Royal Canoe’s “Summersweat” plays similarly to Paul Weller’s ventures in The Style Council, where his embrace of funk and guest falsettos was at its most prominent. Recommended examples include “Long Hot Summer” and “The Lodgers“. The primary difference between the two is Royal Canoe’s heavier use of dance-ready synths and vocal eccentricities, the latter sounding more like Michael Jackson’s soulful grunts than Weller’s ferocious croon. The final two minutes of “Summersweat” begins with a brassy howl shortly accompanied by an impressive female vocal lead that captures beauty without words, similar to Clare Torry’s voice instrumental on Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky”. “Summersweat” makes listeners dance excitedly as they look toward the future, all the while allowing nostalgia and its components to thrive; it’s an understanding that these aspects make today’s musical fusions work, and Royal Canoe are an exciting example.
Check out another track from their new EP, Purple and Gold, below:
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