Barcelona’s ‘The Excitements’ play ‘hot, hot, hot rhythm and soul’ in a genuine rhythm & blues style that pretends the 1970s hasn’t happened yet. Add to this the enigmatic vocals of US raised Koko-Jean Davis who counterbalances no-nonsense toughness with sassiness; the analogue production that sounds vintage whilst maintaining depth; and the formula is somewhat explosive – and right down in the authentic sound of some of their would-be-peers, assuming this really was the late 60s – think Sugarpie DeSanto, Etta James, Ike & Tina and James Brown. Formed in 2010, the band’s first album was all covers, and all fierce. Now they have stretched out with an album of mostly originals and it really does hit the mark.
From start to finish we are treated to a soul party you can lose your mind to as the band tear through smoking hot jams like the rip-roaring “Keep It To Yourself”, and the mean chanking scratch of “That’s What You Got”. The band are laying it on straight and thick, and they are not the only ones, as Koko-Jean warns she means business on the stinging intro to “Ha, Ha, Ha” a stomping groove inflected with New Orleans piano – a sound revisited further with “Keep Your Hands Off”, this time matched with some twangy guitar and an effective rolling bass and drums start. The pace lets up only briefly for the well pitched soulful ballad “I’ve Bet And I’ve Lost Again”, before we get back to dance floor business. We even get instructions for a hip soul dance on “The Fishing Pole”, you see it’s all about winding it in slow. “I Believe You” bounces along briskly with a chopping drum behind the verse and some effective rock n roll guitar. Best perhaps is saved for last though with the fantastic title track with it’s instantly infectious horn arrangement and piano groove.
Great soul music stirs the emotions, and raises both the adrenaline and the heat – well The Excitements’ pot is close to boiling over. Surely one of the best and most authentic rhythm & blues experiences since the late 60s, this album is killer, no filler, all thriller.
