Worthy heirs to Fela and Antibalas, the ten musicians from Hard Proof deliver a storming blend of afrobeat and funk. Six years after their first album, the band is back with some new vertiginous compositions, including powerful horns answering to vintage keyboards and frantic percussion. The six pieces were recorded live in only one take, without reworkings or overdubs, in Jim Eno's studio (Spoon) in Austin, Texas. Heavy sounds to keep fans waiting before a new album this autumn and, hopefully, some European live dates stopping off in Paris.

Hard Proof Public Hi-Fi Sessions 03
Hard Proof - Public Hi-Fi Sessions 03
(12"/Digital) Public Hi-Fi, 2016-06-24

Tracklisting :
01. Break
02. Revenge
03. Default
04. Painted Flowers
05. Institution
06. Popemobile

Links :
Hard Proof : official | bandcamp | facebook | parisdjs | soundcloud | twitter | youtube
Public Hi-Fi : official | bandcamp | bigcartel | facebook | twitter

French Review :
Dignes héritiers de Fela et d’Antibalas, les dix musiciens d’Hard Proof délivrent un mélange d’afrobeat et de funk incendiaire. Six ans après leur premier album, ils reviennent avec de nouvelles compositions vertigineuses aux cuivres puissants répondant aux claviers vintage et aux percussions frénétiques. Les six morceaux ont été enregistrés live en une seule prise, sans retouches ni overdubs, dans le studio de Jim Eno (Spoon) à Austin, Texas. Un son brutal qui donne de quoi patienter avant un nouvel album cet automne et, on l’espère, une tournée qui fera étape à Paris.

Press Release :
Public Hi-Fi Sessions 03 is the third release from Jim Eno’s (Spoon) record label after two successful vinyl releases from Dana Faclonberry and Sondre Lerche. This release was recorded in two separate sessions at Eno’s Public Hi-Fi studio in Austin. What makes this release so unique is that the recording sessions were live and 100% analog from top to bottom. Stephen Bidwell, drummer for Hard Proof states, “The first half of the tracks were recorded in December 2015 and Eno was teaching a class from Ohio University, so we had half a dozen ‘interns’ running around learning how to track a large group live to tape. This was sort of a no pressure situation, but the tracks we got out of it were so solid, we knew we needed to release it. After some talking with Jim, we came back with 3 more songs in February 2016 and rounded out the record.”


Original post on Paris DJs