When their debut single ”Back to The Drawing Board” kicks in for probably the 30th time on my headphones, I keep thinking Chloe and the Butlers deserve much more credit than being ”just” something to dance to – they’re epic.
Chloe and the Butlers – Back to the Drawing Board
During the first 3 or 5 seconds of the song, so many things have already happened musically that they set a bar – and the standards for modern funk – extremely high. Their reference albums might be from the golden era of 60s and 70s Motown, but they sound nothing nostalgic or a ”pastiche” as great songs just always seem, feel and appear as current – ”Back to the Drawing Board” is no exception.
Chloe’s sound – what a voice! – has become so refined by listening to, examining and forming her own musical artistic thesis – maybe subconsciously – based on the very best of the best, like Aretha (Franklin) and Marvin Gaye but to me, her powerhouse vocals remind me more of James Brown’s almost brutal energy and charisma that’s nearly impossible to capture, than let’s say Gladys Knight or other female soul ”royals”.
That detail for instance made me convinced as their new fan that I am witnessing the artistic and musical growth of something way above the meridian – if their first single is this good, what on earth will they be releasing next? The bass is played with gusto, the drumming is magical and thanks to Chloe’s vocal presence the verse is equally satisfying as the chorus, stylish bridge and the lead guitar solo towards the end. The song kind of ”fades out” to the starting point, making the journey reach full circle and ready to start over played on repeat.
”Essex now has its own soul regals. Chloe and the Butlers are baptized in Motown but deliver modern powerhouse-voice fueled sacramental musicianship.”
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