ADVERTISE
CONTACT US
SUBMISSIONS
  • News
    Les Imprimés playing guitar

    Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

    Dina Ögon

    Dina Ögon impress with a stunning dose of Swedish soul / Mormor

    Woman in shadow

    Jean Root covers a classic with class / Aint Nobody

    Marie Dahlstrom and Delleile Ankrah

    [WATCH] Marie Dahlstrom floats in new duet / Clouds

    Imla with guitar

    [WATCH] Imla shares her Christmas memories / Sweetheart

    45 single

    Paul Mac Innes – Falling by the Wayside arrives on 45

    Miri Tesfazion

    Miri Tesfazion introduces her alternative dark R&B / Pressure

    Tilda Allie

    Genre-bending Tilda Allie electrifies / Say No

  • Reviews
    • All
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
    • Single / EP Reviews
    Elna Romberg christmas

    Christmas – Elna Romberg 

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Lost EP - AME ARDAI

    Lost EP – AME ARDAI

    Dtroit Heavy LP album cover

    Heavy – D/troit

  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Scandinavian Soul Sessions
    • Soul Talk
    Black & white soul singer

    Soul music – the sound of societal change

    Johan Nilsson

    [INTERVIEW] Behind the groove with Band of Pockets

    Aureola

    I wanted it to sound like the feeling of running your hand over silk – Aureola

    Naomi Vaughn

    ‘We just broke out laughing and kept laughing’ – Interview with Naomi Vaughn

    Fredrik Hjulmand

    Behind the groove with FHIO and his debut single – I Never Knew

  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Music Awards
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Artists / Bands
  • Videos
    • Playlists
  • Shop
    • SOUL SHOP
      • STYLE
      • MERCHANDISE
      • VINYL
      • BOOKS
      • SALE
No Result
View All Result
0

No products in the basket.

  • News
    Les Imprimés playing guitar

    Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

    Dina Ögon

    Dina Ögon impress with a stunning dose of Swedish soul / Mormor

    Woman in shadow

    Jean Root covers a classic with class / Aint Nobody

    Marie Dahlstrom and Delleile Ankrah

    [WATCH] Marie Dahlstrom floats in new duet / Clouds

    Imla with guitar

    [WATCH] Imla shares her Christmas memories / Sweetheart

    45 single

    Paul Mac Innes – Falling by the Wayside arrives on 45

    Miri Tesfazion

    Miri Tesfazion introduces her alternative dark R&B / Pressure

    Tilda Allie

    Genre-bending Tilda Allie electrifies / Say No

  • Reviews
    • All
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
    • Single / EP Reviews
    Elna Romberg christmas

    Christmas – Elna Romberg 

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Try Again Tomorrow – Jean Root

    Lost EP - AME ARDAI

    Lost EP – AME ARDAI

    Dtroit Heavy LP album cover

    Heavy – D/troit

  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Scandinavian Soul Sessions
    • Soul Talk
    Black & white soul singer

    Soul music – the sound of societal change

    Johan Nilsson

    [INTERVIEW] Behind the groove with Band of Pockets

    Aureola

    I wanted it to sound like the feeling of running your hand over silk – Aureola

    Naomi Vaughn

    ‘We just broke out laughing and kept laughing’ – Interview with Naomi Vaughn

    Fredrik Hjulmand

    Behind the groove with FHIO and his debut single – I Never Knew

  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Music Awards
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Artists / Bands
  • Videos
    • Playlists
  • Shop
    • SOUL SHOP
      • STYLE
      • MERCHANDISE
      • VINYL
      • BOOKS
      • SALE
No Result
View All Result
0

No products in the basket.

No Result
View All Result
Cool album cover

Soul Tune Records drop two fresh retro-soul 45's

D'Sound & Macy Gray connect souls on new single / Save Some

Going Back, Moving Up – Dark Roast

Retro Soul / Soul

Andy Collins by Andy Collins
02/06/2021
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Pinterest

So much of our daily music choices are dictated by our mood. That can be driven by our current life circumstances, our activity, or the weather. Even as a reviewer, I must be mindful of any of these unconscious biases filtering through.

With this understanding, Dark Roast‘s 14-track second album feels playable irrespective of time, feeling or climate. The album is a presentation of soul, retro in style and passionately communicated.

Dark Roast chose the right name for the deliciousness they are cooking.

Dark Roast has revisited the past and extracted the parts that made music such a rich and fascinating listen. Working as a group to write and record can be difficult, but the effort pays off. Comprised of six young males’, their lyrics on love are written in the old-fashioned way of ‘opening up’ – pleading, wanting or lost. And, in their complex world of passion, dating apps don’t exist. Everything about Going Back, Moving Up by Dark Roast works from the band’s fashion and cover design to the most crucial part – musical execution.

The smooth and catchy Running Away sparkles with a fiery guitar while the drummers’ licks and dazzling horn section on Stuff I need to Say uplift this sassy and commanding track. The bass lines throughout are tighter than a ’70’s t-shirt! And all tracks deliver a funky togetherness, such as Watcha Gonna Do Now.

James Brown would be proud.

Interspersed between are instrumental cuts (Getting Ready for The Trip, Eva, Space Talk, Dark Roast Theme and Northern Disco Lights) bridging between engrossing vocal-led songs. And these bridges are not to be crossed in a hurry. Instead, the view they expose is the bands’ core of exemplary improvisational musicianship and love for all things jazzy and funky. Their jazz education has paid off like a Las Vegas fruit machine with three matching cherries.

The synergy of Dark Roast reverbs through their joint musicianship, voices, and lyrics making every track such as Wait for You such a pleasure.

Dark Shades Hiding Sharp Eyes elevates feel-good vibes with a gorgeous ’70s string break. Wonderfully catchy, only the fastest foot shufflers should attend this dance-floor party! What Time Do We Leave delivers a classy mid-tempo soul single. At the same time, the endlessly playable Let Go is an irresistible sweet horned summer jazz fusion.

Though centre stage, the excellent vocals of Johan Helland work harmoniously with the band, the achievement means the sound is delivered as one voice – one soul band.

The beautiful ballad Brother is black music affectionately told through the soft rhythms of a Nordic soul band. May I remind you all songs on this album are originals, especially when hearing a track of such high lyrical and vocal calibre. And despite Keep on Going being the final album track, it doesn’t recline in delivering a memorable experience.

The album ticks so many essential boxes:

  • Funk that grooves
  • Soul music with heart
  • Instrumentals with flair
  • Ballads to ignite emotion
  • Original and strong songwriting
  • Scandinavian (ok, this is just our box)

Bizarrely and frustratingly, music such as this is no longer destined for commercial charts. Admittedly, this band may be perfectly reviving the past, but no one complains when Bruno Mars does it. People need to make better music choices and help make underground bands like Dark Roast mainstream again.

The Review

Going Back, Moving Up - Dark Roast

5 Score

A straight 5 with no chaser from me. This is 100% soulfulness. Just needs a vinyl pressing!

Review Breakdown

  • 5
Tags: album reviewDark RoastNorwegianretro soul
Fieh live Fieh live Fieh live
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Les Imprimés playing guitar
Latest News

Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

by Andy Collins
01/02/2023
45 single
Latest News

Paul Mac Innes – Falling by the Wayside arrives on 45

by Andy Collins
01/12/2022
Tilla
Latest News

Tilla serves majestic lo-fi vibes / Expensive Metals

by Andy Collins
21/10/2022
Vero Nero
Latest News

Vero Noah’s uplifting soulful pop single thrills

by Andy Collins
20/10/2022
Load More

Discover more

Les Imprimés playing guitar
Latest News

Big Crown Records sign Norwegian artist Les Imprimés

01/02/2023
Dina Ögon
Latest News

Dina Ögon impress with a stunning dose of Swedish soul / Mormor

29/01/2023
Woman in shadow
Latest News

Jean Root covers a classic with class / Aint Nobody

26/01/2023
Prev Next

Archives

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

  • If you found the image arresting just wait till you hear the track! @tildaallie dropped her single - Say No last month and it’s contemporary blend of soul and hip hop is just as captivating as the image! Expect the unexpected here! Love it! ♥️
Follow @tildaallie and discover this UK based Swedish artist/producer 
*Edited and reposted*
#scandinaviansoul #tildaallie #newmusic #contemporary #swedishmusic #soulful
  • This new cover version by @saiesaiesoul took us in her arms and rocked us like a baby! ❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥
Her live recorded version adds a new dimension and energy to this classic and we love it!! ❤️❤️
Follow @saiesaiesoul 
#scandinaviansoul #soul #swedish #saiesaie #video #newmusic #disco #rockyoubaby
  • New music and fresh vibes are delivered by @bby.beige and her new single / över dig under dig. Prepare for the unexpected on this soulful single and we’re hoping there’s a video to this soon! 
Follow @bby.beige 
We’ve got a good feeling about where she’s headed. And that’s up! 🔥🔥

Little extra details…

  • Our services
  • My account
  • Customer Service
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Behind the scenes

  • ABOUT US
  • EVERYTHING SCANDINAVIAN SOUL IS AND ISN’T
  • JOIN OUR TEAM

stripe

© 2012-2022 scandinaviansoul.com. Design by 68-design.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Single / EP Reviews
    • Album Review
    • Live Review
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Soul Talk
  • Events
    • Scandinavian Soul Festival 2013
  • Videos
  • Playlists
  • Artists / Bands
  • SOUL SHOP
  • Cart
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • About us
Close