Excited to hear their first studio album in 6 years? You bet you are as this trio is 'the' Australian soul and funk outfit that introduced us to Melbourne nearly 20 years ago!
When Adrian Gibson got CO3B signed to Freestyle Records and released the band's second album, 'Baked, Broiled & Fried', I think it's fair to say it was a bit of a suprise hit as it kicked off with 'Keb's Bucket' and this was the deep funk sounds that we thought could only be found by big diggers in the U.S. (like Keb Darge) which would then brought back to UK/Europe for the dance floor and soul/funk/mod clubs.
Well, not only that, the album also 'discoverd' the vocals of Kylie Auldist (on the track, 'Settle The Score) and that team went onto have a worldwide hit with the 'This Girl' in 2016.
So, it's good to have the group with a new album of 14 tracks that keeps funkin' from the very start with a signature organ, drums and guitar ('Cookin' The Books') and a menu of guest vocalists: Stella Angelico ('I'm Comin' Home To You', 'Brighter', 'Give A Bit More' and 'So Much More To Lose'), Natalie Slade ('Only Words'), Wilson Blackley ('Away From My Heart'),
'I'm Comin' Home To You' has elements of Northern soul-pop stomper but Ms. Angelico more than excels on the other three tracks; particularly on the uplifting 'Brighter' and 'So Much More To Lose': sounding a bit like 'I'd Rather Go Blind'!
Taking a downturn, 'The World Is Cold' sees Mantra and Jane Tyrell mixing up hip-hop and soul backed up with "gritty funk". And whilst in that ball park, one of the many stand out tracks is their instrumental versio of Mos Def's 'Ms. Fat Booty', that itself has roots in Aretha Franklin's 'One Step Ahead'.
'Give A Bit More' finds the group mixing up the deep south with those soul-grits in the guitar licks kitchen with that head chef Stella on the pass controlling what goes out.
If I said, there's not a bad track on this album (and there isn't), I have to mention the 'hair in the soup', only CO3B could make 'Livin' On A Prayer' (Yes, the Bon Jovi hit) sound like it was written for a Hammond organ/guitar led funk trio so fair play to them (Ed. and it'll be going on my Xmas mixtape!)
But that's a minor is as 'Phoenix' is another 'best track' on the album as it channels 60s soul classic as a 'What's Goin' On' as a "meditation on resilience, rebirth, and the healing fire of funk".
I'm not surprised this album has taken so long to get out as it's going to be on the Specials Board for some time, if the world is cold, this will get us all cookin'.. get ya orders in now.
BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (Vinyl - T-Shirts): Cookin' The Books | Cookin' On 3 Burners
Artist: Cookin' On 3 Burners
Title: Cookin’ The Books
Release date: 31st October, 2025
Label : Soul Messin'
Catalog Number : SMRLP0125
Format: Vinyl 12" LP (Limited) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
%20-%20KROK.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment