Los Charly's Orchestra - Chicano Disco Funk - 2010 - Imagenes Records

I reviewed their excellent "Neuvo Disco" EP last year (2009) and celebrated the fact that the group had successfully recreated - NOT mimicked - the classier uptempo sounds of the 1970s. I know that the EP went down very well and caused a very nice stir indeed, with extra input from our old mate, Joey Negro added to the mix for good measure. One could easily believe this was an unreleased late '70s gem; one that would, could and should have sat next to Webster Lewis, Eddie Henderson or even Brick in the new releases vinyl rack. "Black Boy Lane" unashamedly urges you to drag out the flares and the 'come fly with me' collars but at the same time calmly restrains you from the dreadful, cheesier side of the era - the Euro Disco sound and the gold chain. On offer here are 13 tracks in all, and this includes the tasty gems from the aforementioned EP, "Funkanova" and "Make A Move". Having praised these in the past I shall swiftly move on to praise the new tunes! "Black Boy Lane" with the scratchy guitar line a la Rose Royce and funky bassline is a real dream - wait until the horns blast through and I defy you NOT to want to dance!!!

Fans of the previous Sunburst band sets (especially the latest) will have no qualms in making a strong association with those songs and "Swinging To The Bass (Disco Funk)" - a track that I should be remembering as an old track and NOT a brand new one!!!! The full-blown vocals of "Some Of The things" plays right into the Michael Cooper vocal style with Con Funk Shun, and I am reminded of Wood, Brass & Steel on "Tanto Soul" as well, which is not unwelcome. I distinctly detect a Quincy Jones / Rod Temperton vibe on "Disco Gamma" especially where the bassline is concerned, the beats superbly Salsoul in orientation complete with percussion. "Funk Flow" features vocals from Stuart Lisbie, and the funky 70s keys take us back to the days of Eddie Kendricks' "Boogie Down" or the Commodores' "Machine Gun". I hope you like the sound of this CD - the actual listening enjoyment will be accompanied by a BIG smile and an urge to get up and strut. Yes, folks, even if you can't dance - and I should know! The album ends on an epic note with "Hotel Caribe" - a true masterpiece of Disco Funk Soul flavours which brings back memories of Ronnie Laws, Ramsey Lewis, Pleasure and...oh...the list goes on. All i can say is that this is a great set and one not to be missed.

Barry Towler

The Vibe Scribe

Los Charly's Orchestra - Neuvo Disco EP - Imagenes

This is going to cause some serious dance floor action!!! This is NOT crass disco at all and is in fact a monster groove with oodles of soul, funk and plenty of FUN!!!! Some would call this Chicano Salsoul due to the Latin elements. Come on, just listen to these four crackin' tunes and you have to remind yourself that is 2009 and NOT 1978. Funny what goes around comes around...soul music today comprises classic sounds from the 60s, 70s, 80s and then you have kiddies' R&B elements thrown in, vocal smooth jazz...and the return of string-n-groove laded dance floor party material thanks to the US House market and these good folks who together make up Los Charly's Orchestra: Juan Laya, Jorge Monteif and some special help as well from the likes of Xantoné Blacq on keyboards, Scott Bayliss on trumpet, Ed Riches on guitar, Max Grunhard on Sax and Rotimo Soul on vocal chores.

This is available to download from iTunes, Juno, and all other digital outlets and will be available on limited wax, and whatever format you choose I just know that all four songs will warm the old cockles and get the feet moving. Fans of Con Funk Shun and Kool & The Gang may well feel that they have died and gone to boogie heaven when they hear "Make A Move"! The vocals are very Michael Cooper and the quirky, freaky disco groove is a killer. Superb. The instrumental version adds more disco stomping extras too, and is a wee bit more Salsoul than the vocal version - the darting strings really throw us back 30-odd years. I'm smiling as I write this...who would ever had thought that this kind of stuff would sound so great again?! Oh, I sure love soul music!!!!! "Funkanova" is NOT a cover of the 1976 Wood, Brass & Steel song from their superb Turbo album, but instead a stonking new song complete with talk box a la Zapp and groovy rhythm guitar. Vocals, again, are so Michael Cooper it hurts! For those who like instrumental versions you have a great one here to savour. This outfit are amazing - and the more Nu Disco of this ilk that comes my way the better. Essential.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe