New Orleans five-piece band Galactic team up with a barrage of hot MC hip-hoppers to produce a positive funkfest. The follow up to Galactic’s fifth album, Ruckus, From the Corner to the Block was produced in four different studios pre and post Katrina. In it, Galactic have modernised the New Orleans sound by adding a hip-hop vibe to their organic grooves.

The MCs featured on the album (Lyrics Born, Mr. Lif, Z-Trip, Nino Moschella etc) were asked to write about a corner – any corner, and unsurprisingly, there is a thematic thread running deep within the songs, bringing to the album a consistency often lacking in collaborative ensembles. ‘Bounce Baby’ is a brassy number, stirring up wah-wah guitars, with a horn-driven melody and potent rhythms. ‘Second & Dryades’, featuring Big Chief Monk Boundreaux is a percussion-lead Mardi Gras anthem for the digi generation.

Reminiscent of the Meters, the JBs and Booker T & the MGs, Galactic have produced a contemporary funk album, subtly incorporating their musical heritage while pushing the limits of their already strong repertoire. (Holly Wicks)