LL Groove Band – Mister M (2022)
The year was 2018, the place was Ireland, and the project was the LL trio founded by musician Leon Laisne. Originally an acoustic group, the LL trio blended piano and drums in a harmonic arrangement, but the band soon progressed to a foursome replacing the piano with a guitar and a saxophone. The ultimate plan, however, was to create an electric jazz band with funky sounds and hip-hop vibes in the melodies. In 2019, LL Groove Band was born bringing audiences “electric funk jazz tones and punchy rap in crazy improvised sessions.” The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Mister M’.
Following their single ‘Grateful’, ‘Mister M’ combines elements of hip-hop, funk and jazz in an eclectic arrangement. With a melodic reminiscence to George Benson and Earth, Wind & Fire, LL Groove Band drag us back to the funky sounds of the 1970s and 1980s. The thing is, while there is a comparison to old-school funk meets jazz tones, this is merely the underlying melodic foundation. By inserting gruff hip-hop into ‘Mister M’, LL Groove Band create a sound that is completely distinct and entirely their own.
What I love about ‘Mister M’ is the interplay between raw rap and smooth funk-rock within the melody. The nostalgic flair makes me grin and sets my heart alight with joy, but then I am tossed to 90s-style hip-hop in the verses. Soft but harsh, gentle and smooth but abrupt and brash – ‘Mister M’ has a way of keeping you guessing while remaining in a comfortable sonic lull. I always say there are “describe songs” and “listen songs”, and to truly experience LL Groove Band you have to listen to the music yourself.
For more from LL Groove Band check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
