Ray Barnard & The Reverberation: Tinted

If Peter Fonda and Pam Grier cut a classic soundtrack... this would be the record. It's part cinematic soul, part funky roots album. Add some reggae touches, a righteous group of back-up singers, some judicious rhythm loops, (even hand claps) and that starts to get at Tinted Windows to the Soul. "Sounds like this" marketing links would include: Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Penn & Oldham, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings.

After 12 years fronting esteemed roots-rock band, The Copperheads, Ray is pursuing his brand of soul music. It's sardonic, groovy, topical, and yes, funky in its own particular way. Never a belter, Ray prefers economy of line, leaving songs & vocals free from needless filigree and clutter (the arrangements & grooves testify to that, too).

To help him find the groove, Ray went to Erik Koskinen, the Twin Cities roots artist & producer, whose reputation keeps growing. Erik has previously worked with Trampled By Turtles, Randy Weeks, The Waifs, Ray Bonneville, Molly Maher, and many more.

This is his first crack at a R&B production and with Ray's help, both succeed admirably. Most importantly, they keep finding ways to avoid blue-eyed soul cliches. Tracks that might've been soulful songwriter tracks or clever old school knock-offs become something else. They get more multi-dimensional, more provocative... and they rock.

Ray Barnard & the Reverberation is: Ray B, Erik Koskinen, Paul Bergen (Molly Maher, Hillbilly Voodoo Dolls), Matt Novachis (Keri Noble), Cynthia Johnson (Lipps Inc, Sounds of Blackness), Rena Haus, Emmaline Muchmore, Zack Lozier (Davina & The Vagabonds)

REVIEWS:
At first I thought, "Sweet, a converted blue-eyed souler proclaiming his newfound authenticity." Wrong. Thankfully, Ray B's got his own brand new bag. Vocally, he's drunk deep from the Bill Withers-Pops Staples well--understated (and underrated). Song-wise, he's kinda Mayfield, kinda old Nashville, kinda Gamble & Huff, kinda his own deal. Probably watched too many Pam Grier movies--but he's right, you can't watch too many of those.

There's also this subtle sense of classic reggae percolating in the production. This gives it a much different slant than Sharon Jones/James Hunter/Winehouse recordings. The clever use of horns and MPC loops adds cool neo-soul flourishes. My faves are: Carolee, a very pretty, sympathy-for-a-friend song and Classified, a dense, funky, stonewall to a nosy ex-lover. I was intrigued by the protest song in reverse, Deportation Day, and loved the spooky, visceral Race with the Devil. I could keep going, but suffice to say it's a shining jewel from out of left field.

Joe Robbie Luke - The Roots & Funky Numbers

This is one fascinating, far-out soul record - retro & mod, pretty & gritty, subtle & cinematic.

Sweet Marie Kelly - Van Buren Record Review