Cochemea Gastelum
The Electric Sound of Johnny Arrow
MOWO! Inc.
As a child, I grew up with a special fondness for the old Motown Records and soul music sound – there was nothing more perfect in life that to hear the harmonies of the Temptations, the love songs of Marvin Gaye, the infectious pop songs of the Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, the amazing Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield and so many countless others that I could go on for days. Those great old records not only capture their time period but there’s something universal in their infectious joy. Now, the Brooklyn-based Daptone Records first developed a reputation across town, then across the country for their loving recreation of the old soul and funk records of the late 1950s through the 1960s through acts such as the Budos Band and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, as well as a ton of reissues. Instead of super slick digital reproduction that modern ears are used to, you get that slight graininess and fuzz of analog recording processes – it’s much like listening to carefully used vinyl. And the art work is just pitch perfect recreations of things music fans would have come across then. Sure, a cynic may say that Daptone Records may pay attention to these little details to be kitschy but I think it works because a certain level of nostalgia for what’s no longer is necessary to get why they go about what they do. (For a great example, check out Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings 100 Days and 100 Nights. There’s a special “Best of Daptone Records” disc that’s pretty funny in how accurate it is to those old AM radio shows.)
But Daptone Records also has developed a reputation for exposing New York and American audiences to some serious Afrobeat with their reissues of some of the genre’s great but sadly obscure artists who released albums in the early 1970s, as well as Anitbalas, who have gained increasing fame and notoriety as the backing band for the biographical Broadway show, Fela! Interestingly, this has brought Fela Kuti’s sometime bizarre life story and amazing music to mainstream America in ways that Kuti would have never dreamed possible. Now here comes Cochemea Gastelum, the saxophonist in Sharon Jones’ backing band, the Dap Kings with a solo debut that continues Daptone Records’ amazing run of producing and nourishing some artists that do retro music proud while adding their unique spin to it – all while being a bit of a departure from the signature Dap Kings sound he’s been behind for a number of years.
Unlike his Dap Kings work Gastelum’s Johnny Arrow is heavily influenced by Afrobeat, 70s soul, Latin Rock and jazz and from an initial listen, this album could have easily been released in the summer of 1974, as much as it could be released now. Some critics and listeners will probably say that this album reminds them of great Afrobeat albums such as Fela Kuti and the Africa 70’s Expensive Shit/He Miss Road and Open and Close/Afrodisiac, as Johnny Arrow is at times as funky as both of those albums. The horn section in “Dark City,” reminded me of the cool, brooding and slowed down funk of “Water Get No Enemy.” But such comparisons will only miss out on how strong Gastelum’s Latin Rock and Latin Jazz influences are throughout the album – songs like “Carlito!” and “You’re So Good to Me” reminded me of the great but now sadly obscure 70s Latin/Funk/Rock band Mandrill (a band I’ve fallen in love with recently – and a band that I think everyone needs to check out if they’re into 70s soul). These songs have a ton of flute floating and dancing about as a lead instrument, funky bass, and break beat-styled drumming. It feels a bit unfair in my mind to compare Gastelum’s album to Mandrill’s work – but what I will say is that both Gastelum and Mandrill seem at ease jumping back and forth between soul, funk, African and Latin-influenced jazz and mashing them up in ways that are smooth, sexy and downright funky. Granted, the one big time knock on this album is that what Gastelum is attempting on this album isn’t exactly original – and if you’re familiar and know Gastelum’s influences, you may stick to your Fela, War or Mandrill albums. But regardless of that, what this whole retro music trend does is bring great obscure songs and artists new life and a new audience who may be curious to give them a chance, when time all but forgot. So check out The Electric Sound of Johnny Arrow and while you’re it, check out Mandrill and Fela – they’ll all fill your summer with some ass-shaking funk.
Release Date July 20, 2010
Track Listing
1. Dark City
2. Arrow’s Theme
3. Carlito!
4. You’re So Good to Me
5. Guardian Angel
6. Impala ‘73
7. Fathom 5
8. No Goodbyes
9. Beijo Do Sol
10. Stars
