American Love Call
Durand Jones & The Indications’ 2016 self-titled debut started out as the work of a few friends in a Bloomington, Indiana, basement with a four-track recorder, an *American Idol* karaoke microphone, and a budget somewhere in the neighborhood of $450, beer included. That the album—gritty, but beautiful and laidback—caught on is a testament to both the endurance of classic soul and the appetites of modern audiences for something that doesn’t need to work so hard to reach out and grab you by the throat. Recorded in a proper studio with the subtle aid of strings and horns, *American Love Call* only strengthens the band’s case, channeling the sturdy, mellow sound of ’70s vocal groups like The Chi-Lites and The Delfonics (“Don’t You Know,” “Court of Love”) and weaving in subtle references to modern life both lyrical (“Morning in America”) and sonic (the synthesizer flourishes on “Circles”). And while the album is retro at heart, it fits surprisingly well in a contemporary landscape, questing for chill while still offering plenty of detail to sink into.
Durand Jones & the Indications aren’t looking backwards. Helmed by foil vocalists in Durand Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer, the Indications conjure the dynamism of Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, AND the Impressions. Even with an aesthetic steeped in the golden, strings-infused dreaminess of early ‘70s soul, the Indications’ sophomore LP, American Love Call, is planted firmly in the present, with the urgency of this moment in time. The Indications’ 2016 self-titled debut was the product of friends who met as students at Indiana University in Bloomington, In., recorded for $452.11, including a case of beer. American Love Call, the band’s sophomore LP is instead the record the Indications dreamed of making, fleshed out with strings, backing vocals, and a newfound confidence in songwriting. Blending a slew of influences from years spent crate-digging, guitarist Blake Rhein says the Indications approach songs in the same way hip-hop producers do, as likely to pull inspiration from ‘70s folk-rock or classic R&B as they are Nas’ Illmatic. “Did I expect to do this shit once I got out of college? Hell no,” Jones relays, laughing. “Totally not. But this is what God is telling me to do – move and groove. So I’m gonna stay in my lane.”
If this Indiana soul band’s debut was the party, the strings come out for these songs about heartbreak and the hope in resilience.
The Indiana five-piece have created a timeless, optimistic listen – a great American soul record, an homage to giants such as Sam Cooke.
Most bands on the retro-soul scene seem obsessed with seeing how far they can wander into the past, so it's refreshing that the first track of American Love Call, the second album from Durand Jones & the Indications, reminds us that they're living in America in 2019, a time and place where not everyone is getting a fair deal.
"It's still in San Diego/You can hear a baby cry, as the trains to New York City go thundering down the line." What a couplet with which to begin an album.
Just under a year ago, Indiana University-born group Durand Jones and the Indications released a self-titled debut rich with strong, classic soul vibes and...
The sound may be retro but this band’s new, strong songs show how timeless soul music is. It has the makings of a classic