“We rockin Shanghai tonight”… Nuremberg, Bangkok, Shanghai, Saigon, Hong Kong…Mike Ladd mentions these and many more, all in the space of a few minutes. As a socially aware and active artist during this tumultuous time, one shouldn’t be at all surprised that he has his sights set globally, and I for one am very thankful for that. The state of our union is not the only thing in need of our change, as it seems to me that this record couldn’t come at a better time for the state of our music.
The Stevie Wonder influence is obvious, as are other soul/funk/R&B staples, but this is another giant step forward for this always progressing and progressive artist. There is a wonderful vibe throughout the record, one that is happy and joyous, edgy, anxious, concerned and elated all at once. His voice is soothing and interesting without being preachy, and he benefits from recent collaborator Vijay Iyer, among others. Most importantly, I was like a bobblehead listening to this record, just couldn’t stop moving. While not sure what Nostalgialator means, I can confirm the nod to the past while leaping ahead that this record makes.
--William Carey
