THE GRITS-MAKE A SOUND.

dereksmusicblog ♦ December 20, 2014 ♦ Leave a comment

THE GRITS-MAKE A SOUND.

Five long years have passed since The Grits released their debut eponymous debut album. Recently, however, The Grits have released their long awaited sophomore album, Make A Sound. It essentially, is The Grits’ comeback album. As comeback albums go, Make A Sound which was recently released on BBE Music, is like no other.

After all, how many bands fuse quintessential English psychedelia with deep fried funk and soul? The Grits do. What’s more, The Grits do it their way. That’s with style and aplomb. However, who I hear you ask are The Grits?

The Grits are based in Brighton, on the South Coast of England. They’re led by multi-instrumentalist Stuart Carter. He plays everything from guitar to sitar, keyboards, synths, flute, sitar and violin. Joining Stuart are bassist James Porch, drummer Johnny Machin, percussionist Alex and vocalist Sophie. Together,  The Grits have been winning friends and influencing people with their sophomore album Make A Sound, which I’ll tell you about.

Given The Grits’ love of funk, it’s no surprise they namecheck the self-styled Godfather of Funk on the opening track Make A Sound (Like James Brown). Straight away, the drums have a raw funky sound. Soon, the rest of the rhythm section enter. A guitar chimes hypnotically, before stabs of growling horns and sci-fi synths soar above the arrangement. There they join Sophie’s vocal. Just like the ‘Godfather’ her vocal veers between soulful and vampish. She hollers and whoops her way through the arrangement. She’s joined by percussion, a Hammond organ, blazing horns and pounding drums. Together, they pay homage to James Brown, albeit with a sci-fi twist.

Johnny Machin’s drums power the arrangement to Let Me Know along. Guitars reverberate, while Sophie draws inspiration from early sixties girl groups. She sings call and response. Not only does she deliver a powerhouse of a lead vocal, but adds harmonies. Later, as echo is added, a buzzing synth is added. So is a searing guitar and a myriad of percussion. This adds to the urgency, as The Grits continue to reinvent sixties music.

Just A Little Bit is funk, but not as we know it. A futuristic synth sets the scene for Sophie’s vocal and the funky rhythm section. They’re joined by handclaps, percussion and bursts of a chiming guitar. Before long, musical genres melt into one. Electronica, funk, Latin and reggae are combined, as Sophie delivers a sultry vocal.

Heel And Toe sounds like an early sixties dance craze. It’s not. Instead, it sees The Grits return to a much more traditional funky sound. The Grits rhythm section get into a funky groove. They’re joined by percussion and a a swaggering, vampish vocal. Meanwhile, Sophie adds backing vocal and horns blaze. Later, the addition of a synth sees the track stray from its traditional funky sound. Despite this, it’s an uber funky, groove delicious track.

Black Sambuca has a slow, moody sound. That’s down to The Grits’ rhythm section. Along with percussion, they’re responsible for the Eastern cinematic sound. Then later, sci-fi synths add a futuristic twist. Later, the synths become squelchy. As this happens, the Eastern cinematic sound becomes much more predominant, resulting in The Grits writing the soundtrack to a film that’s yet to be made.

Dark. That describes the opening bars to Six Pack. They come courtesy of the piano, handclaps, rhythm section and keyboards. Then when Sophie’s vocal enters, it has a sixties influence. Again, she sings call and response. Not only does she she deliver the lead vocal, but adds backing vocals. Her vocal grows in power and urgency, giving way to a blistering guitar solo from Stuart Carter. Later, the track takes a dramatic, psychedelic twist. This seems to reinforce the track’s sixties influence, which Sophie’s vocal plays an important part in. 

(I’d Walk A) Funky Mile sees The Grits’ rhythm section and a jangly piano join a stabs of a chiming guitar. They drive the arrangement along. Especially, the uber funky bass. Sharp, stabs of grizzled horns escape from the arrangement. Atop it sits Sophie’s sassy vocal. It has a real sixties influence. Later, a blistering guitar is unleashed. Just like Sophie’s vocal, it plays a starring roles as The Grits Walk A Funky Mile.

Music’s past and present unites on Psycho. The rhythm section join synths that veer between dark, moody and futuristic, with a sci-fi sound. Amidst this fusion of traditional instruments and technology, sits Sophie’s tormented vocal. Later, its drenched in reverb, adding to the drama, as The Grits combine music’s past and present.

From the get-go, Yeah, No sounds like a homage to James Brown. That’s down to the rhythm section and hypnotic, chiming guitars, They’re augmented by percussion and Sophie’s despairing, defiant vocal. Synths and strings add a cinematic sound. This results in what’s best described as cinematic funk with a soulful side.

Skin and Bone closes Make A Sound. Searing guitars, the rhythm section and synths joint with blazing horns. Soon, The Grits kick loose. A scorching guitar solo is unleashed. Meanwhile, a myriad of left-field sounds flit in and out of the arrangement. Later, a Hammond organ, discordant synths and braying horns join a raucous, singalong vocal. The finishing touch are a blistering guitar solo and stabs of grizzled horns. Not only are they the icing on this musical cake, but the cherry too. 

It’s been five years since The Grits released their eponymous debut album. However, it’s always risky leaving five years between a debut and sophomore album. After all, the people who bought their debut album may have forgotten about The Grits. So to some extent, Make A Sound is a new start for the Brighton based band.

They made a funky, soulful and psychedelic return recently with Make A Sound, which was recently released on BBE Music. Make A Sound is a return to form from The Grits. They fused their own quintessential brand of English psychedelia with deep fried funk and soul. This compelling combination of musical genres, should see The Grits continue to win friends and influence people.

After all, The Grits music is funky, psychedelic and soulful. On some of the tracks, The Grits incorporate electronica and a myriad of sci-fi sounds. The result is music that’s futuristic and trippy. That’s not all. There’s a cinematic sound to Black Sambuca and Yeah, No, which is best described as cinematic funk. Indeed, so good is Yeah, No that’s I’d described Yeah, No as The Grits’ finest moment on Make A Sound. Having said that, there’s more to Make A Sound than one track. 

There’s a total of ten tracks on Make A Sound, The Grits magic musical mystery tour through funk, soul, psychedelia, electronica and rock. During these ten tracks, The Grits showcase just how tight, talented and versatile a band they are. Seamlessly, The Grits fuse and flit between musical genres. The result is Make A Sound, a captivating album of funky, soulful, psychedelic music from the Brighton quintet, The Grits

THE GRITS-MAKE A SOUND