Self-released
Soul revivalists, Soul Messengers, are back in 2017 with a
new album Vision & Faith. Both of their studio albums, 2013's I'm Alive,
and 2015's Dirty Soul garnered great reviews and nationwide radio play, with
Dirty Soul reaching #12 on the Australian Blues and Roots chart and featuring
as Sydney Jazz and Blues radio station Eastside Radio's album of the week. Soul
Messengers are Rich Aljinovic (vocals, guitar), Simon Morel (guitar), Hadi
Ansell (bass) and Dave Kirby (drums).
One thing that you really don’t hear much anymore is R&B/Funk
tinged music ala the 70s, but you sure can on this release and it sounds
amazing. The grooves are sexy and sinewy and get you up and shaking your ass
and you can’t stop, not that you would want to. I remember listening to this
music when I was a kid in the early 70s and it progressed into horrible music
later on…remember disco kids? This shit is the real deal and I loved every
second of it. This sounds like a forgotten classic that your older siblings, or
mom and dad might have listened to back then and you just found it in their
record collection. The vocals are rich and full of emotion, the guitar playing
has the sound of the Stones in parts, especially on the opening of “Don’t Let Them Tell You,” an amazing song that grabs your heart and rips it out with the
raw feelings and beautiful sound of the song. “Let’s Go To Bed” has a funky
soul groove with terrific guitar playing with a throbbing bass-line. A
fantastic start to the album, and one of many great songs on here. As you go
through the album, you find more and more amazing sounds and grooves that make
you want to buy some stack heels and flares and get down and get funky.
“Whiplash” is another song that just grabs you and sounds like something that
you heard before and love with the horns, the funky groove and the beautiful
vocals.
I just can’t believe that I have never heard these guys
before…wow, that’s really all I can say about this. This is one of the best
albums that I have heard this year and will be forcing everyone I know to
listen to this…you go and do the same with your friends and family…and
strangers too.
-Rick Ecker
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