Transporting listeners to the ’70s while retaining a modern rock/electro punch, “Dreams” celebrates the Wattstax benefit concert of 1972, referred to by some as “the black Woodstock.”
Taking place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where riots took place in 1965, the benefit concert delivered a talented array of soul, funk, and rock musicians — unifying to combat against racial tension and discrimination, in addition to showcasing a variety of talented artists on the Memphis soul label Stax Records.
The track comes via French artist The Art of the Sun, representing the first single from their upcoming album Imaginary Journeys, out on December 8th. Introductory bass-driven excitement complements a stirring oratorical sample, emphasizing the power of togetherness as the heady bass, spacey synths, and guitar flashes converge. The spoken-word samples and galloping rhythmic backbone echo a funky soulfulness of the past, while the spacey synths showcase a futuristic vigor. “Dreams” is wholly riveting throughout.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of September 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
