There is just something that happens to my entire soul when
I am listening to good record. It’s like the bugs of negativity that have been infesting
me for days, weeks, months seem to rise and leave my entire being and these
gold and rose colored droplets of positive deposit in their place. Is there no
better feeling that a good uplifting batch of sounds for your soul? I ask, but
I know the answer. Boston’s The Elovators know the answer too, and that’s why they
have given us all their new record, Defy Gravity. It’s everything we need right
now.
I stumbled on these guys a while back and did a piece on
their last record, The Cornerstone. (you can check that out HERE) I thought it was outstanding and really
captured a vibe of pure love and peace, and goodness knows we can’t have enough
of that these days. I really didn’t think they could up that game, but here I
am with these sounds in my ears and I’m completely floored. This vibe is complete
fire. The beat is silky and the vocals are harmonious and sweet while still
hitting deep and hard. There is a perfect mix of really groove heavy bass,
soaring guitar work, funk and soul keys, expertly done percussions, and
incredibly beautiful vocals that set The Elovators apart from their contemporaries.
These guys have really tapped into that pure sweet gold vibe in music. It’s a
perfect mix of sway, dance, and smile and it comes through in every track.
The first track, Live By The Day, is just so sexy and tight.
It’s got that dip and pulse vibe that seems to pull at your body when you
listen so much that you find yourself moving with it’s waves. The vocals are
gorgeous, as usual. I love the way the Elovators write vocals into their songs.
They are like a swaying batch of sea grass -
all bits of the song come together and wave back and forth, yet still
split apart with the changing of the breezes. The bass line in this song is really
sensual and I love that element. Skipping on over to Gonna Shine for some real chilled
standard reggae beat and vibe rounded out with that positive charge that we all
love about these guys. Then it picks up tempo and it’s like the sun just came
out in the late morning and showed us another gorgeous day. I love this band’s uplifting
soul and how it shines through their songs.
People Go starts off with some steady percussion and kicks
in with some guitar and sweet bass, a bit of clap, keys, and a whole lot of
sweet soul. It’s more of that sunshine through the rain and kicking vocals in
this track. Great guitar work. Outstanding groove that gets in you and keeps
you moving. This is the kind of song that pulls at your smile at the corners of
your mouth as the dancing starts. This one is going to be a whole lot of fun
live. So much room for jams, already a really funky cool solo in the mix. My
Baby takes that smooth jam down a few notches into something sensual and cool.
Very clearly a love song, it’s got that sexy smoothness while still holding the
uplift and body moving vibe. Great lyrics, lovely vocals.
The Ladder is one of my favorite tracks on this record. The
percussion is stellar. The groove has several changes through the song. The vocals
are strong, powerful, and uplifting. The lyrics are just what I needed today.
This song is getting deep into all the cracks in me right now and I loving it. This
is one of those songs that lights up a crowd with positive, jumping energy
bursts and I want to be there to experience it because it will be amazing. Well
done, guys. The last track, Shaking off the Wolves, takes it all down a notch
with some earthy acoustic guitar and light vibe. The vocals go deep and strong.
About halfway through, the tempo kicks up a bit and the song carries you high
with a message of hope, peace, and strength. That message is conveyed not just
in words, but the overall vibe of the song. It’s a skill I love about this
band. Another example of fantastic writing by The Elovators.
Defy Gravity was recorded and mixed by Danny Kalb, who is
known for his work with artists like The Movement and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub
Squad, at White Star Studios in Virginia. It’s a sophisticated and groove heavy
piece of awesome and I am incredibly impressed with where these guys went with
their writing this time around. The Cornerstone was a fantastic display of their
style, but Defy Gravity proves how polished that style can be. It’s a elegant
and chill record and I’m here to tell you that you need it in your life. The
world is constantly pelting us all with boulder-size orbs of negative energy
lately, and we need all the sweet peace and uplifting groove we can find. I can’t
think of a single record right now that would be better suited to fight all
that ugly than this gorgeous piece of splendid right here.
You can get your copy of Defy Gravity HERE.
Check back with the band’s website for tour info. As soon as
these guys hit NJ/NYC, I’ll be out there, and I hope to see you grooving with
us!
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