Recently I’ve been a bit down by modern music and the derivative drivel that’s been put out by bands and labels. Reading back over my past reviews, you might think I’ve got a thing against “retro” music. I don’t, but the reason I don’t like a lot of the dance music made in the last 5 years is because I can’t understand why people would want to take a pretty average sounding style, and then re-create that for themselves without improving on it.

For that reason alone; I dig The Bamboos a lot. They have a retro feel, with their music heavily on original 70s funk and soul – in my opinion, the best genre of music to exist. Secondly, they do a damn good job of improving on it. Not only are all the members amazing at their instruments – listen to drummer Daniel Farrugia on Amen Brother, Bruce Sandell on flute on the title track, or Lance Ferguson on guitar on Funky Buttercup to really appreciate their talents – but the selection of people they choose to work with are equally inspired.

Megan Washington’s take on the Kings of Leon track King of The Rodeo is sublime, taking the rocking original and making into a 60s styled pop smash. UK hip-hopper Ty’s delivery on I Can’t Help Myself is equally superb, the pace suiting the hip-hop rhyme. Kylie Audist does an amazing job lamenting over lost love in Tears Cried, before praising life for love gained in the next track, Now That You Are Mine. And the Swedish sensation that is Paul MacInnes’ smooth vocals on Move On mark it as a timeless soul classic.

Every song on this album is awesome. It’s really is simple as that. Something that makes it even sweeter is, if you buy the vinyl, you get bonus tracks not on the CD, but you also get the CD version thrown in! So stop reading this, go out to your record store or fire up iTunes and buy this album. You won’t regret it.