The 10th studio album from Australia’s premier Soul/Funk outfit landed 2 weeks ago. Titled ‘Hard Up’ it marks the bands 20th anniversary. The album is a testament to why the band are still one of the finest in the business and still going strong after all this time.

Masterminded by band leader and producer Lance Ferguson and with long time vocal collaborator Kylie Auldist featuring throughout the album. It has an unmistakable and inimitable Bamboos sound to it.

It’s hard to pick high points in this album as there are so many. But I think the bands cover of the nineties dance classic ‘Ride on Time’ by Blackbox has to be one of them. All nine band members were holed up in a country house while recording the album. Every evening they would convene in a barn that was designated as the recreation room . The playlist usually provided by Yuri the bands bass player. Yuri is a big fan of nineties dance music. Inspired the band ran into the studio and pulled together a fun version of this dance music classic.

Some other high points from the album include ‘Power Without Greed‘. This is 100% a future anthem, with all the ingredients you would expect from a Bamboos classic. A solid rhythm backdrop, horns, funky guitar and those diva style Kylie Auldist vocals. Then we have ‘If Not Now (Then When)‘ a collaboration with American soul sensation Durand Jones. Finally the instrumental funk of ‘Upwey Funk‘ reminds us why we first got into The Bamboos music. A straight up raw funk workout.

Stream the album below or purchase the vinyl from your local record store.