Crushed Velvet & The Velveteers drop powerful album ‘Love & Truth’
Alan Evans, multi instrumentalist and co-founder of acclaimed US band Soulive, releases powerful soul album Love & Truth as his alter ego Crushed Velvet & the Velveteers.
Love & Truth evokes the classic 60s and 70s soul & funk of Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and NYC, blending the retro sound with a modern sensibility, strong songwriting and powerhouse vocals. The songs feature an all star line-up of acclaimed guest vocalists including Kim Dawson (Pimps of Joytime / Matador Soul Sounds), Saundra Williams (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings / Saun & Starr), Lyle Divinsky (The Motet), Yanick (After Funk) and Brother GoodLove (Aztec Sun). Evans handles guitar, bass and drums with guests such as Darby Wolf & Neal Evans on keys and the horn section from the BT ALC Big Band.
The album opens with “Really Can’t Get Over You”, a feel-good slice of sunny uptempo soul, with catchy hooks and a singalong chorus, featuring the liquid soul voice of Yanik. While the powerful voice of Kim Dawson features on three songs: the gorgeous “You Are My Home” that oozes emotion, hard-driving “Keep On Fighting” and “Good Thang”, a 3 minute head bopping ‘funk classic’, previously released as a single on 7 inch vinyl & digital.
“Say Their Names Be The Change” featuring Lyle Divinsky of The Motet on vocals and “We Are Not Ok feat. Brother GoodLove” are hard hitting, gritty soul funk tracks with exquisite in the pocket grooves and passionate vocals. While “As Far As We Know” is a huge soul song, dripping with emotion and power that features vocal powerhouse Brother GoodLove. As does “Every Second of the Day””, a lush soul ballad featuring the fabulous vocal talent that is Saundra Williams backing vocalist for Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and later half of soul duo Saun & Starr on Daptone Records.
Love & Truth is an album of outstanding musicianship, powerhouse vocal performances but most of all classic songwriting that oozes authentic soul.
“Love & Truth” out on LP / CD / Digital on June 18th via Vintage League Music
