Soul Vigilantes is a worldwide modern soul project leaded by spanish composer, arranger and producer Jose "Jas" Ãlvarez.
The project started in 2004 with the song Shy released as a 12" maxi-single on its first incarnation accompanied with a great Greg Gauthier & Tony L remix. Shy has been licensed for lots of compilations and has got impressive reviews. Since then Jose has been busy with his daytime job related with music for commercials and other many different productions, but he found the time for composing - with the help in lyrics on 3 tracks from the very talented Free Radicals' Mike Stanley - and arranging the songs included in "Background Noise", with Señorlobo and Bruno Muñoz production advice - the Lovemonk crew - and a lot of people involved in the project.Jose’s stuff inmediately attracted the interest of many great musicians and singers so easily a great cast could be involved in the album.
Xan Blacq’s velvet voice is the lead in four songs in the album. The Nigerian singer based in London is a rising star in the soul scene, Xan’s voice reminds of the best classic vocalists (Stevie, Marvin, Curtis,... you name it). The rest of the singers are not less amazing: Aqeel, from LA, is a hip hop and soul vocalist with a superclassy voice rooted in the best of Motown and of course Marvin Gaye; Jocelyn Medina is a NY jazz singer with an unique voice texture, sometimes reminding of Esther Phillips; Concha Buika is probably the most complete voice in Spain, her skills move from Jazz to Copla Flamenca and all things funk, she has collaborated with the major actors of the discerning dancefloors, from Trüby Trio to Ralf Gum; And closing the album the surprising voice of the new funky “La Lupeâ€, afro spanish funk sister Mayka Edjole, from The Sweet Vandals. Apart from these incredible vocalists, a couple of the tracks in the album feature lead vocals by Jas himself.The album also counts with great performers. An amazing all star horns section with Raul Marques from Portugal playing trumpet, Mandela from Cuba blowing Trombone and Rubén Morán playing Sax. MartÃn Buscaglia helps with bass and guitars. Yelsy Heredia from Cuba performs some bass parts too. Alex Maldonado apart from writing one of the funkiest tunes in the album - ‘Under Water’ - also plays guitars on a couple of songs; Miquel Ferrer, Speak Low’s Pax and Borja Barrueta playing drums. Even Rubén “Watch TV†GarcÃa, adds some of his infamous programming to a couple of tracks.The album was mixed by Toni Economides, part of Da Lata and engineer behind Bugz In The Attic, Phil Asher, Reel People, Seiji and many many more.
Artwork was made by Mike Davis of the infamous Burlesque studio in California.Background Noise is a fabulous Soul trip, walking on the good side of funk, with influences ranging from Prince, Steely Dan or Zapp to Earth Wind & Fire, D’Angelo, Chic or James Brown.Soon remixes by Elektrons, SImbad, Pilooski and TM Juke among others. And after that the actual CD release which will take place on February 2008.Enjoy it!
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You can download the album lyrics by clicking here:
BACKGROUND NOISE ALBUM LYRICS
