“Can't Nobody Get Down” EP
“Can't Nobody Get Down”, out 27th May, is the new EP from New Orleans’ Hot 8 Brass Band, coinciding with an extensive and largely sold-out UK and Ireland tour (their second visit in six months, in celebration of their recent 20th Anniversary). This EP sees the Grammy-nominated band unleashing two brand new tunes alongside a live favourite and two new remixes of their iconic Sexual Healing cover, including one by popular reggae/dub producer Wrongtom.
The EP’s title track is an original tune that has been tearing up the streets and clubs of New Orleans; freshly recorded, this punchy Hot 8 future classic celebrates their fine tradition of getting down better than anyone else, and is sure to raise roofs on the upcoming tour.
Next up is the anthemic “Take It To The House”, always a call-and-response favourite in the Hot 8 live show. The infectious exuberance of their horn playing is matched by the plaintive passion of their vocals, with lyrics that speak of the second-line parades they have led so many times at the funerals of dearly departed bandmates and members of the wider New Orleans community. The version that appears on this EP was recorded last year for the massively acclaimed ‘Vicennial – 20 Years Of The Hot 8 Brass Band’ album, which saw the band toasting the incredibly hard-won and significant milestone of 20 years in the game.
A new cover of Stevie Wonder's “That Girl” continues their grand tradition of electrifying brass versions, Stevie Wonder being an idol for band leader Bennie Pete and many other Hot 8 players. Injecting proceedings with a soulful and jazzy demeanour, the band's elegance and technical chops shimmer through their famous boisterousness on this winding homage to the great Wonder.
Lauded reggae and dub-leaning producer Wrongtom brings his unmistakable sound to a remix of “Sexual Healing”, the cover version that has become a stone cold club and festival anthem since its release almost a decade ago (and was recently re-released alongside a new video that has racked up almost 300,000 YouTube views). Londoner Wrongtom reworks the track for the dance hall, expanding on the recent flurry of new remixes which also saw Hot 8 gaining high Record Store Day billing with an in-demand gold vinyl 12” release.
The final cut on this digital EP is a remix from Roy Cooper featuring Israeli singer Smadar Akray, putting a slow-burning and sultry progressive house spin on the classic to take Hot 8’s sound into new terrain.
Across four albums - 2007’s ‘Rock With The Hot 8’, 2012’s Grammy-nominated ‘The Life & Times Of…’, 2013’s ‘Tombstone’ and last year's joyful 20th Anniversary offering – and a host of standout singles, including “Sexual Healing” alongside several other covers and equally impressive originals, Hot 8 Brass Band have told the story of their lives and their city like only they can. One of the great New Orleans acts, they have pushed on through a barely imaginable series of trials. They honour their fallen friends and help to work towards the future of their community by putting their energies into positive projects at home as well as touring as much as possible. They march together and they play their music - a rambunctious yet elegant and super-tight mix of jazz, funk and hip hop – not merely as though, but because their lives depend on it. Look out for a mini-documentary on the band, which will be launching alongside this EP.
Transcending genres and trends, Hot 8’s party rocking sound and spirit have become renowned across the world, with an ever-growing fanbase and media features across the spectrum from The Guardian to Esquire, BBC Radio 2 to 1Xtra and beyond. The band and their incredible story were featured in Spike Lee’s two New Orleans documentaries When The Levee Broke and The Creek Don’t Rise, as well as playing themselves in David Simon’s hit HBO series Treme.
Radio Edits of “Can’t Nobody Get Down” and “Take It To The House” are included in the promo