Title: 102%
Artist: The New Mastersounds
Label: One Note Records
Formats: CD and LP
Genre: funk / soul-jazz / r&b
Release: January 2007
“BRILLIANT and full of groove” Nicolo Pozzoli (Record Kicks, Italy)
“More heavyweight action from New Yorkshire” Diesler (Tru Thoughts UK)
102% is the fifth long-player from international underground funk heroes The
New Mastersounds. Featuring special guest sax & flute player, Rob Lavers, the
album delivers the band’s trademark dirty funk sound in spades, along with
sprinklings of soul-jazz, breaks and beats, laid-back hip-hop, and even
psychedelic blues-rock. No vocals, just the guys tearing it up and doing what they
do best, under the supervision of prolific hawk-eared guitarist-producer Eddie
Roberts.
It’s all their own work apart from one tune – an insane version of the Roots
Manuva hit Witness, done out with chicken-scratch guitar, super heavy bass,
screaming Hammond and slamming drums.
Tracklist:
1. 102%
2. Witness
3. Carrot Juice
4. Thirty Three*
5. Colorado Sun
6. Give me a Minute (pt2)
7. Rope-a-Dope*
8. Hey Fela!
9. Bus Stop No.5
10. Return to Gijón
11. Forgiveness
12. Talk is Cheap
13. L.A. Root Down*
14. Paranoid*
* = bonus track CD only
Early Reviews:
“Without shame this reviewer holds the NMS brand of funk as the best this
country has to offer… This latest LP sees music taking in psychedelia, organgrinding soul-jazz and of course the gritty funk for which the band is renowned.
For classic NMS genius check 'Carrot Juice' with its fast paced drumming, grinding
bass, Bob's swirling Hammond perfection and Eddie's sublime guitar work. If
you're a fan, '102%' will leave you full of joy, if you're not a fan, then why the
hell not? Modern soul jazz and funk at its very best. 9/10.”
Pete Isaac (Jelly
Jazz / 24-7 Magazine)
“The (not so) New Mastersounds have become one of the tightest, nitty-grittiest,
downright dirtiest funk outfits around. Imagine Grant Green laying down a groove
with Bootsy Collins (circa 1970 JBs), Zig Modeliste (The Meters’ drummer), and
Jimmy McGriff.” (Stranger Magazine)
“The New Mastersounds’ heavy funk version of Roots Manuva’s Witness brings a
Meters-esque, ballsy seventies sound crashing head on into a modern, dark
hypnotic style of beats and rhythms as is heard with artists such as Massive
Attack. The bass is deep and driven; there are several layers of haunting alien
sounds thrown into the mix as well as a guitar riff to make your fingers bleed! All
of which is propelled by snare-heavy, downright dirty drum breaks.” DJ Formula
(FunkSoulNation)