Durand Jones and the Indications Inject Soul into Summer with ‘Private Space’
Jim Shahen
Posted On July 29, 2021
Summer. It’s the ideal time to get down and get funky. Of course, you need the right set of tunes for that. Enter Durand Jones and the Indications with the fantastic, groovalicious new LP Private Space.
Led by co-lead vocalists Durand Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer, the group carved out a niche for itself as earthy, Curtis Mayfield-indebted ’70s soul stylists on its buzzworthy 2019 album American Love Call. Jones and the Indications could have continued in that vein and, due to their musical proficiency and the timelessness of that genre, and it still would have been pretty cool. But with Private Space the band has done something far more exciting, pushing their sound into bold disco-and-funk-fueled soundscapes.
Just take a listen to lead single, “Witchoo.” First, it expertly weaves Frazer’s sugary sweet falsetto with Jones’ authoritative rasp more seamlessly than ever to create an earworm of a bridge and chorus. Then there’s that irrepressibly funky bassline and beat, augmented by some spacy keys courtesy of Steve Okonski. After a year-plus of staying at home, it’s a clarion call to, as Funkadelic once encouraged listeners, get off your ass and jam.
That uptempo vibe continues on “The Way That I Do,” which feels like a hybrid of the Daft Punk-Nile Rodgers-Pharrell collab “Get Lucky” and a track inexplicably omitted from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. “Sea of Love” is similarly readymade for the dancefloor, with the added bonus of Jones delivering his sexiest vocal track on the album.
It’s not all hard dance jams, however. The ballads are soulful and lean, immaculate in composition and performance. Generally, this domain is where Frazer shines, and on the title track and “Ride or Die,” he expertly channels the Philly soul sound of the ’70s. But what’s a real treat is the dynamism Jones brings to the table on “Sexy Thang” and “More Than Ever.” On these two tracks, he tests and expands his boundaries as a singer. Jones showcases a subtlety, emotional nuance and malleability to his voice that was only hinted at on the group’s last album. As much as the new musical flourishes help the Indications further develop their sound, Jones’ growing skillset proves just as vital in helping them further expand it.
With Private Space, Durand Jones and the Indications have provided the soundtrack we need this summer. Listen to it immediately.
