The Zealots are a funky unsigned 10 piece who have been lighting up stages big enough to accommodate them for the past four years. Their debut full length album entitled Book of Imagination was released this autumn. It’s a powerhouse of funk which gets better and better with every listen.
The title track kicks off the record and includes an extended saxophone solo, impressive vocals and bucket loads of character and charm. It doesn’t take long to recognise this album is the work of professional musicians. Lead guitarist and singer Aylwin Steele may have just finished a tour as musical director for Joe McElderry, but the Zealots’ sound couldn’t be more removed. Although the songs could arguably just fall into the ‘pop’ category, there’s nothing cheesy or mass produced here. Rock beats and infectious guitar licks are the name of the game.
The Zealots have mixed the musicianship of Stevie Wonder, the funk/rock sound of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the positivity and rhythm of Jamiroquai. The fact that the band aren’t nearly as big as any of the above artists is a sad reflection of much of the public’s music buying habits. And while The Zealots are far from only uber-talented band not to hit the mainstream, the quality of this their debut album does beggar belief.
Steele’s voice won’t be to everyone’s tastes. His vocal performance is good but not faultless. At times it’s actually the backing vocalist who really stand out. The vibe contained in tracks like ‘Pressure’ and ‘Sweet Belief’ is astonishingly good. The latter in particular is a stand out tune which employs the band’s substantial brass section to beautiful effect. “When you’re standing on a boat in the middle of a storm / There ain’t nothing like sweet belief’”Aylwin sings over a sturdy and strong drum beat. This band are all about the rhythm.
‘Cruise’, as the name suggests, is a more laid back affair. The chorus filled ‘na’s perhaps make it the most radio friendly track on the record. Follow up ‘Mind Games’ starts with a smooth keyboard sound and complex bass fill. The track takes time to get going and it’s the instrumental sections (guitar solo and brass fills) which pack the biggest punch.
‘Catch You’ opens with a guitar lick which oozes confidence and carries the rest of the song. But some of the record’s greatest songs are buried toward the back of the record. ‘Blink’ and ‘Low’, tracks 8 and 9 respectively are phenomenal. The band bring their album into land with ‘Nothing But A Fire’. The soulful groove further cements the band’s unique sound. As the latter half builds and soars, you can’t help but wonder why this group hasn’t yet had the big break they so deserve?
[Rating:4]
