Now And Then

KISSの創設メンバーの一人にしてフロントマン、ベストセラー作家、そしてロックの殿堂入りも果たしているポール・スタンレーは、この数年間、あるプロジェクトを大切に進行させてきた。それがこのソウル・ステーション(Soul Station)である。ソウル・ステーションは、当代一流のミュージシャン達を擁し、過去の偉大なR&B/ソウルのアーティスト達や名曲群に敬意を表してカバーし、この極めて重要な音楽ジャンルに今日性を持たせ続けるために結集したバンドだ。このプロジェクトは多くの人々を驚かせたが、スタンレーにとってR&B/ソウルは、自身が音楽に傾倒するようになった初期の重要なルーツ。彼はその情熱を、著名な顔触れを揃えたツアー&レコーディング・バンドという形に密かに整えていったのである。スタンレー率いる15人編成のアンサンブル・グループは、これまでに米国と日本でツアーを実施。そして先頃、ソウルの往年の名曲9曲と、オリジナルの新曲5曲を収録したアルバムをレコーディングした。その初のアルバム『ナウ・アンド・ゼン』(原題: NOW AND THEN)が、、3月5日に全世界同時発売が決定!!

Famous rock stars paying homage to a genre that inspired them is nothing new, though more often than not, these vanity projects manifest themselves in the form of well-meant but heavy-handed Americana roots collaborations or the inevitable jazz standards record. As the frontman for Kiss, Paul Stanley has made a lasting impact on rock & roll, marshalling one of the industrys most die-hard fan bases, the Kiss Army, well into its fifth decade of obsession. While Stanley-penned classics like Lick It Up and Hotter Than Hell are far from subtle, his voice has always been a particularly nuanced instrument with more range than Kiss music usually allowed. Before donning the face paint and frightening generations of parents as the Starchild, Stanley was just another 1960s New York teenager listening to Otis Redding, Philly soul, and Motown hits on the radio. On Now and Then, his first release fronting Paul Stanleys Soul Station, he honors that particular era of R&B and soul, offering up vivid renditions of much-loved classics as well as five originals written in the same vein. Unmasked and guitarless in front of a nimble 15-piece band, his takes on evergreen hits like Smokey Robinsons The Tracks of My Tears and the Five Stairsteps O-o-h Child are decidedly faithful, coming across as affectionate tributes rather than self-serving showpieces. Wielding his warm falsetto with ease, Stanley gamely tackles the Temptations enduringly sweet Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me), sounding nothing like the hard rock god of Love Gun or Detroit Rock City fame. Dappled with horns, strings, backing singers, and a robust rhythm section, Soul Stations arrangements are elegant and lively, pumping up the energy when needed without going over the top. A record like this could have easily gone south, but Stanleys love for these songs is quite apparent, making Now and Then a surprisingly pleasing listen. ~ Timothy Monger