New York’s Carlton Jumel Smith forges an alliance with London funk outfit Wax Preachers for new vinyl 7″ Gotta Go Home b/w Loud And Clear. The result is a release very much in the vein of Lee Fields, Charles Bradley and, of course, CJS himself. Loud And Clear is the B-side slowie in which our Carlton pays tribute to (one presumes) his missus who, it seems, never gives mixed messages. Perhaps that’s why he’s Gotta Go Home on the slightly livelier A-side. “Fellas, I got to talk to you a minute” (he begins ominously) – “You see we men we know when we’re doing wrong/ And there comes a time in a man’s life when he got to do the right thing.” Blimey Carlton – what have you been up to? Perhaps the video will shed light on his misdemeanours? Carlton walking into apartment of an evening. Carlton arriving at flat occupied by female who obviously knows him. Carlton and said female in dressing gowns next morning. Carlton drops the bomb. Female explodes. Ahhhh. The end of the affair. Gotta go home. Let’s hope it’s still there when you arrive, eh!
(Out now (digital)/ 4 July (vinyl) on Symphonical Records)
