Psychedelic Soul
The retro soul boom is all very well... but why does it have to focus on one particular sound?
Gritty vocals, stabbing horns and layers of reverb add to something which is authentic but sometimes lacking in imagination - doing things by rote, sticking to standards set four decades ago.
Which is why The Stepkids have caused a flurry of excitement in the ClashMusic office. The American group take their cue from the experiments of the late 60s and early 70s, when some fried out cats blended soul with psychedelics.
Taking the essential soul template, The Stepkids throw in heaps of guitar effects and layered vocals. Undoubtedly there are precedents - George Clinton, Sly Stone and more have been down this road before - but the group's music has a real sense of individuality.
Blissful psych-pop influences such as The Association seep through, alongside more modern beatsmiths. Signed to Stones Throw, you can hear the warped, woozy electronics of J Dilla and Madlib beginning to intrude on the band's psychedelic template.
Preparing their debut album for release in September, The Stepkids recently stopped by London for a one off show. Playing Cargo last week (August 3rd) the band's set has raised expectations for a blistering debut album.
Taken from said LP, new cut 'Shadows On Behalf' sits somewhere between Love's Arthur Lee and The Dap Kings.
Listen to it now... Grab it HERE.
Gritty vocals, stabbing horns and layers of reverb add to something which is authentic but sometimes lacking in imagination - doing things by rote, sticking to standards set four decades ago.
Which is why The Stepkids have caused a flurry of excitement in the ClashMusic office. The American group take their cue from the experiments of the late 60s and early 70s, when some fried out cats blended soul with psychedelics.
Taking the essential soul template, The Stepkids throw in heaps of guitar effects and layered vocals. Undoubtedly there are precedents - George Clinton, Sly Stone and more have been down this road before - but the group's music has a real sense of individuality.
Blissful psych-pop influences such as The Association seep through, alongside more modern beatsmiths. Signed to Stones Throw, you can hear the warped, woozy electronics of J Dilla and Madlib beginning to intrude on the band's psychedelic template.
Preparing their debut album for release in September, The Stepkids recently stopped by London for a one off show. Playing Cargo last week (August 3rd) the band's set has raised expectations for a blistering debut album.
Taken from said LP, new cut 'Shadows On Behalf' sits somewhere between Love's Arthur Lee and The Dap Kings.
Listen to it now... Grab it HERE.
