John Carroll Kirby is not one to be left behind. »Blowout« follows less than a year after his last album »Dance Ancestral«. (In general, the Los Angeles keyboardist and producer puts out his records at an unbelievable pace). On it: sun-drenched funk and soul carried on waves, all instrumental, all laid out with an incredible sense of melody. »The Takedown« works with an incredible groove, sometimes veering off in between, but never descending into psychedelic realms. Everything feels more like a daydream during this short hour of music. Kirby’s synthesiser and sound arrangements make the difference, such as on »Gecko Sound«, where a gentle rhythm gradually builds towards the end of the day, with a flute supporting the melody. A couple of dubs towards the back finally plunge the record into the wellness zone. The inspiration for this sound came from Kirby’s trip to Costa Rica, where he played with local musicians. If you guess calypso and tropical influences, you’d be right, but through an LA filter. »Blowout« is a summer record – for the whole year.
Blowout
