Let the Dansettes get groovy on your ass baby!!!
author: Blues Bunny
Five tracks, four guys, three girls, two instrumentals, one damn fine EP – Oh My! indeed. Evocative of swinging 60’s style & sound, blended with the ‘Rat Pack’ cool of Sinatra, Martin & Davis, this has the great groove of the early Tamla/Motown records, just a hint of southern soul, and a sprinkling of Spector’s ‘wall of sound’ that combine to make this fantastic fun. All done to a luscious Hammond organ driven sound that creates a retro-cool sound for the girls to provide harmonies that tingle your spine. You’ll want to play this over and over again.
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East Coast soulful strut
author: Colin Bryce
A five-tracker of East Coast soulful strut (Meters/Booker T/classic soul) produced by Gabriel Roth. Fronted by three dapper young ladies (with each gal takin' gettin' a track each on lead) the band is rounded out with organ/electric piano, guitar, bass and drums. Once the ladies are finished their vocal turns the band then takes us out with instrumental takes on two of the five tracks.
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...so good, that nobody would recognise it as being made in 2005
author: Mr Blue Boogie for BillyBop
The time we were listening to classic 6t’s R&B bands like The Ronettes, The Shirelles or The Criystals is long gone by but with this release by the Dansettes it’s time again to dig out those old albums & relive again these tunes.
The Dansettes are around already for some time tearing up the greater New York City area and are now for the first time reaching out to the rest of the world. With the release of this super 6t’s sound, based on old-school female vocal bands in 3-part harmony backed up with funky & jazzy sounds, this could be the breakthrough they where waiting for.
Two funky instrumental tunes, full of great guitar hooks & pumping Hammond sounds + 3 shaking songs with the lovely voices of Jaime, Jennie & Leah are presented on this EP, that was released late last year. To back up this release a number of gigs are already booked for 2006 and a full-length record is in progress.
Title track “Oh My!” is one of the four originals on this EP, featuring Jaime Kozyra. A well-arranged up-tempo song that easily can stands next to the originals from the sixties. Something that is proved on the third track when they cover “I’ve got a feeling”, that was originally done in 1962. Second in line is “Money Tree” which is at least as good as “Oh My!” and with its Hammond intro leans even more towards the original sound.
Here the combination of Hammond & guitar is so good, that nobody would recognise it as being made in 2005 amongst a bunch of originals.
The two instrumental tracks however are a bit disappointing. Not because they are not good or so, but simply because it is Oh My! & Money Tree that are done without vocals.
Luckily the tunes are spiced up with extra Hammond sounds and guitar & bass riffs. (Or at least they sound more clearly now).
But disappointing because it keeps me longing for more from the Dansettes., which of course might be the complete idea behind it. Anyway as soon as we have the full album here at Billybop you’ll hear it from me, cause this is way to good to keep for myself.
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The Dansettes "Oh My!" - really impressive first release
author: David Walker
A new band with a vintage sound impress on their first release.
The first release from New York combo The Dansettes sounds comes across as a kind of showcase for the band, but it’s certainly one that impresses me.
Single opener ‘Oh My!’ is probably the strongest track, a nice piece of funky soul that mixes vintage groove with contemporary edge thanks to a strong production job from Gabriel Roth, known of late for his work with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
‘Money Tree’ changes the tempo to an easy, almost loungey groove (without the cheese and with a bit more bite). Some nice harmonies and catchy hook.
‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ is a nice piece of bluesy soul that would certainly appeal to the Hideaway crowd in the UK.
The last two tracks are instrumental re-visits of the first two on the single, giving the backing of Bourbon Dynasty their chance to shine.
‘Oh My!’ has enough kick to carry without the vocal, but ‘Money Tree’ for me becomes a little bland.
But that’s a minor gripe. Overall this is a really impressive first release from the band on a label that rarely disappoints.
I look forward to the long player.
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