Check out that cover! If that alone doesn’t tell you that you’re in for a treat with Private Space, the new album from Durand Jones & The Indications, then I don’t know what will.
Well, the sound will – that’s for certain. Private Space is an outstanding record that moves away a bit from the band’s love of 1960s soul and R&B and embraces its love of 1970s music, which, yes, includes disco. The album was made during the crazy year of 2020, and the band wanted to create something that not only reflected the time, but would also help listeners forget it, even if for just a little while.
“Love Will Work It Out” is the band’s message of hope for the future. They knew the last political cycle and the pandemic would eventually end, and that leaving hatred behind was the only way to move forward (“Joy will set us free, if you do believe. So, don’t you ever doubt that love will work it out.”). The bubbly, bumping synths of “Witchoo” and the wicked bass by Mike Montgomery get you moving no matter what you’re doing. It’s a great song about partying, either by design or at a moment’s notice.
“Private Space” has drummer / co-lead singer Aaron Frazer singing a tale of longing for escape with his lover (“When we stand in a crowd, I feel so far from you. Here we can’t do the things we both know we want to do.”). As if that wasn’t enough to make you run for the nearest bed with your better half, then “More Than Ever” will probably seal the deal as Jones sings, with effortless smoothness, lyrics meant to invoke a shedding of clothing.
“Ride or Die” is a tribute to the vows of “for better or for worse,” as Jones sings about catching rain falling through a leaky roof in a cup with his lover one day and popping champagne bottles with her later after all their hard work and mutual support. The groove that Frazer, keyboardist Steve Okonski, and guitarist Blake Rhein put down on “The Way That I Do” is nothing short of stunning.
“Reach Out” has Jones singing to, on the surface, a lonely woman who’s burdened with stress, but, in reality, to the world in general as everyone needed a helping hand through 2020 (“All them burdens, it’s more than anyone should bear. Silently hurting, but you know you can always share. You’ve been worried the pain will never cease to ache.”).
“Sexy Thang” is just as naughty and funky as you hope it will be with a title like that. “Sea of Love” has Jones realizing he’s made a terrible mistake by letting a lover go for what he thought were greener pastures. Frazer’s simple yet groovy beats pair perfectly with Jones’ vocals and piano work on it. The album closes with the uplifting “I Can See” – a track that stresses better times will come if we work together (“We can’t make it on our own. There’s another way through the darkness all alone. There’s a brighter day.”).
It’s a wonderful record, and one that we all needed coming out of the heaviest part of the pandemic (not to mention the 2020 election and all its aftermath).
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to Sam at Pitch Perfect PR.]
