THE KINKY COO COO'S - SWEET, FUN & READY (LP)

The Kinky Coo Coo's third album, after more than a decade dedicated to Jamaican rhythms, features an unmistakable sound encompassing instrumental ska classics like "Salvador" and "Black Love" (a tribute to Brazilian Carnival), rocksteady vocal duets like "Good Vibez," and hypnotic reggae tracks like "Keep Reggaes Nose Out." But TKCC doesn't limit themselves to Jamaican rhythms, showcasing their predilection for hybrids with American funk and soul, with explosive hits like "From Stem To Stern," "Hokusai Girl," and "Quiny Boy," and a firm step towards slower rocksteady tracks like "Jack Tar On Dry Land" and "Hand Baggage." The new album, titled as a "melting pot of cultures," draws from the instrumental ska track "Sweet Aretha" and the songs from their 2012 single with Alex Désert and Greg Lee (Hepcat). Their new album showcases the musical and compositional maturity of a nine-member band that has performed on stages in major European cities.