Gilles Peterson and Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick return with brilliant sophomore STR4TA album

FEATURED RELEASES

Gilles Peterson and Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick return with brilliant sophomore STR4TA album

Highly influential London-based DJ, broadcaster, and producer Gilles Peterson and pioneering multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and bandleader Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick (Incognito, Light of The World, Freeez) helped lead last year’s Brit-funk revitalization with the release of their remarkable debut LP Aspects, under the alias STR4TA (which was named BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Album of 2021). In much anticipation, they have teamed up again for a follow-up release, titled STR4TASFEAR (as a nod to the groundbreaking British group Atmosfear), that continues to pay homage to the Brit-funk sound.

This brilliant 15-track sophomore release picks-up right where Aspects left off, continuing to fuse together the raucous energy and the DIY sound of late 70s and 80s Brit-funk, with spacey-synth melodies, jazz dance grooves, and hypnotic vocals. The new album also includes some strong elements of early 90s UK street soul vibes (think Loose Ends and early recordings by Omar) on tracks like “When You Call Me” and “Night Flight”.

This recording also features a number of notable special guests, including Omar playing keys on “Why Must You Fly”, trumpeter Theo Croker on both “To Be As One” and “Soothsayer”, vocals and trumpet from Emma-Jean Thackray on the feel-good dancefloor burner “Lazy Days”, Brighton’s Anushka on a new rendition of their track “(Bring On The) Bad Weather”, and vocalist Valerie Etienne (Galliano, Jamiroquai) on “Find Your Heaven”.

Overall, the new album is great from start to finish, and continues to push the project’s sound forward, while celebrating a vital chapter of underground British dance music. Over the past couple of years, Brit-funk has seen a strong resurgence and appreciation, even beyond the region it originated, and Gilles, Bleuy, and the STR4TA project have played a significant role in that revival.

One of the year’s best albums!