Back in the '70s, many white rock critics tried to convince their readers that the decade's soul, funk, and disco simply couldn't hold a candle to '60s R&B. But most connoisseurs of '70s R&B weren't buying it, which is why they turned to the late, great Soul magazine (the Vibe of its era) for information and relied on more insightful writers like Leonard Pitts Jr. and Steven Ivory (two regular Soul contributors). And these days, the theory that '70s R&B is horribly inferior to '60s R&B is seldom tossed around -- in the '90s ...
Read More
Back in the '70s, many white rock critics tried to convince their readers that the decade's soul, funk, and disco simply couldn't hold a candle to '60s R&B. But most connoisseurs of '70s R&B weren't buying it, which is why they turned to the late, great Soul magazine (the Vibe of its era) for information and relied on more insightful writers like Leonard Pitts Jr. and Steven Ivory (two regular Soul contributors). And these days, the theory that '70s R&B is horribly inferior to '60s R&B is seldom tossed around -- in the '90s and 2000s, countless artists (everyone from Lisa Stansfield to Jamiroquai) have been totally obsessed with the African-American music of the '70s. That is certainly the case with Arne Drescher, also known as Monsieur Leroc. Oh La La!, the German producer's second album, is yet another example of unapologetic '70s worship in the 2000s. This 2003 release is hardly an exact replica of '70s recordings; rather, Leroc's quirky, eccentric work fuses his '70s fixation with hip-hop, jazz, and club music. Oh La La! is an example of what journalist Nelson George calls retro-nuevo -- that is, R&B that worships the past without being oblivious to more contemporary sounds. Nonetheless, Leroc's passion for '70s soul and funk is impossible to miss, and this generally likable, if uneven, CD draws on influences that range from Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, and Sly Stone to De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers. At times, Leroc allows his eccentricity to get the best of him; parts of Oh La La! are too self-indulgent for their own good, and Leroc sometimes meanders when he should get to the point. But when Leroc successfully hits the right groove, Oh La La! becomes an enjoyably funky demonstration of the seemingly unending influence of '70s R&B. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Oh La La! to cart. $8.74, Sold by MUSICAL ENERGI rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Wilkes-Barre, PA, UNITED STATES, published by CRAS 031.
Edition:
CRAS 031
CD
Details:
Label:
CRAS 031
Alibris ID:
17532706287
Shipping Options:
Standard Shipping: $4.99
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
