In 2011,Frootfulreleased their debut albumColourson Freestyle to great acclaim, with everyone fromOsunlade,Craig CharlesandDieslerpraising it's modern-yet-retro blend of 60's soul, rocksteady, dance floor friendly jazz and R&B, whilstJazz FMmade it anAlbum Of The Week.The debut single taken from it, 'Fish In The Sea' became a club hit, and also featured in Steven Soderberghs' hit movieMagic Mike.
Fast forward to 2013, and guitaristNick Radfordand crew return with an equally eclectic collection of songs and grooves that make up the new album,Heavyweight. The title originates from a soul night Nick used to play 45s at, but also tips its hat to the art of producing a record, in aiming to get an authentically heavy sound down - from the writing, engineering and recording, through to the final mixing and mastering. Co-producerKrzysztof Oktalskiplayed a big role in getting such a sound down, himself a big Northern Soul collector, who worked withLarry Stabbinsand members ofPortisheadon hisStonephacealbum (on Tru Thoughts).
As if to pay homage to their original influences, the album's opener is a cover of a track originally byBillie Poole with The Junior Mance Triofeaturing one of Nick's musical heroes - jazz guitaristKenny Burrell. This new version features the ice cool vocal of Nick's long time collaboratorAngeline Morrison,also a Freestyle artist in her own right now since the release ofAre You Ready Cat?earlier in 2013.
A new and exciting collaboration happens onThe Road, which is a bright, breezy and uplifting soul groove, that has something of a classic Isley Brothers feel, where shimmering horns underpinMazens Bedwei'sCurtis Mayfield inspired vocals, and Frootful main man Nick Radford's tasteful guitar picking locks down this sweet summer sound.
Benedicts Boogaloois a gritty soul-jazz work out that's been double dipped in funk. Nick gets the chance to display his guitar chops wonderfully over the bubbling bass line, whilst a dirty, distorted organ grooves out to a stunning climax.
Another quite sublime moment occurs whenMazenandAngeline Morrisonvoices join forces on the beautifulBaby, It's A Fine Line, a delicate duet that hints at the southern soul ofStax Records, as both vocalists take turns to express themselves over this delicate song of troubled love.
Producer of the debut album,Adam Gibbons,lends a helping hand with some production work on a couple of tracks:Gettin' Ernestskanks in a mildly dubby style, guitar and organ taking turns to let off some steam, reminiscent of the late 60's work of Jamaican music legendsJackie MittooandErnest Ranglin; whileJazz Handscooks up a distinct flavour of good ol' fashioned swing, the heavily syncopated drums having one foot in the Cotton Club and the other firmly on dancefloors of the 21st century.
Rounding off with the gorgeous and introspective instrumentalOctober,Frootful's return has the hallmarks we have come to expect; originality, eclecticism and that indefinable quality that's marks them out from the crowd.