A few marks; nothing grievous.

‘Two sets of identical teenage twins, Alfred and Alvin Pelham, and Keith and Kirk Gardner, along with Ricky Spicer. The group released a couple of singles and this lone album for Cleveland’s Saru label in 1971, breaking up and disbanding as adolescence waned. A recent sample darling of both Kanye West and Tyler The Creator, Bound has revealed the Ponderosa Twins Plus One as the real Midwest kid soul deal.
‘Freshly remastered from the original analogue tapes, adding two previously unissued bonus tracks; in a replica tip on sleeve.’

Classic soul sides rewound as state-of-the-art dance music: brilliant, epic house; hard-funk breakbeat.

A recording at the Maison de la Radio in May 1973; broadcast on France Culture later that year, but never released till now. Songs from their various early-seventies albums, but stripped right back, highlighting Fontaine’s inventive and provocative poetry, with only their own accompaniment of guitar, percussion, and accordion.

Luminously communicative improvisations by pianist Anja Lauvdal and drummer Joakim Heibø, juggling bristling ecstasy and desolate reflection. Impressive; warmly recommended.