This is such a fantastic album that I lack the clever, crisp, exacting, verbiage anyone would need to try and describe this work. This is fusion music in the best sense of the word. There’s urgent, powerful hip hop here in the form of living, urbane, rhythmic, visual poetry rapped mightily by Staxx Bros front person, Davin Michael Stedman (AKA DP Staxx), and the band’s Nigerian MC, Hypist and key influence on the direction of the songs, Ayo Ogunrinde (AKA Ayo.O), but that’s not all. There’s also expressive, fluid, stentorian rock guitar with all the fevered, ample, riotous exhilaration which that instrument promises, and, on this album, delivers. I also can’t forget the lithe, mellifluous sung vocals here too, from DP Staxx and the lovely Staquellettes, Angela Rickard and Michelle O’Connor.
But Let’s get started on the songs. “Warpath” is a rocker, pure and simple with Chris O’Connor igniting his guitar in a manner reminiscent of Purple Rain-ish Prince, over DP Staxx and Ayo.O’s rapping. “Momma Said” turns in an Allman-Brothers-Southern-rock-of-ages direction. If the Staxx Brothers are named after the famed Stax-Volt recording studios of the 1960s, and I think they were, or at least should have been if they weren’t, then Duane Allman fits right in as he did his best work in the Stax funhouse. “Sugarwalls” has DP and Ayo.O rapping over a sweet-soul-Marvin-Gaye-forever sonic backdrop. “Bad Neighborhood” rocks like a Badmotorfinger with more smooth Philly Soul vocals and energizing raps from DP and Ayo.O. “Callin” is Dark, catchy, pop, gospel, girl-group blues with the Staquelletes singing and channeling both the Marvelettes and Heart. It’s all there, but you gotta listen hard. Golden Ghetto reminds me of Edwin Starr’s “War” (What is it good for?) in the indignation of the lyrics. “Uncle ED” is simply beautiful country soul and urban blues with singer DP Staxx doing his best little Walter imitation on the opening harp lick. Roll With Me, does exactly that with a Pink Floyd-like trippy opening and some whispered rapping from DP and Ayo.O. “Better Than Red” has more of the melodic bluesy soul that we’ve come to love and some lingua urbana from Ayo.O and DP. Chris O’Connor opens “Money” with a fast, BB king style guitar vamp, before bringing on DP and Ayo.O in a Festival of spoken word. “Detroit is Dead” is the best song title I’ve heard in a while. It has more Chicago blues harp from DP at the beginning, some rapping from DP, then fuses into an electric, anthemic hip hop rocker.
This is an excellent record. That’s about all I can say. Get yourself a copy, or download one, as soon as you can.
Record Release Party will be held Saturday May 14th at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. The show will feature The Staxx Brothers along with State of the Artist, Black Stax, and DJ 100 Proof.
More information at StaxxBrothers.com
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