We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Excursions in soul reggae funk & dub

by Gee Recordings

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      €11.99 EUR  or more

     

  • Compact Disc.
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    digipack

    Includes unlimited streaming of Excursions in soul reggae funk & dub via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Deluxe 12" vinyl version

    Includes unlimited streaming of Excursions in soul reggae funk & dub via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

about

SOUL SUGAR – EXCURSIONS IN SOUL, REGGAE, FUNK & DUB
Gee Recordings

Since first emerging in the latter half of the noughties, Guillaume Metenier’s Soul Sugar project has evolved considerably. Initially a trio built around the virtuoso organist’s love of ‘60s and ‘70s soul-jazz and Hammond funk – Metenier studied under jazz organ legend Dr Lonnie Smith – Soul Sugar is now a collaborative collective that draws just as much influence from classic Jamaican dub and reggae (think Jackie Mittoo and Augustus Pablo) as the works of Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff.

The outfit’s musical evolution comes into sharp focus on Excursions in Soul, Reggae, Funk & Dub, a collection of hard-to-find tracks that have been released at different points, and on different vinyl formats, over the last three years. Taken as a whole, the set offers a stunning snapshot of Soul Sugar’s rapidly expanding catalogue of classics.

Metenier is once again at the controls but this time round Soul Sugar’s cast list of contributing musicians includes Sly & Robbie, Blundetto, Lone Ark, Slikk Tim, Thomas Naim and honey-voiced soul singer Leo Carmichael. Metenier also stars as a musician, providing lively and ear-catching organ solos under his now familiar Booker Gee alias.

What’s most noticeable from the off is the richness of the reggae riddims, the warmness of the instrumentation and the effortlessly soulful nature of the music. This is particularly evident on the collective’s stunning covers of Luther Vandross’s ‘Never Too Much’ and Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Want You’: effortlessly sunny and life-affirming interpretations that re-imagine the tracks as sumptuous slabs of reggae-soul and provide a platform for Leo Carmichael’s inspiring and comforting voice.

Metenier and Blundetto’s take on dub reggae – toasty, authentically bass-heavy and seeped in analogue effects – can also be admired on ‘Matumbee’ and ‘Cool Down’, the latter a digi-dub influenced affair rich in colourful synths sounds, echoing delay trails and sub-bass so deep it will rattle your teeth. Both also contain lusciously jazzy guitar licks and some incredible keys-work from Metenier.

The guiding hand of Spanish multi-instrumentalist and producer Lone Ark can be heard on album opener ‘Axumites’ – think Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry producing Jimmy Smith – and ‘Faith’, an expertly breezy concoction that sports Jackie Mittoo-esque Hammond B3 solos from Metenier over a luscious backing track that sounds like something that may have emerged from Studio One in the mid 1970s.

The collective’s love of Studio One is explored further on a sweaty, reggae-funk cover of ‘Greedy G’ that features fabulous drums, bass and guitar from Slikk Tim, while ‘Out In The Rain’ is an authentically sparse, spaced-out dub number laden with fluid instrument solos and devilishly heavy riddim.

Part compilation, part artist album, part collaborative celebration of dub-soul fusion, Excursions in Soul, Reggae, Funk & Dub is the strongest statement yet of who Soul Sugar are, and where they’re going.

credits

released June 4, 2021

Personnel :
Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier : Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet & Mini Moog

with special guests :
Leo Carmichael : Vocals on Never too much, I want you
Thomas Naim : Guitars on Never too much, I want you
Sly & Robbie : Additional production and remix on I want you
Roberto "Lone Ark" Sanchez : Drums, bass, guitars, piano, rhodes & percussions on Axumites, Faith
Blundetto : Drums, bass, guitars & percussions on Matumbee, Cool down
Slikk Tim : Drums, bass, guitars on Out in the rain, Greedy G

Never too much
Produced recorded and mixed by Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier at Keyboards Heaven, Paris, France
Vocals recorded by Jemoi 'J Twiss' Monteitht at Clear Sonix Studio, Kingston, Jamaica
Mastered by Pete Maher at Topfloor studios, London, UK

I want you
Recorded by Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier at Keyboards Heaven, Paris, France
Vocals recorded by Jemoi 'J Twiss' Monteitht at Clear Sonix Studio, Kingston, Jamaica
Additional production and remix by Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare at Anchor Studio, Kingston, Jamaica. Heavy Beat Studio, Miami, USA, Mixed by Jahno at N.O.F. Studio, Beaumont, France
Mastered by Franck Merritt at the Carvery, London, UK

Axumites, Faith
Produced recorded and mixed by Roberto Sanchez at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio, Santander-Cueto, Spain.
Organ recorded by Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier at Keyboards Heaven, Paris, France
Mastered by Ibon Larrucea at Euridia, Bilbao, Spain

Matumbee, Cool down
Recorded by Blundetto at Les Dumands, Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier at Keyboards Heaven, Mixed by Jerome "Blackjoy" Caron at Felix
Produced by Booker Gee, Blundetto & Blackjoy
Mastered by Pete Maher at Topfloor studios, London, UK

Out in the rain, Greedy G
Recorded by Slikk Tim at The Wolfie's Hideout , Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier at Keyboards Heaven, Mixed by Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier at Keyboards Heaven Studio
Produced by Gee & Tim
Mastered by Sam John at Precise Mastering, UK

"Never too much" published by EMI April Music, EMI Songs France
"I want you" published by Almo Music Corporation, Jobete Music Co Inc
"Cool down" and "Matumbee" published by Lucien Entertainment
All other selections copyright control

Executive production : Simon Beaudoux, Guillaume "Booker Gee" Metenier

Artwork by : Pete Isaacs

℗ Gee Recordings 2021

manufactured and distributed by the Pusher distribution www.thepusher.fr

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Gee Recordings Paris, France

Gee Recordings was founded by Guillaume "Gee" Metenier (keyboard player/producer), mixing psychedelic soul jazz funk and early reggae, he collaborates with an all star cast of musician from Paris and all over the world.

Recorded in various locations in Paris and Kingston Jamaica, the whole collection of singles simply rocks.
Highest level of cool for impeccable taste. Grab it and chill!
... more

contact / help

Contact Gee Recordings

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Gee Recordings, you may also like: