
THE SOUL SURVIVORS (not to be confused with the ‘Express Way To Your Heart’ outfit) are a new, young Amsterdam band who say they play music “with a free spirit and a wild heart”. The current lineup is Vocal: Remko Spaaij, Guitar: Max de Kok, Keys – Branco Spadon, Bass: Dimitri Gelens, Saxophone: Jeroen van Genuchten, Trumpet: Pedro Jerónimo and Drums: Steve Cuiper. The boys (all accomplished musicians) came together via their mutual love of classic 60s soul, Stax and Motown and we’re told that their gigs in an around Holland and Germany are storming, sold-out affairs. We’re they’re coming from can be seen by a quick glance at one of their set lists – the Survivors offer their takes on classics like ‘Barefootin’’, ‘How Sweet It Is’, ‘Take Me To The River’, ‘Get Ready’, ‘634-5789’ and ‘I Thank You’. Oddly their cover of Elvis Presley’s ‘Rubberneckin’’ is another crowd pleaser!
The Soul Survivors are all set to launch their debut album, ‘The Road Ahead’ and our preview copy reveals that it’s a spirited 10 tracker that betrays the band’s love of real soul’s golden age. The LP is topped and tailed by two big, beefy, brassy cuts. The opener ‘Here We Go Again’ and the closer ‘Love’ are both driven by a classic Northern soul tempo – quite frantic. The album’s other cuts are a little less wild and indeed that helps bring variety and interest, though, throughout, the brash, brass section plays a big part.
The album’s two “slowies” are ‘Our Thing’ and ‘Hold My Hand’ but these are moody rather than lushly romantic. Perhaps they show the influence of Southern soul. That influences is most prominent on the LP’s title track while ‘Toontown’ is maybe the album’s most intriguing track – not really soul, this one, more a Steely Dan/Bruce Springsteen sort of thing. It is though very clever and catchy.
However, the catchiest track and the album’s clear standout is a quite lovely, ‘You’re The One’. It’s a sweet and lovely, easy-on-the-ear roller. Radio-friendly, the band’s team tell us that this one’s going be the album’s focus track… good shout!
Soul Survivors – ‘The Road Ahead’ (digital, CD and vinyl released September 13, 2024. Distribution via Painted Dog Records