THE DRAWBARS レコード& CD

Review: Strap in for this one because the opener 'Challenger' is a high speed, highly funk bit of broken beat brilliance from The Drawbars. The newly emergent band from Hamburg have a sound defined by their fast jazz drums and the Hammond B3 organ. They call themselves gentlemen in the wrong decade because of their love for a certain jazz sound but that's fine by us. On the flipside, 'J's Pocket' is a more downbeat, mellifluous tune with noodling jazz keys and deeper drums that sink you in deep. A fine yin and yang for sure.

Review: As debut singles go, this missive from Hamburg combo The Drawbars is pretty special. The trio manages to get a mighty sound out of a sparse line up of bass guitar, drums and Hammond organ, with A-side "The Question" offering a near perfect mix of sweaty, energetic deep funk breaks, driving bass and the kind of wild keys-work that would make The Meters blush. The fun continues on the flip, where more fast-fingered Hammond organ riffs and solos ride a darker, moodier groove that just intensifies as the track progresses. They may only be in their infancy, but we predict big things to come from The Drawbars.

Review: Three German instrumental talents - Chris Haertel, David Nesselhauf, Julian Gutjahr - make up The Drawbars, whom together describe their music as 'off jazz'. Following up their prior outing for Basel's BurningSole, on which two instrumental originals stuck out like raw thrums, their latest is an unexpected curveball in the form of a standout rare groove version of Billie Eilish's modern classic 'Bad Guy'. Riffing of its madhouse hooks by way of a watery high electric keyboard part, the essence of the track pairs timely well the Northern-soulful form of breaks, fills and bass jaunts. The B, 'Smokes & Mirrors', returns to OG songwriting and hears electric glisses and portamento synths dance across sultry, incense-filled rhythmatic rooms and navy-noted blueses.