"Better call yourself an Uber if you can't get down."
One can't help but smile after hearing an earnest lyric like this, from the title track of Toronto soul/funk ensemble the Soul Motivators' five-track Mindblastin' EP. The new project (debut full-length Free to Believe was back in 2015) highlights what the band specializes in — competently bringing in the throwback funk sounds.
The aforementioned "Mindblastin'" grooves off the spicy vocals of Shahi Teruko and crew (James Robinson on keys, Marc Shapiro on bass, Voltaire Ramos on guitar with Doug Melville and Derek Thorne handling percussion). The Ricky Callloway guest appearance on "Tell Me" resurrects a James Brown aesthetic; horn-heavy instrumental "Black Rhino" makes the most of its brassy soundscape in delivering a vibrant electric guitar solo; and subtle notes of Prince/NPG support smoky ballad "Miss Those Days," as frenetic "All the Way to the Bank" rides a skittering groove line to take it home.
Mindblastin' isn't quite that, but sparkly smooth funk, and live show-ready soul is what's in play here.
(Do Right!)One can't help but smile after hearing an earnest lyric like this, from the title track of Toronto soul/funk ensemble the Soul Motivators' five-track Mindblastin' EP. The new project (debut full-length Free to Believe was back in 2015) highlights what the band specializes in — competently bringing in the throwback funk sounds.
The aforementioned "Mindblastin'" grooves off the spicy vocals of Shahi Teruko and crew (James Robinson on keys, Marc Shapiro on bass, Voltaire Ramos on guitar with Doug Melville and Derek Thorne handling percussion). The Ricky Callloway guest appearance on "Tell Me" resurrects a James Brown aesthetic; horn-heavy instrumental "Black Rhino" makes the most of its brassy soundscape in delivering a vibrant electric guitar solo; and subtle notes of Prince/NPG support smoky ballad "Miss Those Days," as frenetic "All the Way to the Bank" rides a skittering groove line to take it home.
Mindblastin' isn't quite that, but sparkly smooth funk, and live show-ready soul is what's in play here.