Review: MF Robots - "lll” Part One (Good People Records)

Great to have MF Robots back with a new album that takes Acid Jazz roots to the the power of 3, not exactly cubed but more duo'd with Jan Kincaid and Dawn Joseph on their best form yet!  

After the single 'Children Of The World' (see review HERE) that followed upon the success of first single ‘Hello Sunshine’ on their own imprint Good People Records (a joint venture with Republic Of Music), we finally get the album, 'III (three) - Part One'.

You'll recall it was the founder of The Brand New Heavies in 2013, drummer Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph discovered their "musical chemistry and began writing songs together right away" and the leaving left the band to concentrate on their own work, starting MF Robots (Music For Robots).

If you're an original fan of BNH, you'll have matured to love this soulful-funk of MFR as the eight track and nu-Acid Jazz (Ed. no you can't say that!)

Don't believe me? Go straight to the gorgious flute gang su"Imer anthem (already), 'Hello Sunshine' and 'It'll a shine on your face" as if it's Tony Monson on Solar Radio (Ed. still going from 1984!).  But it's not just this track that emits the positive energy of the sun as it's like it's own soulful power station, burning it's way 'Through The Pain', 'Glide' to the Latin space beach as a paired down Earth, Wind & Fire and the groove is down on 'The Pressure' as a new moon rises. 

The opener 'Thats The Way' is going to get some instant attention as it's a fast paced 80s sound with Dawn out front diva with the backing singers on some 'doo, bee do ehhs".  And that doesn't stop them switching musical lanes as 'Lay It Back' slo-funks its way to the dancefloor a la Prince; this would be great as a 12" disco dub as it's far to short here.

Talking of length, the album closes with the longest track, 7 minutes, 'Show Us The Way' that mixes the sounds of Lonnie Liston Smith and George Duke as they go Brazilian Rain Forest in a Mother Nature message - fantastic!

Not at all Chinese Kung Fu cyborgs that have recently been released on the world with their flash mob dance revival routines, so these guys prove that it's possible for robots to have 'soul' and these two MF Robots  have found theirs as "a new sonic and song benchmark... reflecting the project coalescing and maturing while fine-tuning their material, both on the road and in the studio": in short, this is a great album.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://lnk.to/bcKVah

Artist: MF Robots

Title:  "lll” Part One

Release Date: 13th March, 2026

Label:Good People Records

Catalog Number: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp