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| Kalu & The Electric Joint's Debut Expounds Nigerian Neo-Soul With a "Chin-Out Attitude" (Billboard) Kalu & The Electric Joint release 'Time Undone' (Spaceflight Records), their debut album and the latest installment in frontman and Nigerian immigrant Kalu James' 17-year journey to U.S. citizenship, surmounting adversity with overwhelming optimism and "a one-two punch of greasy-funk" (Garden & Gun). A testament to the now Austin resident's fearless hope in achieving his once unknown dream to become a Texan musician, the record has garnered raves from Afropunk, KUTX (who honored the band as their November Artist of the Month), American Songwriter, the Austin American-Statesman, and Billboard, who commended the record for "blending both West African and American brands of funk with bluesy grit and psychedelic ambience, along with a chin-out attitude." Stream the LP in full at Billboard, and uncover how James found inspiration in driving Uber/Lyft, and the recent loss of his father, Abiriba chief "Nchanwu Chebe Oha" ("The Umbrella that protects the people"): http://bit.ly/2BGhCZ7 A collaboration between James and guitarist Jonathan "JT" Holt, The Electric Joint was born out of loss. Over a three year residency at Austin's Continental Club Gallery - James ruminating on his father's death and Holt contemplating a recent divorce - the pair reinvented themselves together, crafting resilient, infectious hybrids of seismic soul, 'Low End Theory'-era hip-hop, and a southern strain of roots rock heavy with Texas heat. Alongside new Electric Joint drummer John Speice, and producer Brett Orrison (The Black Angels, Widespread Panic), 'Time Undone' came to life at Nest Recording in Driftwood, TX, with contributions from members of Widespread Panic, The War on Drugs, The Sword, and Grupo Fantasma. Freshly signed to Madison House, Kalu & The Electric Joint is prepping national tour dates for 2018, but will finish the year at home in Austin, TX. James says, "I think we're all ready to go out and spread the message and the love of this record. There's a lot of suffering in this world, and people need songs - which we got." Praise for 'Time Undone' "Blending both West African and American brands of funk with bluesy grit and psychedelic ambience, along with a chin-out attitude." - Billboard "Soul-stirring...a musical journey that touches the heart while blessing your ears." - Afropunk "an only-in-Austin conception of African polyrhythms, American soul, and blues-rock that sounds as if all the genres had grown up together." - KUTX "Sweeping...a lush, rolling backdrop of crunchy guitars and soaring vocal harmonies." - American Songwriter, on "Sea Of Life" "one-two punch of greasy-funk" - Garden & Gun "gutsy blues rock, hip-hop and psychedelic fuzz...a simmering slow burner" - Austin American-Statesman, on "Too Low To Get High" 'Time Undone' Tracklist 1. Too Low To Get High 2. Time Undone 3. Testify 4. Get It Right 5. Stay 6. Sea Of Life 7. Love Is Good 8. Fighter 9. Place For Fools Spaceflight Records Tour Dates 12/8 - Houston, TX @ Last Concert Cafe 12/11 - Austin, TX @ Waterloo Records 12/31 - Austin, TX @ Auditorium Shores write your comments about the article :: © 2017 Jazz News :: home page |