Feature
The Allergies: To Boldly Go…
Those crate-digging masters of the funky beat, The Allergies, return with a banging set of tunes, fashioned with undoubted skill into their 13-track new album, “Promised Land”. This is the dynamically dynamic duo’s 5th studio album and is released as per though UK funk’s finest, Jalapeno Records.
Ever evolving, these brilliant Bristolians set their stylish stall out from day one with their ‘say what you see’ (and hear) titled 2016 must-have “As We Do Our Thing”. Then came subsequent skillset honing albums, the stylish “Push On” in 2017, 2018’s impressive “Steal The Show” and their last cracker, 2020’s “Say The Word” completing a highly commendable run of 6 albums in 5 years! And all featuring their a mix of deft sampling, previously lost retro beats, skilful scratching, sick head-nodding break-beats and on-point vocals, whether sung or rapped by various artists, which in this instance include resident L.A. rap lege Andy Cooper [Ugly Duckling], the soulful tones of Marietta Smith, dance music’s finest Dynamite MC and hip-hop royal Lyrics Born who together, have propelled The Allergies to the top of the pile in their genre. By the way, feel free to get in touch with the name of that genre because only the brave (or fool) would try to pigeonhole these boys!
I’m pleased to report that “Promised Land” is choc-full of the usual ingredients that ‘get the party started’ with The Allergies new tunes making your feet itch to tap or dance. I was lucky enough to catch up with the ridiculously talented twosome DJ Moneyshot [Roy Spencer] and DJ Rackabeat [Adam Volson] recently to ask them about their new album. Amongst other questions, I asked about the process behind their musical magic, where they find those forgotten beats and break-beat gems. Plus, I had to know, was that Queen’s Freddie Mercury I heard sampled on the new album?
Firstly, can you tell me about the album title, “Promised Land”, where it comes from?
Moneyshot : The name comes from one of the tracks. It was in the lyrics. After some back and forth we chose to call the album that because we liked the idea that it was this brave new world. And you're all invited to don a spacesuit, blast off, and come have a mooch around it with us.
The album cover has a Lost In Space feel, can you tell me about the design and if it symbolises something to you guys?
Rackabeat: Yeah, absolutely. We started dreaming up ideas of a better new world when we were in the depths of lockdown. I’d always wanted to work with a designer who goes by the name New Analog, and his spacey, dreamy style seemed to fit the retro ideas we had brewing. We wanted the audience and listener to be transported away from the horrors that were going on in the midst of a pandemic, here on our planet!
You can read more from B&S Editor Lee Tyler's exclusive interview with insanely talent duo The Allergies including their influences, working with their go-to rapper Andy Cooper of Ugly Duckling fame. Also, we get the lowdown on other featured artists Marietta Smith, Dynamite MC and ever in demand MC, Lyrics Born. We also try and find out the secret to finding their seemingly unending supply of killer retro beats, who they would like to work with next, who/what inspires them to create and did they use a Freddie Mercury sample on their album? All in the latest issue of Blues & Soul magazine - click the 'BUY NOW' link below to order straight from the B&S shop or read on for high street retailer details...
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ESSENTIAL LINKS:
TWITTER: TheAllergiesUK
INSTAGRAM theallergies
FACEBOOK theallergies
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Words LEE TYLER
