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Their first album, Coolin' Off, is still their best studio effort, and it is a masterpiece of tight, jazz-influenced funk. This is the same label, and same producer that put out the first two Mofro albums, as well as Papa Mali's stuff (Dan Prothero). John's voodoo sounds, and classic 70's funk, merging it all into a sound that was uniquely their own. What impressed me most about the first time I heard Galactic's debut was that they were very clearly a New Orleans funk band, but their sound was neither an extrapolation of The Meters nor of the New Orleans brass band tradition. Robert Walter was the organ player for the Greyboy Allstars, which was a comparable acid jazz-funk band, but without the New Orleans base. I say this as someone who generally doesn't like drummers very much, so that should tell you something about how solid the rhythm section is here, and how critical they are to the sound.This album was first released on Fog City Records, which specialized in this type of Southern, swampy funk.
The rest of the band, of course, are great too, and the occasional vocals of Theryl "The Houseman" deClouet give it a great old R&B sound, but Stanton Moore is the glue that holds the band together.
The key to the success of Galactic is the brilliant drumming of Stanton Moore.
Galactic's sound has changed a bit over time and for different labels, and while their live album is outstanding, I haven't been as fond of their recent studio material.
It was just a different sound, drawing on the emerging acid jazz scene, swamp grooves, Dr.
That production does play in here as well.
Funk is all about the rhythm, and Stanton Moore understands that the key to laying down the rhythm is not to play bombastic fills without so much as a millisecond between the beats (the way rock drummers do).
The key is to leave plenty of space between the beats because it is in that space that the rest of the musicians have room to work.
Dan Prothero just managed to get a great, swampy sound from a lot of different musicians.Further listening: Any of Stanton Moore's solo albums, any of Robert Walter's albums.
More recently, try Papa Grows Funk, which is a bit closer to The Meters, but with a nice, jazz-influenced saxophone.
Since others have talked about the music, I'll just mention the mastering here. It sounds great, lots of dynamics, very little compression, NO clipping.all in all a great effort by the mastering guy. It was done in '98 so it's not too surprising. If this was done today, I would be very happy indeed.
If you are looking for some great, chill, laid back funk, then this album is it. Galactic really lays down the funk throughout. Pop this CD in the player, roll down your windows, lean back, and enjoy the ride.
Maybe it didn't change the face of music like Kind of Blue or Darkside of the Moon did, but it is truly great. If you're going to own a funk cd, or any cd for that matter, get this one. I don't throw the term "favorite album" around lightly, and this is definitely one of my top 3 favorite albums. If you're looking for an album that can get you movin, this is the one. BUY THIS ALBUM.
You want funk. There is also a percussion intermission with more guitaring, and the final song features trombone and organ solos, and a free-for-all jamming session, even though the whole CD sounds like a jam.
Amazing musicality built on such simple riffs and themes is present here, from the guitar to the organ, from the sax to the trumpet, no instrument overlaps another, everything is superbly organized and layered. This was my first funk/jazz CD, and it changed my whole perspective on music.
The music then shifts to a jungley mood with great drumming and trumpeting. This band comes complete with and African-American singer, giving the music the soul of a black man with the blues, even though he only sings in a couple of tracks.
Other than that, the wah of the guitar provides the soul at some points, then it is replaced by a solo "battle" between the sax and trumpet. Either way, this is good stuff, it made an impression on me at the very least.
Look no further.
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