DOCTOR VELVET – New Breed (2024 LP Wap Shoo Wap Records)

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Wap Shoo Wap Records

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Black Vinyl (comes with black plastic coated innersleeve ana 12″ glossy insert with credits), 200 copies

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Blue Moon Caravan Vinyl (comes with black plastic coated innersleeve ana 12″ glossy insert with credits), 300 copies

Release Date: 4 Oct 2024 

Now, here’s a lovely surprise coming from The Netherlands! The band is called Doctor Velvet and their debut LP album “New Breed” hit the stores on October 4, 2024, through Amsterdam-based Rock ‘n roll record label, Wap Shoo Wap Records… Here’s a little info about Doctor Velvet from their Bandcamp page:

“The new breed of Dutch rhythm ‘n blues has arrived! Amsterdam-based band Doctor Velvet presents their first full-length album: “NEW BREED”. Band leaders and high school buddies David Grutter and Jerome de Vijlder have gathered a group of talented musicians like Alex Figueira (Conjunta Papa Upa) and Sam Ghezzi (The Hi-Stakes, The Roaring Cats) to create a hypnotic listening experience. The band has managed to create a fresh take on the rhythm ’n blues genre by bringing elements of (latin) soul and 50’s rock ’n roll together with a 60’s vintage sound and feeling. The album is just as dark, brooding and moody as it is danceable. This makes Doctor Velvet stand out from the crowd whilst taking you on an all-night ride through swamps, hazy nightclubs and cursed roads filled with heartbreak”…


“New Breed” contains 10 tracks, equally divided at the 2 sides of the LP album, and it kicks off with “City Jungle”, I couldn’t think of a better catchy opening track! It, literally, grabs you by the face from the very first second! A dynamic and full rhythm track with a killer distinctive Sax sound and powerful vocals, this is some modern hot city Rhythm N’ Blues presented in the most desirable and addictive way thanks to the jungle-ish drums, the dirty screamy guitars, and the groove-a-delic keys! What a track! “Road To Nowhere” is groovy stylish modern 60s inspired Rhythm n’ Blues with a pinch of Motown Soul! “Messed Up” is danceable 50s Rock n’ Roll but this time with a pinch of some 60s Rockabilly twist! “Snake Pit” is a slower number, a bit darker with an incredible swampy foggy nightly atmosphere. Side ‘A’ closes with another highlight track, the phantasmagoric “Blue Moon Caravan”, a slow track with a kind of hazy atmosphere with fantastic hypnotic abilities, an enchanted twisted Psych-a-Moody Rhythm n’ Bluesy number! Side ‘B’ opens with “Bad Luck Baby” and the listener has the chance to be transported back to the late 50s and early 60s US American radio, a cool rhythmic track that blends Ray Charles vibes with an astonishing Chuck Berry riff! “Foοls Desire” is another slow but more moody track, a lovely downbeat Rhythm n’ Blues track that is based on the magnificent “Wondrous Place”, reminding (or blending if you wish) both versions, Jimmy Jones’ and Bill Fury’s one… Back to the groove-a-delic rhythmic R n’ B tunes with “Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere” where the electric guitar leads the way and the Sax fills any gaps… “Put The Hurt On Me” starts and to give you a clue about this fantastic R n’ B tune, I’ll have to dare describe it with a Nick Waterhouse hit song! Yes, that, good! Eventually, the album comes to an end with “I’m Crying”, a quite danceable, full of energy, brilliant version with a remarkable 60s garage aura, I’m pretty sure, Eric Burdon would have been very proud of this one here… So, “New Breed” is an extremely good album, an album full of 60-inspired  Rhythm n’ Blues performed in an astonishingly fresh way! Stunning! TimeLord Michalis      

Tracklist

Listen / Buy through WAP SHOO WAP RECORDS Bandcamp

Alternatively, grab it via SHINY BEAST Mailorder

Visit DOCTOR VELVET Facebook