The Budos Band – The Budos Band III (LP)

After two well-received full-lengths and an EP, Staten Island’s Budos Band return with III in 2010. The group’s first two recordings walked a loose tightrope line between the modern jazzed-up Afro-beat sound of Antibalas and the soulful good-time funk groove of Sugarman 3.
It’s also true that while they fit the Daptone label’s groove-centric aesthetic, III reveals a new direction, offering the view that they are also something other. This 11-song set, recorded in 48 hours, offers a darker, more spacious tinge. Elements of psychedelic, Middle Eastern, and even Latin sounds have entered their mix, without sacrificing their dance party cachet.
This third chapter in the Budos Band’s legacy is a giant step forward. It is a gambit where everything just gets deeper and wider; the payoff is mighty.