[rating=6.00]
The stated goal for the Brooklyn based funk outfit Turkuaz on their fifth album Life in The City was to inject some real life into their music, putting some vitality into this cold world. Unfortunately, their clear influences overwhelm and force comparisons to more affecting tunes; that fine line between homage and biting is dangerously tiptoed throughout Life In The City.
The nine-piece of Dave Brandwein [guitar, vocals], Taylor Shell [bass], Craig Brodhead [guitar, keys], Michelangelo Carubba [drums], Chris Brouwers [trumpet, keys], Greg Sanderson [tenor sax], Josh Schwartz [baritone sax, vocals], Sammi Garett [vocals], and Shira Elias [vocals] certainly are all professional players and production from Jerry Harrison is clean and clear (if thin at times), but all too often the songs just float by without making a dent emotionally.
If Harrison’s involvement wasn’t a giveaway already, the group is clearly shooting for Remain In The Light era Talking Heads on Life In The City. Multiple tracks recall that record specifically as “The One And Only” gets polyrhythmic with tons of at odds instrumentation and layers of vocals while “Make You Famous” comes complete with its own Bernie Worrell inspired keyboard break around cross sectioning layers of singing. “If I Ever Fall Asleep” continues the Remain In The Light vibes with paranoid lyrics around bass and rhythms in dance/rock/funk fashion, paying hefty royalties to “Crosseyed and Painless” and surprisingly The Pharcyde (lyrically) before the excellent soaring vocals of “If I Can Rule The World” which also has an underlying Talking Heads feel.
Leaving the Heads for a minute other influences are also clear and overly present. The opening title track revolves around a direct “Eminence Front” riff/groove and “Lovely Lady” is a polished Parliament Funkadelic rip while the distant “Superstatic” tries to channel Rick James, but never delivers the passion or even the dirty sex.
The most successful effort is the straight-ahead pop rock of “The Question” which again contains a stunning female vocal lead before a chorus and soaring bridge complimented by tight horn arraignments and a guitar solo. The soulful closer “Fight The Fire” is a slow burn with style as well, proving that some restraint could tighten up the group’s overall studio results. These songs are sure to thrive and flourish on stage as Turkuaz is a growing force on the live jam scene where studio albums often arent in the day to day listening rotation of fans, but where the live shows count all the way.
