'The Next Last Party' by The Baker Brothers

'The Next Last Party' marks the new album from UK funk & soul stalwarts, The Baker Brothers.

Having initially formed in 2000, the revered collective have gone on to release a staggering eleven studio albums in nearly 25 years, excluding their litany of singles, EPs and live projects.  With releases in that time unveiled through a variety of esteemed label homes including the UK's Freestyle Records, Italy's Record Kicks and Japan's P-Vine Records, The Baker Brothers enthusiastically look for new ways to express themselves musically and continually seek to evolve their sound. 

Comprised of band members Chris Pedley (bass), Geoff Lai (guitar), Paul Young (sax) and Theodore Carrasco (drums), The Baker Brothers have become renowned for their commitment to a classic funk & soul aesthetic - openly paying homage to heroes including the recently departed Quincy Jones, D'Angelo, Questlove, Sly & The Family Stone and The Meters.  Recent releases however have found The Baker Brothers excitingly trying new things resulting in an inspired and more versatile overall sound.

'High Rez' from 2017 saw the collective turn their attention towards a more club-focused sound introducing subtle twinges of house and hip-hop, and aided in large part by the wonderful inclusion of New Orleans-born and London-based vocalist, Acantha Lang, whose exceptional vocal graces several songs throughout the album.

The release of 'The Next Last Party' finds the Bakers once again taking a decided step into slightly new musical realms by embracing the neighbouring soul sounds of disco with traces of soul and pop.  It's all of course created with the typical Baker Brothers flair throughout - songs like 'The Brexican' tease a harder-edged funk-afrobeat aesthetic typically associated with the group's earlier sound.  A real gem.   

'Sleepwalking', featuring guest vocals from Nolo, presents a rousing, near-anthemic soul number while 'No Sweat' delivers another infectious instrumental highlight at the criminally short runtime of two minutes.

And of course, there's the album's lead single - the dream team pairing of Bournemouth's finest alongside UK vocalist Hannah Williams for 'Sunrise'.  Considering the soul-drenched backdrops that both acts typically find their music immersed in, the disco-centric floor-filler is perhaps one that few would have envisaged of the pairing, but it makes for one of the album's standout tracks.

Once again, 'The Next Last Party' finds The Baker Brothers embracing the prospect of change and evolution in their music resulting in a an excellent record that would no doubt be a thrill to see performed live.