Marcus Malone, is a Detroit singer/guitarist who has resided in England for years. There he has collaborated with the best from the British music scene in many projects. For example, he was recently (2022) still active with Innes Sibun (review) and recorded albums with members of Hip hop act Massive attack, and London blues rock band 24 Pesos. For his new project Interstate 75, he sought collaboration with Dan Smith of The Noisettes. Dan and Marcus have known each other since 2000 played in each other’s band and for this album Interstate 75 focus is back on the funk blues soul and R&B.
It results in an album full of irresistible grooves, beat and Vibe. Marcus Malone and Dan Smith conjure up a smile on your face and swing in your hips. On this album, multi instrumentalist Dan smith plays all the instruments, Marcus Malone focuses on the vocals. The winds parts on this album are provided by The Vanguard horns.
The album kicks off with Ain’t no count, which catches you off guard in a groove so laidback, so funky. It turns out from this song that funk doesn’t have to be at pace if the groove is good. Can’t make it grabs like so many songs on this album back to the seventies, on Sly and the Family Stone. Can’t take the fight is a protest song against the establishment starring The Vanguard horns. The Hurts walk out the door, is a slow funk, that’s what we’ll call it, a song that slips so nicely with a monstrous guitar solo at the end. Eno Ufort of Imbibio Sound Machine can be heard in the backing vocals. If you can also appreciate something else, you should give the Imbibio Sound Machine a listen.
Back to Marcus Malone & the Motor City Hustlers The shuffle If you se my baby sounds like Motown who explains the title Interstate 75. It is the highway that goes to Detroit (Motown). It’s soul but with screeching guitars through it. One of the best track alongside the opening track is the title track Interstate 75. It’s so sophisticated. The interplay between Marcus Malone and Dan Smith in which Marcus is himself and Dam Smith the Motor City Hustlers leads to fine selection of funky soulful blues tracks. Soul like in the closing Temperature Rising reminiscent of Superstitious by Stevie Wonder.
Marcus Malone is a versatile singer/guitarist who always gathers several musicians around him to convey his penchant the soul/funk/blues. He succeeds again with Dan Smith of the Noisettes with the album Interstate 75.
Album recensie: Marcus Malone & the Motor City Hustlers – Interstate 75
