Heavy – D/troit

Vinyl records, or LP’s, as they should be called, but no one apart from audiophiles does, are the only format D/troit should be heard on. Period. Despite LP’s resurgence, I’m sure many readers will sadly not currently own a turntable.

Heavy by D/troit is an LP you’ll want to buy a turntable for! As an incredibly proud owner, it’s a Beauty, with a capital B.

The black, bold typography of the cover artwork is graphic design at its finest, perfectly imaging its arresting retro contents. The striking coloured disc is a feast for the eyes. Printed on stunning fluorescent orange vinyl, the almost spiritual act of delicately removing the disc from the inner sleeve is worth the careful effort. This feeling alone is worth the investment.

Nevertheless, this is 2022, not 1968, and the digital age is well and truly upon us. So if you’re a Spotify user, your experience may lack tactile joy, but the music will still resonate.

Heavy, D/troits sophomore album again taps into the influential dynamics of James Brown‘s funky templates and reopens the band’s soul faucet on full power. The musical arrangements of Copenhagen’s motor city band deliver ‘funktastic’ rhythms surging with aches of love and with emotional social statements.

D/troit use this album as a call for change in true homage to soul’s music birth and foundations. In particular, Decency which speaks to today’s world as it pleads for a change of attitude, respect and humanity.

The call and response of ‘You gotta have soul‘ on ‘Gotta Have Soul’ is classic soul/ funk style, and reflects the band’s desire to speak to a world in crisis. Thankfully D/troit make soul music with no expiry date. Dust this off in 50 years, and those flying cars will be rocking! And Love Machine will set them on fire!

Like a fully charged battery, their music is electrified and energised by lead vocalist Toke Nisted raspy vocals. His whiskey and smoke-drenched vocals in dynamic characteristics; you can virtually visualise his gyrating hip movements as he sings.

The smooth single Higher is the album’s polished diamond. Adorable from the opening this higher-pitched it’s a true, romantic affair. The horn section is magnificent!

Unafraid to get even steamier, the track Let’s make a baby is sensual baby-making music again proving the band enjoy the smooth with the rough. The instrument track D/hustle is their musicianship in full display and gives the album a moment to fully exhale. While the keys speak for themselves on the dreamy but short interlude D/swag.

When the world needs a reconnection to its soul, like right now, this is the album to do it. However, I do fear younger generations may struggle to connect with this undiluted raw soul music when they press play on their devices. No worries, D/troit’s Heavy will still be here fully charged, looking and sounding great in 2072.