MUSIC REVIEW - Galactic

Galactic – Ya-Ka-May

I have long been a huge fan of the New Orleans’ style of brass-band and organic funk. From The Dirty Dozen and Rebirth Brass Bands, to Dr. John and Allen Toussaint, the New Orleans style of funk, jazz, and loud brass are things I just can’t get enough of, especially the music produced in the last few decades.

Starting in the 1980’s it became popular to mix R&B into the mix – Galactic emerged in 1996 as a band devoted to furthering and refining this infusion to the greatest extent they could. Their early albums were soulful N.O. jazz, and were very well received as such. But with their last album, From the Corner to the Block, they collaborated more with hip-hop artists, creating a brassy, bassy rap album.

With their new album, Ya-Ka-May, Galactic seems to have taken a bit of time to try and reconcile their New Orleans funk roots with their recent forays into electronic and rap. The first couple songs on the album are EXACTLY what you would expect from a renowned brass and funk artist, helped by a collaboration with Rebirth Brass Band. ‘Cineramascope’ (ft. Trombone Shorty & Corey Henry), and several other tracks are similarly reminiscent of Galactic’s early works – except they feature a lower, meatier bass line and some evidence of digital overdubs, neither of which are a bad thing.

There are also songs that are almost explicitly rap – ‘Katey vs. Nobby’ (ft. Katey Red & Sissy Nobby) and ‘Do It Again’ (ft. Cheeky Blakk) come off as a bayou-reimagining of crunk, and they do it WELL. And then there are tracks like ‘Liquor Pang’ (ft. Josh Cohen & Scully), a slower, New Orleans-style dirge mixed with some heavy beats and raspy-vocals; it’s awesome.

Overall, Ya-Ka-May is more accepting of Galactic’s past than their last album while also expanding what they are capable of recording. It’s my new favorite Galactic record – which is truly saying something.

Will I play it on my show? Yes. RIYL – Um… Galactic? There's not much out there that's like this right now.


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