Welcome back!

After a few days tidying away some loose ends I return here with something very special for you all!

Occasionally whilst collecting records I tend to focus on and imerse myself in certain time periods and sounds which can sometimes lead to me overlooking some of the newer releases. A short while back I was contacted by ’Lady’ Clair, the vocalist for the South Coast based funk outfit, The Impellers, a band who recently signed to Freestyle records not too long ago. She hipped me (rather thankfully) towards the bands stunning new 45, ‘How Am I?’ which is taken from their new LP, ‘Robot Legs’

Having missed the boat with the release of this one originally, I checked it out over at the Freestyle Records website, a quick listen later and I was scrambling around the Interwebs trying to secure a copy of my own! I have to say it’s one of the fullest sounding as well as freshest releases on the funk scene that I’ve heard in a very long while!

The Impellers are a nine piece outfit plus guests (including Snowboy), led by Glenn Fallows AKA Ed Meme on Guitar and Hammond. Glenn not only provides the backbone to the band but also writes and arranges the bands impressive tracks. The bassist, Alex Berry, Drummer, Will Stanley and Guitarist, Barry ‘Impact’ Lalane make up the rest of the rhythm section. The Impellers astoundingly tight and full sounding Horn section comprises of Tom Humphries and Chris Evans-Roberts on Sax, Gram Canyon on Trombone and Mark Yexley on Trumpet. Rounding things up are the sassy vocals of ‘Lady’ Clair Witcher, who delivers with some real conviction!

The Impellers are already making huge waves on the scene, having been featured on the BBC 6 Craig Charles Funk & Soul Radio Show, as well as catching the attention of Mark Lammar, Snowboy and legendary Sister funk compiler and collecter, Ian Wright.

The group have a few upcoming dates (below) and have also been snapped up to play several times during The Beach Down Festival in Brighton, so if your in the area over the Bank Holiday Weekend head down and catch them!

Within the small Funk and Soul scene there are many notable acts and individual artists who all keep the fires burning with some solid 45s and Lps. Speedometer, Lee Fields, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The New Master Sounds and The Bamboos are just a few of those and IMHO The Impellers more than hold their own against these and other artists. If the calibre and quality of their future releases are anything near the likes of ‘How Am I? Then I don’t doubt for one minute that theirs will be a name you will be hearing again in the future!

Please support these newer artists by buying their 45s and LPs as they are the ones who are pushing this genre of music forward to a new generation of ears.

Pick up The Impellers New LP, Robot Legs from itunes HERE or on lovely vinyl HERE

Before I go I want to drop (yet) another gentle reminder about our forthcoming Funk & Soul night. Having returned from our brief hiatus, we’ll be taking over our new venue,The Vestry in Chichester, West Sussex for the return of The Hook & Sling on Saturday 5th September 2009. We’ve already had some strong interest in this one, so dont sleep on it!

Enjoy todays 45 and I’ll be back here shortly with some more of the good stuff.

Download The Impellers - How Am I? - Freestyle Records HERE