Tower Of Power – ‘Star Time (Tribute To James Brown)’

Guest post by Zac Seidler

From the desk of famed Big-Bad-Barry Sax player Emilio Castillo, having produced soul-breakers like ‘What is Hip’ and ‘Attitude Dance,’ comes another jam-packed Tower Of Power album fittingly titled The Great American Soulbook. These tight grooves, snaking around vocals from Welshman Tom Jones and the smooth Joss Stone are the definition of funk. The epic tribute to the funk-father James Brown in ‘Star Time’ epitomises TOP’s tight Oakland blend with Dave Garibaldi’s snare snapping like a Christmas cracker. Just when it seemed TOP’s days were over and a geriatrics compound was beckoning, they deliver this re-vitalised, defribullated sound, from the cutting horn section, to the complex groovy baselines and nothing beats it.

Being only 17, most people would think this addiction to funk-fusion a tad weird, but if only this REAL music, replaced the reconstituted shit on the rounds today, the drum kit over the drum machine, the bassist over the fake synth samples and the horns over midi sounding drool, people would come to understand my appreciation for TOP’s original, refreshing sound. The music world is brutal, with bands only surviving for there one moment in the sun, but the evolution process does not affect raw talent and TOP is no exception. Lady Gaga will become an alternate wedding singer, Ke$ha’s future comprises of a pole in a dingy bar and 3OH!3 will be another random band name which no one will remember. Tower Of Power stay true to their name; unbreakable and unstoppable.

Tower Of Power – ‘Star Time (Tribute To James Brown)’

Ed Postscript: Zac is the One A Day editors’ little brother, and has always threatened to write something about the music rather than the ‘feelings bullshit’ we often associate with our tracks. In case you couldn’t tell, he’s also completely obsessed with Tower Of Power. We were totally worried that this would turn into an epic wank-fest, but Zac’s passionate diatribe is a timely reminder that the best music never really goes out fashion.

Add some Power to your Tower here.