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By Kerry Heffernan
Since their first studio album release in 2002, Family Groove Company has embarked on a relentless touring schedule, tirelessly promoting their music and their talent. The hard work and dedication that the band consistently exudes on stage and off has enabled them to build an expansive repertoire of songs and an even larger fan following; not to mention a spot in the lineups of tremendous festivals like Summer Camp and 10,000 Lakes Festival and headlining positions at Farmapalooza and Feel Good. Many have waited for the moment that Family Groove Company would release a new studio album, and that moment finally arrived in the form of The Charmer.
With over 30 new songs to choose from, trying to decide which tracks were stellar enough to make the cut was painfully time-consuming, to say the least. Fierce deliberation ensued, and the resulting concoction is a 14-track powerhouse that expertly blends old favorites like "One Eye Dreaming" and "Ready Fire Aim" with newer, more developed sounds like the album's title track. The band's signature melding of jazz harmony with rock and funk grooves, (a.k.a. their "groove-informed jazz/rock") is abundantly present on this album, yet there is something more to this music. The sounds have been elevated to an entirely higher level. The screws have been tightened, and the new sound is one of maturity and effortlessness.
On the instrumental "The Bends," the importance that FGC places on songwriting is easily detectable. The smooth rhythmic sound of Jordan Wilkow's (keys and vocals) organ creates a sense of calm that resonates throughout the song, and each instrument falls expertly in line with this softness. Adam Lewis (guitar) adds to the gentleness of the song with his velvety solo as the tune moves into a slight improvisational phase; each piece slyly branching out on its own, creating a path for the humble experimentations that follow. The song teeters back and forth between structure and exploration, but Janis Wallin's (bass and vocals) flexible yet steady beat, combined with Mattias Blanck's (drums and vocals) impeccable timing, keeps the song from falling over the edge into a complete jam. The beyond-their-years experience of FGC allows them to take risks like teasing a jam throughout an entire song while simultaneously keeping the tune controlled and lucid.
The melding of different genres and time frames of music in the same song, while somehow remaining in constant contact with the present, is what sets FGC apart from the rest of the pack. They have a true understanding of musical roots, and they have the ability to expertly apply that understanding to their songwriting. An example of this work can be seen in "Bird 'n' Diz," which explores the lives of Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie. The slightly jazzy tune follows the facets of the genre with a distinct chord progression combined with melody and feel changes that occur on a dime as Wilkow's raspy voice blends with a precise Rhodes groove. But the added element that takes this song on its creative journey is Lewis' guitar. His strumming contains the rough, short stylings of many riffs heard in the music of Bob Marley, but this song is anything but reggae. It's just an unexpected addition that manages to seamlessly fit into a foreign world. That is the beauty of this music. The perfection that is somehow created in the overlapping collision of so many different elements in a single song is a talent that FGC confidently possesses.
Great music, unless it's all purposely instrumental, is lost in the translation without thought-provoking words formed from either personal introspection or worldly observation. The ingenious creativity of Wilkow's lyrics haunts this entire album. "The Money Shuffle" delves into the world of economic class and stature - the obsession of running in the upper echelon of society, no matter what the cost. But while the connotation of the "Money Shuffle" is easy to come by, one of the strongest points of FGC's lyricism is its ability to be obscure. Songs like "Remember Sue" leave the listener somewhat dumbfounded as to its meaning. There is a yearning to know the true meaning of these words, but this lyrical ambiguity, popularized by bands such as Phish, The Doors, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin, and the confusion that it often causes, can turn good lyrics into great lyrics. FGC creates GREAT lyrics.
Family Groove Company's intelligent musicianship creates the impression of a band that is much older than the short five years that is FGC's existence. The funky grooves that the band creates are unmatched, and their true understanding of the creation of music places them in a level that many bands could only dream of reaching. They are honest musicians with a respect for all forms of music and an education in creating those forms. Their talent is undeniable, their music is inescapable, and their presence is a force to be reckoned with. Family Groove Company is on the move, and you won't be able to resist their charm!
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