Tuesday evening. Seems like a time as good as any for a low effort review if you ask me!
THE SURE FIRE SOUL ENSEMBLE - Gemini (LP) (2025)
The nine players strong big band with the name that couldn't possibly be more programmatic is back and delivers the jazzy Funk. Or the funky Jazz, whichever way you like it better.
Even though their music has never been stuck in 60's/70's nostalgia and incorporates younger ideas like Hip Hop grooves or modern styles of guitar shredding, the overall vibe - no matter if the tune is smooth and soulful or a little more dirty and edgy - is one that makes you expect to see the ghosts of Charles Bradley and James Brown come down to join into the jam while Freddie Hubbard blows his horn at any given moment.
Even though the Ensemble's regular line-up already has tons of of string and wind instruments, keys and percussion at its disposal, they are are joined by various guest musicians on even more trumpets, harp and tablas - and it's all great. When a group is so good at building a huge sound, in which every single element compels you to smile, why not make it even bigger?
As always the clean production is spot on - and I'm sure many labels and manufacturers would love to know the secret sauce, which makes these records on Colemine Records sound so spectacularly criminally good. (It even says that Gotta Groove Records pressed this on the hype sticker, which is an information rarely shared so prominentyly.)
Let's be honest: In many cases it doesn't really matter in which format you enjoy an artist - but spinning a Sure Fire Soul Ensemble record is a joy beyond the undoubtly fantastic music itself.
If you already love "Gemini"'s predecessors "Build Bridges" and "Step Down" you'll don't need me trying to convince you. This album continues the journey of broadening the band's sound with new influences and ideas, while maintaining their addictive easy accessibility. This is music for the soul, for good times - and to turn bad times around.
If you're an obsessive collector and completist however this release might be dangerous. I don't have sure confirmation, but since I had a card of one band member in my copy I would assume that eight more of those exist... but please don't buy twenty copies now and blame me, because I was wrong and it's actually the same dude over and over again!
Even though their music has never been stuck in 60's/70's nostalgia and incorporates younger ideas like Hip Hop grooves or modern styles of guitar shredding, the overall vibe - no matter if the tune is smooth and soulful or a little more dirty and edgy - is one that makes you expect to see the ghosts of Charles Bradley and James Brown come down to join into the jam while Freddie Hubbard blows his horn at any given moment.
Even though the Ensemble's regular line-up already has tons of of string and wind instruments, keys and percussion at its disposal, they are are joined by various guest musicians on even more trumpets, harp and tablas - and it's all great. When a group is so good at building a huge sound, in which every single element compels you to smile, why not make it even bigger?
As always the clean production is spot on - and I'm sure many labels and manufacturers would love to know the secret sauce, which makes these records on Colemine Records sound so spectacularly criminally good. (It even says that Gotta Groove Records pressed this on the hype sticker, which is an information rarely shared so prominentyly.)
Let's be honest: In many cases it doesn't really matter in which format you enjoy an artist - but spinning a Sure Fire Soul Ensemble record is a joy beyond the undoubtly fantastic music itself.
If you already love "Gemini"'s predecessors "Build Bridges" and "Step Down" you'll don't need me trying to convince you. This album continues the journey of broadening the band's sound with new influences and ideas, while maintaining their addictive easy accessibility. This is music for the soul, for good times - and to turn bad times around.
If you're an obsessive collector and completist however this release might be dangerous. I don't have sure confirmation, but since I had a card of one band member in my copy I would assume that eight more of those exist... but please don't buy twenty copies now and blame me, because I was wrong and it's actually the same dude over and over again!
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