Where Does The Time Go feat. Aloe Blacc / I Got Burned feat. Tim Rogers
~ The Bamboos

Description

The first single to be lifted from The Bamboos’ incredible fifth album, ‘Medicine Man’, is this double A-side digital package out on 21^st May; announcing the advent of the LP in some style, the two tracks here feature none other than international pop phenomenon Aloe Blacc and Australian rock ‘n’ roll royalty Tim Rogers on vocal duties.

“Where Does the Time Go?” featuring Aloe Blacc is the perfect summer pop song - the laid back, breezy groove and nostalgic lyrics brought to life by the inimitable vocals of the king of crossover, who went from needing a dollar to becoming a household name last year when he topped the charts in many territories. Blacc recorded his vocals on this track, penned by Bamboos bandleader and producer Lance Ferguson (aka solo act Lanu), on a visit to The Bamboos’ hometown of Melbourne, Australia, where the two hooked up again, having first met at the Red Bull Music Academy there a few years before.

The snaking, swampy bluesy guitar swagger of “I Got Burned” featuring Tim Rogers finds the Australian singer (from the legendary band You Am I) treading new territory, with a falsetto vocal that has been a revelation to his legions of fans down under, all more used to his gravelly rock delivery. This song, which Ferguson describes as ‘True Blood Soul’ in style, has been going down a storm live for months, and the early Australian release is already a major hit, with national radio playlist additions including Triple J.

While embodying a more accessible sound from The Bamboos, this single release also features two great remixes by Si Tew, of underground legends At Jazz.

The ‘Medicine Man’ album, out 4^th June on Tru Thoughts, is a revelatory, forward-looking record, with additional guests including Daniel Merriweather and Megan Washington alongside the powerhouse stylings of regular singer Kylie Auldist. This stunning LP marks another twist in the tale for Australia’s kings of the groove; masterfully blending blues, pop, soul and psychedelia influences with fresh ideas and stellar performances, they have forged a multi-layered pop sound they can truly call their own. An upfront taste of the album came in December 2011, with the limited edition vinyl release of “The Wilhelm Scream” feat. Megan Washington; this soul-gospel reinvention of James Blake’s dubstep ballad won over tastemakers including Rob da Bank (BBC R1), Steve Lamacq (6Music) and John Kennedy (XFM).

The Bamboos delight in confounding and exceeding expectations, and they have come a long way since forming in 2001, when they became known and lauded around the world for their deep funk inspired sound. Also a seasoned DJ and BBC 6Music Rebel Playlist-winning solo producer (Lanu), Ferguson's myriad influences and passion for artistic progression ensure each new release is a discovery for devout fans and newcomers alike; and the wide ranging media support over the last decade, from MOJO to Rolling Stone and BBC Radio 2 to NPR, proves that The Bamboos are much more than a great funk band – they are a great band. Celebrating 10 years of The Bamboos recently allowed Ferguson to recognise and revel in their past, but also to wipe the slate clean for their next phase: “I'm proud of the arc of evolution; it's a natural progression of songwriting. I've always been conscious of pushing the music on, taking risks, and I think the day I stop doing that, I’ll just stop the band. Everything has to keep changing and moving.” 

• “Impressive...stands out a mile” – INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
• “Glorious...a perfect party starter” - METRO
• “I really like this! In my Top 5” – JOHN KENNEDY (XFM)

• “I love it!” – GARY CROWLEY (BBC LONDON/6MUSIC)