Fronted by the smoky-voiced Joanna Teters, the self-described eight-member “future-soul” band from New York, Mad Satta, consistently manages to surprise with their uber-competent grasp of the sounds of bygone days, but always with their own soul pop twist.
Their latest effort comes in the form of a four-song dessert EP, Break Me Free, following the divine ten-course meal that was last October’s Comfort, produced by Grammy-winning producer Prince Charles Alexander and easily one of the best albums of 2014. For the time being, the Brad Dollar, Lee Bothwick, and Andrew Erickson produced Break Me Free, appears to be free for download at Bandcamp. So, make haste.
Fronted by the smoky-voiced Joanna Teters, the self-described eight-member “future-soul” band from New York, Mad Satta, consistently manages to surprise with their uber-competent grasp of the sounds of bygone days, but always with their own soul pop twist.
Their latest effort comes in the form of a four-song dessert EP, Break Me Free, following the divine ten-course meal that was last October’s Comfort, produced by Grammy-winning producer Prince Charles Alexander and easily one of the best albums of 2014. For the time being, the Brad Dollar, Lee Bothwick, and Andrew Erickson produced Break Me Free, appears to be free for download at Bandcamp. So, make haste.
While Comfort is best known in aficionado circles for its singles “Reach Out” and a pitch perfect cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “The Makings of You,” the standout cut on Break Me Free is a synthy bit of ‘80s soul funk in the form of the title track. Saxophonists Collin Wade and Jason Fitch and trumpeter Eric Zelser’s punchy horn section rocks nicely against the hot chicken grease of Ted Morcaldi’s electric guitar licks and Ben Carr’s walking electric bass that owes more than a bit of debt to the men of Chic. Capturing the era perfectly are Kevin Theodore’s cascading keys and Zane West’s vintage ‘80s drum work that all by themselves evoke colorful headbands and shiny jackets with popped collars. For her part, Teters pulls double duty on front and backing vocals, doing a light impression of Alicia Meyers and Joyce Kennedy on the leads and Chaka Khan on the “oohhs and aahhs.”
It’s everything that was good about the age of Adidas, Pumas, and Jheri Curl juice. Those who know something about all of that, break out your roller-skates and give this post-disco ditty your funkiest spinning whirl. You’ll be glad you did.
By L. Michael Gipson