The first collection of new studio music from the relentlessly inventive New Orleans funk-jam unit since 2012's
Carnivale Electricos
,
Into the Deep
arrives after a well-received trio of Mardi Gras-centric outings. As per usual,
Galactic
is joined by an all-star roster of guests, including
Macy Gray
Mavis Staples
JJ Grey
Ryan Montbleau
David Shaw
of
the Revivalists
Maggie Koerner
Brushy One String
, and
Charm Taylor
, and while they may have ostensibly left Fat Tuesday behind, they certainly haven't abandoned their penchant for second-line swagger, as evidenced by the parade route-ready, brass-and-drum-led opener "Sugar Doosie," which wastes little time getting the party started. More song-oriented than ever,
does a nice job showcasing both the band and the guest vocalists. Florida-based Southern rock and soul specialist
's bayou bluster is lent extra muscle by the thrum of deep, '70s funk that's being churned out behind him,
, who at the age of 76 can still make gospel sound sexy, lends her unmistakable pipes to the immaculately laid-back "Does It Really Make a Difference," and the slow-burn title track finds the husky-throated
channeling
Tina Turner
and serving up an old-school blast of vintage soul that's as full-blooded and unabashedly nostalgic as it is 21st century radio-friendly. Throughout it all, co-founders, producers, and arrangers
Ben Ellman
and
Robert Mercurio
sonically map out a NOLA that's as vibrant and forward thinking as it is steeped in the region's rich culture, cementing the band's reputation (20 years in) as both innovators and stalwart defenders of tradition. ~ James Christopher Monger