Mamas Gun – The Life And Soul
The 2009 ultra catchy and soulful debut album 'Routes To Riches' is a hard act to follow but Mamas Gun have followed it up with 'The Life And Soul' which is a true treasure chest of funky soul with a hint of rock. Mamas Gun must be doing something right; having achieved a number 3 sales slot in the Japanese Billboard charts and touring Europe with some high profile acts, their music, which is drawn from many influences but always manages to have their unique twist, is a breath of fresh air.
Produced by Grammy Award winning production team Martin Terefe and Andreas Olsson, the album has many highs; no more than the high reached with the blues-rock 'Get A High'. This song is so good; it could have been written for Paul Rodgers or Joe Bonamassa. All it lacks is a searing guitar, though its mood, excellent vocals and immaculate production suffice. This is the best track on the album though others come pretty close, especially the addictive 'On A String' which is (I hope) destined to be a single.
The underlying funky soul is evident throughout. Lots of Jamiroquai–type arrangements are enhanced by the great voice of lead singer Platts and the more than competent musicians. All arrangements are excellent and the bands ability to catch a mood is remarkable.
From the opening track, the catchy 'Reconnection', Platts shows his expertise; reaching the high notes effortlessly, always pleasing and grabbing your attention from the beginning. The title track, 'The Life And Soul', has a more rock introduction and the song itself epitomizes what this band is about; soulful, funky, catchy and always memorable. Often sounding like a throwback to early '80s styles, this doesn't detract from the freshness of the songs and production.
There's even room for a guest appearance with 'Only One' (featuring Beverley Knight); a good endorsement indeed. After hearing this album there will be a queue forming to appear on the bands next release. There is only one downside to this CD, the bonus track 'Bicycle Race', a cover of the Queen classic hit. I found this unnecessary it detracts from the whole feel of the album.