Dancing Dimensions – Bella Union
Classic sounding soul music with a modern groove? Check. A raspy voiced octogenarian on lead vocals? Check.
Hot off the heels of appearing on the last Lost Horizons album, In Quiet Moments, in which he sang on the title track, Portland based Ural Thomas and the Pain present a soul-based soundscape, that at times transports you back to the 60s, but reminds you that we are in modern times, with the backing vocals and instrumentation all top notch. They have been producing music as a group since 2013, and you can tell how tight the band really is. Shades of the Isley Brothers and the current Lee Fields album.
The album kicks off the title track, “Dancing Dimensions,” a song that features atmospheric vocals on a low down groovy beat. “Do You Remember the Times We Had,” (track 3) features a short strumming guitar that builds up to horns and melodic backing vocals. He brings the fun on tracks 5, 7, and 8 – upbeat, funky, and right out of the R&B 70s. Tracks 12 and 13, “Hung Up on My Dream,” and “Promises,” are slower paced soul songs that burst out with emotion. I feel transported every time I hear this album – just a magical rhythmic ride.
There are three short instrumentals on the album – all titled Dimensions. Tracks 4, 9, and 11.
Track listing –
1: Dancing Dimensions
2: Heaven
3: Do You Remember The Times We Had?
4: First Dimension
5: Apple Pie (Oh Me Oh My)
6: Ol Safiya
7: El Eey Em Eh
8: Gimme Some Ice Cream
9: Second Dimension
10: My Favourite Song
11: Third Dimension
12: Hung Up On My Dream
13: Promises
14: If It Wasn’t For Love
My favorites are 1**, 3**, 13**, 12**, 6*, and 8*. Just some great soul grooves to get your feet moving!
– (h)earwitness