Flavia And
The Red – Too Late To Cry (Independent)
2012 was a breakthrough year for Flavia And The Red.
The Los Angeles quintet were chosen to play Summerfest, the world’s largest
music festival, they landed bi-monthly residencies at two of the hottest clubs
in their home-city and, at the end of the year, they released their debut
album, “Too Late To Cry”.
Flavia Watson sings and writes the majority of the
material, and she excels at both disciplines; instilling jazz, funk, soul and
pop hooks in and around a sophisticated blues-rock setting. Her band, The Red
afford outstanding support, and the level of musicianship and supple
arrangements allows the singer plenty of room to properly explore her songs.
The launch the album with “Whiskey
and Lace” and their capabilities are made apparent almost instantly.
Flavia’s voice is rich and soulful, and guitarist Chris
Pucher and keys-man Rich Brown work together providing melodic nuance and
understated zeal. The unexpected result is a sound that hovers intriguingly between
a nightclub lounge and the swamp.
It’s the
first of many highlights; the title track employs a classic walking rhythm,
courtesy of drummer Isaac Watts and bass-man Max Benson; it’s sultry and steamy,
and not unlike Peggy Lee’s “Fever”. Fans of Imelda May should investigate
pronto. At the other extreme, “Out
in the Cold” is
wonderfully jazzy and chic, with Pucher and Brown on particularly fine form.
Phil S.
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