Sky Hi - Reality Check (2013)

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    Reality Check, the new CD by the Nashville based band Sky Hi. Their brand of funk and is not what instantly comes to mind when considering the sound of the Music City. Country and bluegrass, or rock with a helping of blues is the sound of Nashville. Sky Hi’s sound emanates from the Tennessee town located 212 miles to the west. Vocalist Dee Adams and his eight sidemen load a lot of Stax and Hi Records onto this five track EP that lasts a fast paced and energetic 15 minutes.

    That’s enough time to warm up on the treadmill or the StairMaster. Whether you are exercising or dancing, the music on Realty Check is designed to make your heart pump. The title track opens the EP with blaring Memphis style horns that bring back the halcyon days of Isaac Hayes. “Reality Check’” tells how reality provides people with a daily opportunity to make their dreams come true.

    Reality Check, the new CD by the Nashville based band Sky Hi. Their brand of funk and is not what instantly comes to mind when considering the sound of the Music City. Country and bluegrass, or rock with a helping of blues is the sound of Nashville. Sky Hi’s sound emanates from the Tennessee town located 212 miles to the west. Vocalist Dee Adams and his eight sidemen load a lot of Stax and Hi Records onto this five track EP that lasts a fast paced and energetic 15 minutes.

    That’s enough time to warm up on the treadmill or the StairMaster. Whether you are exercising or dancing, the music on Realty Check is designed to make your heart pump. The title track opens the EP with blaring Memphis style horns that bring back the halcyon days of Isaac Hayes. “Reality Check’” tells how reality provides people with a daily opportunity to make their dreams come true.

    “Funk Til Dawn” allows Adams to step back and allow his sidemen to assume the spotlight. The band is more than ready for its close up with some creative keyboard work augmented by horns that manage to swing and funk.

    Adams returns to the microphone on “Plan B,” the strongest vocal number on Reality Check. Sky Hi brings all of the elements together on this track. “Plan B” features Adams’ vocals that manage to be silky and rough. The arrangement features keyboard play that draws from the church house and the roadhouse. The drums and bass lay down a rhythm that is both percussive and driving – setting the table for call and response from those ever-present horns.

    Producers these days have a wealth of technological toys that allow them to create beats, loops and samples used in dance music these days. Don’t get me wrong. Those musical technocrats know how to get feet tapping and rumps shaking. However, Sky Hi’s latest serves as an aptly titled reality check. Listeners will be reminded that soul man backed by a funky band are all that’s needed to get folks sweatin’ til they get wet

    Notable Tracks:  Reality Check, Plan B., Your Body

    Vocals: 3.0
    Instrumentals: 4.0
    Lyrics: 3.0
    Instrumentation: 3.0
    SoulTracks call: Recommended

    By Howard Dukes