British funk renegades The Baker Brothers are back after a 5-year hiatus with new album The Next Last Party, where their signature sound characterised by tight horns, a driving rhythm section, and irresistibly funky guitar riffs, remains killer as ever.

British funk renegades The Baker Brothers continue their journey as the banner men of contemporary Brit-Funk as they dive headlong into their new album The Next Last Party, a showcase of the band members’ musicianship and ability to embrace and interpret the grooves which have influenced them. With a mélange of punchy disco, blue eyed soul and hard funk rhythms enhanced by the guest vocals of Hannah Williams and Frankie Connolly, the new album delivers a sonic journey of musical evolution with a compelling and trademark track list.

The pace is immediately set with album opener and first single “Sunrise”, a fiery funk anthem about a party that you just don’t want to end, featuring soul singer Hannah Williams‘ powerful vocals. “Heartbreaker” on the other hand is a Brit-funk soul stomper with punchy horns, driving bass, and an emotive vocal from bandmember Geoff, capped with a gospel-inspired chorus.

“You Are the One” is a fun, classic, bouncy slap bass track, while “Sleepwalking” displays a Thundercat-meets-Hiatus Kaiyote vibe with a socially conscious message, highlighted by NOLO‘s warm, enveloping vocals. Nostalgic blue-eyed soul is on the menu in “Yesterday Holding On”, which reminisces about puppy love and dreamy nights, while “The Brexican”, as the name may suggest, is a live, broken beat instrumental reflecting on the polarizing effects of Brexit.

“No Sweat” is a loose yet tight jam with swirling guitar delays and a wonky bassline, “Western Morning” is a soulful, uplifting tune about supporting friends in tough times, vocally delivered by Frankie Connolly. In “I Hate It When You Go” the inspiration is 1980s dream pop, used to explore life’s tensions and the balance between ambition and love. The album closes out with tracks “Unrest” and “All The Time”, the former a punchy, tension-filled track about the struggles of addiction, the latter a tender, easy-listening song with shimmering strings, expressing deep love and a longing to be understood.

If The Baker Brothers’ journey so far has been a testament to their unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of funk, The Next Last Party is certainly their most accomplished album yet, another step forward in their musical evolution while remaining true to their roots.