"Jack Powell (Guitar) and Nick Carusos (Bass) cookin' up scrumptious morsels"
"Nickel Empire" by the wonderful wonky funkadelic revisionist rock outfit Hot Mustard, the core project of guitarist Jack Powell and bassist Nick Carusos, once again is drenched in cool and scratchy vintage film cues and as I mentioned in my first outing with them (via their track "Butcher Block") the sound here "oozes 70's funk /street soul / blues / jazz rock that recalls everything from grindhouse movies to Dirty Harry / Serpico or the 70's music or soundtracks created by composers like Keith Mansfield or Thomas Elerth" and I feel that here as well as other alt textures. Frequent collaborators Jordan McLean (Antibalas) on trumpet and Dave 'Smoota' Smith (TV on the Radio) on trombone are back along with the debut appearance of Belgian-born New Orleans cellist Helen Gillet.
"Nickel Empire" has a shape shifting narrative that runs extremely deep with twists and turns, dives down rabbit holes and carnival mirror mazes that could tell a million different stories. I am especially digging the sonic forays that feel avant garde, surreal even and that surreal tone extends to the animated music video which was created by band member Jack Powell (Opus Thimble), whose visuals are best described as truly sui generis, sometimes drawing comparison to Terry Gilliam (Monty Python). "Nickel Empire," which becomes available on Feb 10th, 2022, serves as an excellent sneak peek into the new album and cements another brilliantly imaginative piece into the growing HM body of work.
"I wanted to do a piece about mental health," says Powell, "as I've gotten older I have faced the sometimes painful realization that I need to drastically shift my way of life and thinking. I let some things that were once a lot of fun outlive their rewards. The video is just one small aspect of that; it's about cleaning the castle of negative and destructive thoughts."
I want so very much for "Nickel Empire" to end up in a montage sequence in a heist movie or twist on such movie. That would be fucking amazing.
-Robb Donker Curtius
https://www.instagram.com/opusthimble/
https://www.facebook.com/hotmustardsound
The critically acclaimed and award winning instrumental recording duo, Hot Mustard, has begun to roll out material from their forthcoming sophomore album "Seconds," which is scheduled for release March 31st, 2023 (Color Red). Recently featured on KCRW and KUTX, as well as Relix, Glide Magazine and Jazz Weekly, HM has emerged as one of the hottest and most creative new artists on the scene. The duo draws influence from late 60s/early 70s funk/soul/library music and blends it with the building blocks of golden era boom bap hip-hop resulting in a unique musical identity that is nothing short of astounding and utterly addictive.
Building on the success of their debut album Mother Sauce, the new single "Mustard Green," the first musical offering from HM's forthcoming LP, features collaborators Jordan McLean of Antibalas on trumpet and TV on the Radio trombonist Dave “Smoota” Smith, and is a multi-course extravaganza that races though several universes in its three and a half minute span.
"There is some heavy contrast in this one," says Powell, "part of it is light and easy and part of it is ominous and foreboding. An interpretation that I like is the need to overcome discomfort to reach a higher plateau."
The animated music video was created by band member Jack Powell (Opus Thimble), whose visuals are best described as a true sui generis, sometimes drawing comparison to Terry Gilliam (Monty Python). "Mustard Green," which becomes available on November 18th, 2022, serves as the perfect sneak peek to the new album, providing ample testament to the fact that HM is proving timelessness through musical expression.
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/opusthimble/
https://www.facebook.com/hotmustardsound
The critically acclaimed and award winning instrumental recording duo, Hot Mustard, has begun to roll out material from their forthcoming sophomore album "Seconds," which is scheduled for release March 31st, 2023 (Color Red). Recently featured on KCRW and KUTX, as well as Relix, Glide Magazine and Jazz Weekly, HM has emerged as one of the hottest and most creative new artists on the scene. The duo draws influence from late 60s/early 70s funk/soul/library music and blends it with the building blocks of golden era boom bap hip-hop resulting in a unique musical identity that is nothing short of astounding and utterly addictive.
Building on the success of their debut album Mother Sauce, the new single "Mustard Green," the first musical offering from HM's forthcoming LP, features collaborators Jordan McLean of Antibalas on trumpet and TV on the Radio trombonist Dave “Smoota” Smith, and is a multi-course extravaganza that races though several universes in its three and a half minute span.
"There is some heavy contrast in this one," says Powell, "part of it is light and easy and part of it is ominous and foreboding. An interpretation that I like is the need to overcome discomfort to reach a higher plateau."
The animated music video was created by band member Jack Powell (Opus Thimble), whose visuals are best described as a true sui generis, sometimes drawing comparison to Terry Gilliam (Monty Python). "Mustard Green," which becomes available on November 18th, 2022, serves as the perfect sneak peek to the new album, providing ample testament to the fact that HM is proving timelessness through musical expression.
"Nickel Empire", alt rock, composers, funk, Hot Mustard, indie rock, orchestrated jazz pop, soul, upcoming sophomore album "Seconds",
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