Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By The Mama-dukes featuring the MoTronics, Independent 2019.
Once again I’m starting off the new year with the latest release from my Straddie friends the Mama-dukes.
Dugald and the team are a constant source of wonder to me. In the seven albums they have released from their debut (at least to me) of Rusty Gold from Point Lo back in 2013 they have delved into musical genres as diverse as Folk, Country (and Western), Blues/Roots, Surf, and even a little Garage/Grunge and now it’s the turn of Disco.
Now, I have to be honest and say that disco is not one of my favourite musical forms, but in the hands of the Mama-dukes, I still found plenty to like.
The opening track, Feel The Love, gives us a taste of what’s to come as the disco beat sets the tempo.
On this album their trademark guitar-driven sound is often replaced by synths and rhythm machines but the sound is still unmistakably Mama-dukes.
As per usual there are some cracking songs on the disc. I love the funky bass-lines of Ma Cherie, Booty Call and Stand As One and the album ends on a high with Coming For You.
Over the years I’ve noticed how the collective has become more sophisticated in their song writing and recording processes
Many of the songs on this album deviate from the simple verse-verse-chorus-verse approach of earlier material to involve complex melodic and rhythmic changes that provide additional interest for the listener.
There are some deviations from the dance theme on the album. Sugar Brown, while a nice love song, isn’t really a dance track (unless you include slow cheek to cheek canoodling) and Through The Top, while having disco overlays, is really an edgy bluesy rock track.
However, these are trifling issues when you consider the breadth and depth of the Mama-dukes vision and output.
When you consider that these folk are not full-time professional musicians but ordinary people that have to juggle their musical passions with more prosaic things, such as earning a living, then what they have achieved is truly remarkable.
I strongly support independent musicians so why not have a listen to the Mama-dukes.
