Austin duo set off
a soul explosion
A mainstay of Austin’s music scene and co-founder of the much-treasured
Latin rock-soul-funk ensemble Grupo Fantasma, guitarist and producer Adrian
Quesada was searching for a vocalist who could do justice to some psychedelic-soul
demos when a friend connected him with a Californian newcomer named Eric
Burton. The Black Pumas’ debut proves just how fortuitous the pairing was.
Quesada’s Norman Whitfield-via-Dap-Kings grooves are
impeccably matched with Burton’s voice, which can go from buttery Al Green
smooth to Wilson Pickett bluster in no time flat – just try “Black Moon
Rising”, “You Know Better” and the wrenching “Oct 33” for vivid proof. The
duo’s lesser songs may not stray from a familiar pocket of retro-soul, but it’s
a very fine pocket nonetheless.
JASON ANDERSON
