QP MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES

Do you know who the BNH are?  Well, you should!  They're a funk-infused, nitty-gritty, dig-down-deep, groove-driven, for real BAND!  These boys and girl busted onto the music scene in the early 90's as the pioneers of what was called Rare Groove.  After a decade, N'Dea Davenport, the band's original lead diva is back where she belongs with the 2006 project release of Get Used To It.  Jan Kincaid is the spiritual leader on keys, vocals and drums, Simon Bartholomew licking a crazy guitar, and Andrew Levy kicking a hard bass.  The sound is unexpected, far reaching into the historic sounds of funk, jazz standards and disco, as well as those old soul-sounds of yester-year long before the industry machine shoved the likes of Amy Winehouse (amazing,- don't get me wrong) down our throats to control every aspect of the "branding."  At just the moment major labels pick up on BNH fever and try to control the sound, the band disappear themselves from the scene only to surface, as they did in the early 2000's, in places like Korea and UK only releases.  Their sound is music, for music's sake and there's no compromise with the sound, from acid jazz that beckons updated homages in "We Won't Stop," to funky switch-backs in "We Got," and electronic touched progressions in "Sex God" that hearken disco diva punch in the you-will-want-to-get-up-and-dance "Let's Do It Again."  The gem of the album is the seemingly fresh pressed 1950's vinyl sound of "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)." This group indulges in the past in all the right ways.  The band is tight, precise and in no way detracts from the ever intoxicating voice of Davenport.  You will never appreciate how amazing this band is until you get to hear them firsthand.  Definitely keep them on at the house parties.  I highly recommend them as the best band out there.

http://www.myspace.com/thebrandnewheavies