Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – ‘Retreat’
It would be misleading to label Sharon Jones as a soul revivalist, as this fails to capture the truth. Jones, alongside her impeccably talented band, The Dap Kings, embody the essence of soul music itself.
This alone is more than enough reason to feature Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings’ achingly nostalgic yet wonderfully fresh soul scorcher ‘Retreat’ as our track of the day.
Jones has come a long way since the universe aligned to bring her to the attention of dynamic funk and soul master Lee Fields years ago. Once working as a prison officer, this extraordinary American vocal talent has now released what may be one of her finest tracks to date, adding another milestone to a career that has seen collaborations with legends like Lou Reed, David Byrne, and the late Amy Winehouse.
Amidst the up-tempo sonic waves of ‘Retreat’, there’s an undeniably sinister edge lurking beneath. Jones belts out, “Play with me and you’ll play with fire, I can make you pay, I’ll burn you up, it’s my desire, do you hear what I say,” with a powerful soul delivery that would leave even the most formidable divas of the past quaking. If the fiery vocals don’t reveal the track’s darker undertones, the brilliantly brash horn section and the Boris The Spider-inspired bass arrangement certainly dispel any lingering doubts.
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings are undoubtedly Giving the People What They Want with their fifth studio album. If the remaining tracks carry even a fraction of the same energy and passion as ‘Retreat’, it’s set to be a top-notch record.
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