The Fantastics! - Mighty Righteous (2009)

The Fantastics formed in 2003 from the wreckage of legendary UK Hammond funk outfits The Soul Destroyers and The Longo All Stars. Formerly Reverend Cleatus & the Soul Saviors and having released music on Raw Wax, Soul Cookers and Tramp Records, The Fantastics present their new album for Freestyle Records, 'Mighty Righteous'.

Fusing funk, soul jazz, blues, wailing horns and throbbing Hammond organ, The Fantastics are no strangers to the fast and furiously growing scene, having performed 2 live sessions for Mark Lamarr for BBC Radio 2, as well as the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show for BBC Radio 6. The band have taken Europe by storm after incendiary live gigs in London, Italy, Spain and France, not to mention sharing the stage with The Herbaliser, The New Mastersounds, Marva Whitney, The Godfathers Of Groove (Reuben Wilson & Bernard Purdie) and Speedometer.

When you could still buy them new, Hammond Organs came with bass foot-pedals, and on the title track 'Mighty Righteous', in the true Blue Note style, the organ-antics come via hands, feet (and possibly elbows) to join forces with soulful horns, drums and guitar in a throbbing Hammond groove! In memory of the recently departed organ giant Jimmy McGriff.

'Nine Lives' is a foot a stomping, jazzy, guitar led northern soul type instrumental, like they used to make ages ago but no one has for absolutely years. You'll dance! 'Soul Child' sees British soul legend Noel McKoy at the top of his game, whilst 'White Out' a deeply odd, funky, electric piano dub-blues improvisation goes where no blues has gone before!

''Thank god for The Fantastics! Not only should you buy their album, go witness them live!'' - DJ Format

''An incendiary mix of Auger-esque Hammond, JB groove & Funkadelic cosmology!'' - Mojo Magazine