After a string of cobweb-ousting singles, traditional southern soul gets a full-length dusting off from the Georgia-bred, gospel-trained Brother Wallace on the long-promised Electric Love. It’s a thirteen-track statement featuring all four singles that preceded it plus the current one – four of which five singles are in the first four tracks on the album and the first single – the funky stomp juggernaut of Who’s That? – makes for a powerful opener. But does Wallace manage to galvanize for the entire set? Let’s find out track by track!
1. WHO’S THAT?
The first single to be taken from this and like it says above – a juggernaut of a funky stomp. Move aside or get crushed.
2. YOU’RE THE MAN
Another beast – the current single, a lurching, more blues-influenced affair like a slab of early Black Keys -fronted by Johnnie Taylor – a.k.a. a very good thing.
3. GONE WITH THE WIND
The third single, a Sugar Pie Honey Bunch-recalling piano intro before heading into a more early seventies Motown sound featuring strings, a sitar and lyrically kissing bad love goodbye.
4. ELECTRIC LOVE
Back to the energy for a four-to-the-floor soul belter of the Jackie Wilson ilk – the album’s second single.
5. TOP SHOTTA
Despite the use of Jamaican slang, we don’t take a left turn into reggae or dancehall here but revert to the heaviness of Who’s That. Or should that be The Heavy-ness? For this LP was co-written and produced by Dan Taylor of The Heavy – never a band to shy away from splicing soul to a megaton bottom end.
6. NO GOD IN THIS TOWN
An introductory one-bar concession to there having been some pop music since 1973 and then we’re into the LP’s first slowie – slowly smouldering organ, tremelo on the guitar and a gospel-ish hymn about this mean ol’ world.
7. WHO DO YOU LOVE?
Not the first question among these song titles and the fourth single. Quality Motown-ish stomper again – guitar-led this time.
8. ANY DAY NOW
Second slowie – acoustic guitar, wistful singing, strings after a bit. Yep, life’s a bitch sometimes.
9. A PATIENT MAN
This is more like it though – another belter – classic Motown northern soul rhythmically while the horns and singing are full fat southern soul.
10. MIDNIGHT VALLEY
A third slowie. Ish. Drumless intimate verses, drum-powered, gospel-choir-backed choruses.
11. JEALOUS
Fourth slowie, lilting gospel-affair and it’s certainly looking like side 2 is the mellow side…
12. HOPE OF FOOLS
…as confirmed by this fifth slowie – piano-led and drumless until the bongo pops up low in the mix.
13. LET’S GET TOGETHER
Had enough torch songs? Shall we go large one last time, yeah? Big drums? Or fast tempo? Or both? Both of course! The most uptempo cut in the set and plenty of bits the crowd can join in with. If the slowies have offended do but this and all is mended. Give him your hands if you be friends and Brother Wallace shall restore amends.
COMMENTS: Well that’s a pretty impressive set list. Lots of energy in the first half, alternates between melancholia on the one hand and hollering to the heavens with joy on the other in the second half because yea, life encompasseth both extremes of the soul.
BEST TRACKS: Who’s That, You’re The Man, Gone With The Wind, Electric Love, Let’s Get Together, A Patient Man