The Brand New Heavies Album: “Trunk Funk: The Best of the Brand New Heavies”

This is a truly great album. That should by rights be the end of this review but it can't be - everyone must know and love this music.

It is impossible to be sad while listening to this album. From the moment the bassline of "Saturday Nite" hits you you'll be dancing and happy. I speak from experience - the day I bought this album I was having a pretty bad run of things but the instant I put it on all my troubles vanished.

The album almost works like brain anaesthetic. The jamming on tracks like "Dream Come True" has a marvellously sedating effect on the listener and trying to follow one instrument through the other tracks is the musical equivalent of counting sheep.

Not to say this album is boring, far from it. It is truly an album made for parties. While almost no one may begin the party knowing who these guys are, it would be a rare party indeed which would end without at least 5 people asking if they could "borrow" this CD.

The vocals by N'Dea Davenport, Siedah Garrett and Carleen Anderson are just awe-inspiring. All three ladies can move from singing very high-pitched right down to the kind of voice you associate with smoky bars - and they can do this on a dime. The music is even better.

The Heavies are solidly rooted in the funk tradition and they don't let you forget it. Whether it be the funky basslines inspiring memories of Parliament or the intricate drum breaks to begin some of the tracks - you could really be excused for thinking you were back in the 70s.

Standout tracks? well, all of them in short. But in long:

Saturday Nite: the best way to open the album, a great bassline with Anderson funking away in the vox department.

Dream Come True: It starts off slowly but builds to an incredible jam session by the end. My CD player is convinced that it takes about 7:45 to do this but it sure desn't feel like it.

Dream On Dreamer: A mervellous vocal backed by some spot-on drumming. Watch the intro and tell me what you think.

Midnight At The Oasis: I first heard this song on a casino ad here in Brisbane. The properly funked version is much better all around. The vocals here from Siedah are incredible.

BNH: This is possibly the best track on the album. A wonderfully slow-building instrumental which you never want to finish. One of the rare instrumentals by groups with singers that really don't need vocals.

In all - you need this album. Everyone needs this album. Get it.

I'm glad this album is available here in the Philippines, though very very rare, I manage to get the last one in our vicinity. Like EWF, this band has got a lot of R&B flavor in it that makes you wanna groove all night long. Funky bass lines that I have always come to love in Cool-jazz recordings are ever present here...Personal favs are probably BNH, Saturday nite,and Sometimes. Get this album, it's worth the import price tag!!!!

Awesome!! Love the BNHs! Use to know them back in the UK days and am getting reacquainted. Like an old friend.

Reading at the leaflet inside the CD, BNH say America forgot to funk in the 90's. I think now there is no funk at all. BNH were the last hope and now it's all over. There are some excellent groups (I've been an Incognito fan for years and Jamiroquai is on my CD player almost every week), but BNH is what you expect for real funk.

This compilation is the answer. Listen to it and you will find a pure, complex, grooving and marvellous music. I cannot find anything but good songs. I've got some favourites, of course. Some of them make me sing, some make me dance, some make me smile. All of them make me feel optimistic.

My favourite:

- Saturday Nite: great for dance.

- Dream Come True: incredible 7 minute song. Wow wow, yeah yeah.

- Dream On Dreamer: a masterpiece: lyrics, rhythm, arrangements, everything.

- Midnight At The Oasis: extraordinary melody.

- You Are The Universe: the best love declaration.

- Shelter: boys also sing.

- You've Got A Friend: versions don't have to be worse than the original.

- Gimme One Of Those: perfect to make you smile.

I feel delighted listening to this CD. But, after this, BNH is over. And so is funk.