One Million Dollars: Soup Kitchen

Herald rating: * * * *

One Million Dollars are the people's band when they play live. With 11 members pumping out music to party and dance to, it's got to be good for you.

But on record they're not for everyone. At times their mix of funk and soul lacks a meanness - a few killer blows to give it impact. But for those after more of a soothing soul experience, tracks such as Holy One and Both Hands, from their second album, Soup Kitchen, are for you. Opening track Sem Parrar (From the Streets of Sao Paulo), which starts off sounding like a Brazilian influenced Flash Gordon, is a long sprawling jam and a standout. It's an anomaly on the album in terms of sound and style but it sets an assured and positive tone for the album.

Elsewhere there's the silky flow of Rebekah Peterson's voice on Hey Vagabond, the cheery funk of New Worlds, a xylophone break-down on Walk Away; Slow Falling Rain is a trippy epic and Calling In the Light stomps along with brassy hoots and flourishes.

While Soup Kitchen will be too happy-clappy and feelgood for some, it's both a succulent live sound and party vibe that One Million Dollars are after - and they find it.

Label: Tardus