Friday, January 1, 2010

Tower Of Power - Urban Renewal

Some things might have changed a lot since 1974 but Tower Of Power's Urban Renewal album from that year gets underway with the incredibly funky, eco-conscious 'Only So Much Oil In The Ground', by asking what we gonna do when our wasteful use of this product leaves us dry. Not perhaps quite so ozone concerned then, but still I would imagine ahead of its time lyrically for then.
'It's Not The Crime' concerns itself more with the boundaries and legalities of a certain acts in a post hippie era, but with dirty and funky beat. Some of you of a certain age may even recognise the beginning, as it was used by Dave Lee Travis many years ago as a jingle on his radio show.
Other cool phat funky tunes on here are 'Maybe It'll Rub Off', 'Give Me the Proof' and instrumental showcase 'Walkin' Up Hip Street', where the musicians get to display their skills . It has to be said that this band can cut a groove with the best of ‘em and I wouldn't like to say who would win a clash between them and say someone like the JB's. The one thing that may hand it to this lot though is they can change pace and style with ease as there are also some fine soul ballads as well, from the rich silky 'I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To' and 'Willing To Learn', which also displays Lenny Williams brilliant voice to full effect, while 'I Believe In Myself' is a brilliantly, bright and up beat soul mover.
Tower Of Power are a great versatile band who are tighter than one of those new polyurethane swimsuits...owww......and this LP is a finely captured display of their talents.

No comments: