Each David Holmes release is greeted with eager anticipation, and his new
project, The Free Association, will be no different. As a band project, and
with Holmes being the driving force behind it, people will expect something
quite awe-inspiring from The Free Association. They won’t be disappointed.
The Free Association are Holmes, Steve Hilton, Petra Jean Phillipson and
Sean Reveron. Holmes and Hilton take care of the production, while
Phillipson and Reveron, a silky female vocalist and San Francisco rapper,
have proved to be excellent finds.
Paper Underwear is an infectious slab of organ-driven funk, and if your toes
aren’t tapping along to this then you should probably seek medical help.
Reveron kicks off the album on the slamming Don’t Rhyme No Mo, on which he
spits hard over a thumping industrial-type beat.
It’s then the turn of Phillipson on the excellent I Wish I Had A Wooden
Heart to showcase the range of vocal styles and talent at the hands of
Holmes and Hilton. This obviously isn’t lost on the production duo as they
bang out a further eight tracks of exceptional quality.
Pushin’ A Broom is one of the real standout tracks, with some head-nodding
brass funk taking Phillipson away, before Reveron closes his account over
some dirty, driving funk on La Dolce Vita.
Whistlin’ Down The Wind closes the album brilliantly with Phillipson’s
slightly deranged musings over a strangely dark but funky track, but the
production is absolutely incredible throughout.
For fans of Holmes this is a must have album, for those unfamiliar with his
work, this is the perfect place to start.
www.13amp.tv
Reviewed
by Fraser Syme
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