Stone Foundation are an eight piece Midland’s soul band who hold their own with the genre’s American greats whilst incorporating a British mod sensibility. Their latest album `The Revival Of Survival` is delivered to the wider world later this month.
We are led into this release with `How Many Times` which opens with a gentle haunting saxophone and some delightful harmonies, a deep slow burn of a number which appears to reflect on a relationship that again seems to have run into trouble. A thoughtful offering with a steady drum beat and piano keys adding to the expansive sound that mirrors the lyrical sentiment shared. A real marker for what`s to follow. Title track `The Revival Of Survival` is an uplifting offering made for driving around with the windows open and playing loud. The tender vocals, harmonies, hand percussion and brass tones give it a seventies vibe akin to stuff that Isaac Hayes and Stevie Wonder excelled in during those heady days.
`Everything & All I Want` has that kind of Paul Weller soulfulness which he manages to purvey these days and just oozes `COOOOOOL`, a delightful foot tapper and if it doesn`t get you up and grooving it`ll at least have you twitching along. Founding member Neil Jones shared that “we wondered what it would be like to mix Talking Heads, Fela Kuti and Disco. The addition of the Prince of Burundi JP Bimeni on vocals was the cherry on top of a very funky cake”. The result `Cut Me Loose` is an enticing rhythmic submission with drums and horns along with Jean Patrick Bimenyimana Serukamba`s questioning vocals, an artist who has recently graced the multi-talented Moby`s latest offering `Always Centered at Night`.
`Close To Where You Are` has some wonderful brass explosions and sweet harmonies. A song that is really a dedication of endearing love and one to share with that special someone in your life. There`s a dreamy trumpet segment as if we hadn`t already enjoyed enough. For me `Fix You Up` with its hand percussion, brass blasts and chorus harmonies is one to just chill out to and let it seep into your soul. I adored the nod to George Benson with the line “Never give up on a good thing”, real class.
`The Beat I Know` features both Sheree DuBois, a creative artist, singer-songwriter, vocal coach along with soul singer Carmy Love. A bass led, serene and peaceful composition that sent me off into contemplative thoughts of my own. I felt there was a bit of a Prince vibe going on with the rhythmic `2 Die 4 U` , another floor filling mover and shaker.
`When Worlds Collide` had a slightly angular recurring riff like texture but was an alluring elegant slice of rhythm and blues. There`s an almost ray of Summer sunshine that comes with `Reach Out` and brings to mind those days when all feels good with the world. There`s some superb tinkling piano keys, gospel like harmonies and a brass section with jazz soul singer Laville adding his lustrous vocals. A singer whose album `The Wanderer` is also worth checking out.
The final cut `Summer Song` features none other than the wonderful neo soul singer-songwriter, musician and actor Omar Christopher Lye-Fook known to us all as Omar, a stunningly poignant, reflective and thoughtful creation to close out on especially as this artist has recently faced one of the most daunting challenges of his life, a prostate cancer diagnosis. He was thankfully supported by his family, including his daughters, and is now on the road to recovery and is optimistic about the future.
For me only one word could sum up `The Revival Of Survival` and that is “Stunning!” It has it all with a fusion of classic soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues. If this band wasn`t from the Midlands but Detroit or Philadelphia they would be Megastars. I used to love listening to Maze, The Crusaders, Return To Forever, early Stevie Wonder, The Brand New Heavies and Morcheeba and I’ll be brushing the dust off those vinyls and giving them a blast after immersing myself in the joys of Stone Foundation.
`The Revival Of Survival` is an album that leaves you wanting more, grab a copy and just hit repeat.
Rating 9.5/10
