss Man’s fourth LP sees them continuing to wave the soul jazz flag, with a strong emphasis on fat Hammond and piano grooves and hip-shaking rhythms. Thankfully, they’re not enslaved by the tradition. ‘Blow Your Own’ has weird synth oscillations and deep space vibrations; ‘Changing Faces’ is painted with bold psychedelic hues and features killer wah-wah guitar blasts that seep and ooze into the cracks of the song like liquid gold; ‘Shot Down’ has a rough-hewn garage groove to it and ‘Project No 6’ has a lop-sided ambience shaped by oddball 70s synth sounds and distorted guitars. There are brief snatches of surreal French fairground music and sitar/tabla grooves too. Music born of the past, but with an eye on the future – which is as it should be.

4 STARS