Incline and FavelaFamily

Press Release, Spring 2010: New Album!

Incline is from Jamaica, with a classic reggae voice, clear as a bell, and a boundless spirit. DrO is from Brazil, multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire. Together they are Incline and Favela Family and they are creating a grooving fusion of the coolest sounds, with a vibe you can depend on.

The first track, My People sets the tone for the album. It's not a reggae song, but with Incline's uplifting vocal and DrO's percussion you will feel as if you might be listening to a lost track from The Harder They Come. Second up is Reach Out, featuring an inspiring rap from Bobby Fray, Incline keeping the mood going with an upbeat reggae rhythm, electric piano by Yusaku Yoshimura (MASSPYKE-GHETTO PEOPLE BAND), and bass
work from Nate 'Dog' Edgar (JOHN BROWN'S BODY).

Johnny is a standout. The feel-good chorus captures the dedication of these musicians to their art, for the sheer love of it: "Keep on doing what you're doing, Johnny / It's not all about fame and money / Living the passion of your dream because you love it / You gonna be alright". on guitar, master sound engineer and producer, Will Holland; on drums, Nathan Sabanayagam (CHINNA SMITH, KING'S HIGHWAY); and the
wonderful Sara Brindell on backing vocals.

Ain't No Sunshine is a cover of the classic Bill Withers song, with Inigo Rizo Pathon from DELTA WAVE on piano and keys, making everyone's soul shake. What follows is another highlight, Smoke Me Up, an exuberant funky paean to getting stoned. Here, we've got Nathan Sabanayagam again on drums, and keyboardist Zack Brines, from Boston old-school reggae band, PRESSURE COOKER. The funk now transitions seamlessly to the blues/rock of Rebel, kicking off with a pitch-perfect guitar intro from Kevin Irlen and held down by the fever-hot drumming of Drummie Zeb of the original BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS (plus ISRAEL VIBRATION, EEK A MOUSE, a reggae tribute to BOB DYLAN, GREGORY ISAACS, THE RAZOR POSSE, KENNY
CHESNEY, and so many others...).

Sunny, a cover of Bobby Hebbs' 1966 hit, is a triumph. The horns, performed by Jeevas, trombone player with
one of Brazil's most famous bands, SKANK, and the bossa nova rhythm put down by Drummie Zeb -- instantly transport the listener to the 60's without at all attempting to mimic the original.

Finally we have Fast Lane, a true reggae song. At this point, you realize that most of what's come before hasn't been reggae, but nevertheless all shares that unmistakably soulful sound. The instrumentals that complete the album: Talk to Me, featuring on guitar, Alex Gonzales from DELTA WAVE, and Favelize - se (roughly translated as "mix your soul"), featuring Kevin Irlen and Jeevas on guitar and trombone -- serve to further showcase Incline and DrO's knack for working with a multitude of different musicians to lay down consistently tight, soulful tracks.

The vibe of My People is spreading rapidly around the world, spinning out from its roots in Jamaica, Brazil,
and chilly Cape Cod. The album was mixed by Will Holland, DrO, and Incline, and mastered by the brilliant Eric Welsh of CHILLHOUSE STUDIOS, who (among countless other accomplishments) has toured the USA and UK recording live concert CD's for likes of THE PIXIES, BILLY IDOL, KENNY LOGGINS, and THE DOORS OF 21st CENTURY.

Now, with the release of My People stateside, we can all join the extended Incline
and Favela Family and groove to these inspired new sounds!