Do you ever get the feeling someone doesn’t like you much? I most certainly do, I’m convinced it’s not simply paranoia. I don’t mean any of the bands, or their mates / fans / management who’ve got the hump over a less than glowing review – that’s all par for the course. I mean in the grander scheme of things. I mean, inflicting stuff like this on me just seems vindictive. But then, you have to question the motives of an act like Stone Foundation (a play on foundation stone?), whom the press release describes as ‘Part Style Council meets Acid Jazz for 2015 territory’. Like that’s somehow a good thing? So, needless to say, this is some brass-soaked blue-eyed soul.
Opener ‘Beverley’ slings some whappy wah-way and hectic bongos into the mix on an amalgamation of ‘Ever Changing Moods’, ‘Theme From Shaft’ and bad David Bowie.
When they’re not doing energetic, they’re doing slick and smooth, and ‘Pushing Your Love’ is a prime example of the smoochy schmaltz. Ok, so the musicianship is strong, and The Q Strings add a certain depth to the sound, but the procession of backing vocal troupes (please welcome Janet & Samantha Harris… give a hand for The Four Perfections…) is a bit much.
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Wheeling out guest vocalists Graham Parker, Nolan Porte and Dr Robert may provide passing interest for some, but being a cynic, I can’t help but feel smacks somewhat of smugness and needless namedropping, which is almost as atrocious as the cover.
Stone Foundation Online
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