Life offers up some great things from time to time—a true, full-length, proper album being one. Unfortunately, this concept is going the way of the dinosaur. Luckily for Lettuce listeners, this is not the case proven by their upcoming release Elevate, their first LP since the incredible Crush album in 2015. Lettuce’s originals are peppered with some welcomed throwback covers. With their ever-expanding tone, the sextet offers up a genre-spanning group of tunes which features their signature funk/jazz fusion, provocative soul, and even some spicy Latin flavor.
If the First Order were to choose their procession music, “Trapezoid” would be it. The Shady Horns come storming out of the gates on the first track overlaid by an Adam Deitch breakbeat special.
The third track “Krewe,” with bold, extra-saucy percussion drives the dynamic world music sound straight into “Smink Dabby” as Shmeeans cranks out tropical guitar riffs. “Ready to Live” lets Nigel Hall prove his worth while stretching out his vocal chords and laying down solid ivory chops on the Cold Blood cover. I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again: LET NIGEL SING!
Guitar hero Marcus King with his classic vocal tone puts his axe down to deliver the gritty rhythm and blues verses on “Love is too Strong.” This listener is extremely curious as to the endless possibilities for future collaborations with Marcus.
As Lettuce continues its metamorphosis and growth as a band and a brand, they’re seemingly unstoppable. With the intertwining of a solid progressive flow partnered with instrumental wizardry that leads to an upward trajectory, Elevate couldn’t have been more appropriately named.
Elevate is available everywhere on June 14th.
Elevate Tracklist:
Trapezoid
Royal Highness
Krewe
Shmink Dabby
Everybody Wants to Rule The World
Gang Ten
Ready To Live
Larimar
Love Is Too Strong
Purple Cabbage
Trapezoid Dub
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[This review was handcrafted with care by Eo8’s own funk enthusiast and Lettuce superfan Rich Harley]
