The North East’s Smoove and Turrell return with their seventh (studio) album, Red Ellen. You don’t see many modern-day artists/bands release as many albums as this nowadays, it’s a credit to the calibre of music and their loyal fanbase. They have come a long way since their debut single, “I Can’t Give You Up”. The line-up may have changed, but the magic makers of Smoove, John Turrell and Mike Porter, have not. Together, this band of brothers have been delivering their infectious style of soul and funk to audiences around the globe. Not only that, but also creating outstanding albums such as Antique Soul, Stratos Bleu, and the sublime Broken Toys.
Now to Smoove and Turrell’s new album, Red Ellen. It’s a collection of songs named after the female Labour politician who played a prominent role in the Jarrow March which greatly influenced post-war perspectives on social justice. It offers a change of pace from their previous release, Stratos Bleu, showing these guys are always looking to evolve their sound. They say the new album is “firmly centred on the dancefloor and with an overwhelmingly optimistic message of love and compassion. The album is tempered, as always, with the gritty reality of working-class life in the North East of England”. With the bar set high, can Red Ellen continue their winning streak of releasing outstanding albums?
Opening up the album is “The Light” (feat. Ronnie Foster). The gentle electric elements with backing vocals singing “Ooh, let love shine in” welcome the listener. When Turrell comes in, he shares lyrics fuelled by “the way those in power have let us down. From the lockdown parties at No.10 to the proliferation of post-truth politics and culture wars invading our streets, driven by a greed-fueled media. The most effective response is to transcend it all and allow love (and The Light) to shine in”. The song balances reflecting what is going on in the world with an anthemic mood to not let it drag you down. Like the chorus says, “But if we let, let the love, love shine in / Let love shine in / Cause if we do, we can start a new again / Let love shine in”.
“The Light” has an infectious and upbeat feel, and this is due to the way this collective works together. The funky breakdown on the keys strengthens the cause to ensure the listener is having a good time. When the guys deliver this feel-good groove, they are hard to resist. They keep the feel-good factor going with the track “IGOTCHA”. Yet again, the music gets under your skin and makes you want to move. Not only that, but you feel compelled to sing along to its hook. It reflects the mood perfectly with, “Feel that music / Rock that rhythm / Dance until you can’t sit down / I gotcha / Hold your body / Rock that feeling / Dance until we can’t sit down”.
The mood changes with the arrival of “Mary’s Song”. They swap their beats with some beautiful but haunting strings. It sets the mood for a heartfelt moment that “is a poignant composition about loss, serving as a heartfelt homage to his beloved mother-in-law by John Turrell”. You can hear the honest emotion as he shares the opening lines, “Six in the morning, can’t understand, I slept so long / You drumming in my head, first, you’re here, and now you’re gone”. Turrell shines when he delivers a soulful moment like this. Soon, the tempo changes with some electronic beats. Doing so reflects the pain of the loss as he repeats, “I can’t stop falling now you’re gone / I can’t stop seeing you around”. It is a song of two halves that creates the first outstanding moment from the album.
Next is “Echoes”, with its chilled electronic vibe and cool synths. It lays the foundations for lyrics about “the aftermath of a relationship’s end. It encapsulates the flashbacks, the whispers, and the internal voices affirming that it’s truly over”. As for its soundtrack, it shines a spotlight on the band’s musical talents. Then, Turrell delivers another heartfelt moment with “Empty Bottle Serenade”. His voice is in fine form yet again, as it partners up with strings to add so much emotion. It may not stand out as much as the others, but this is a gem for your ears.
“Joy!” delivers an anthem of a track that enforces the message Smoove and Turrell for this album. Summarised by the lines, “Bringing you songs of joy / I know you need it / Giving you songs of love / So you can feel it”. But they are not the only words of wisdom. One that stands out is, “Hold back, do not feed it / The doubt, that’s in your mind / Regain those better times / That love all around us”. It is a big song that will become a favourite to many listeners. The upbeat tempo continues through the tracks “Violet Hour” and “Waiting for Your Call”. The guys are keeping the party going with these.
Seven albums in and Smoove and Turrell still offers their fans something new with their new album. “Red Ellen” keeps to their soul/funk foundations but continue to push their own boundaries both lyrically and musically.
Another highlight from the album arrives with “Geno’s Discotheque”. It is a dark horse of a song that is a grower. It may get overshadowed by other stand-out moments, but with each listen, it will continue to grab your attention. Starting things off is a funky guitar riff, followed by beats to complete the groove. It’s a slow build-up for Turrell to share a tale that is a “tribute to a mythical club that never existed”. As much as you singing along with “I will fly out of this place again”, this one is all about its soundtrack. It has a subtle, uplifting groove that includes a mesmerising flute solo. It all comes together to create a track that feels so right.
Closing out the album is the title track, “Red Ellen”. It shows Smoove and Turrell will always keep to their roots as they honour this local figure. The scene is set with a marching sound and the opening lines, “Can I wake you from your slumber / I think you’re needed now / Boots back on the earth again to walk 300-mile”. Then they reflect the call to arms with the hook, “Red Ellen, Red Ellen / I think we need you now / We need the truth / Red Ellen, Red Ellen / I think we need you now”. It closes with a soundbite from the news about this local historical event. It all comes together to create an empowering moment from this release.
As the album comes to a close, it completes yet another sublime release by Smoove and Turrell. You think after all this time together, they could play it safe with music that their fans would want. However, they continue to push their boundaries and create something new while keeping their soul and funk foundations. Red Ellen is another worthy addition to their impressive discography. Give this ‘canny’ album a listen. You won’t regret it!
J Hardy
Great review of a lovely album 👍👍👍