Your Picture＜限定盤/Honey Mustard Vinyl＞

ニューヨーク州スタテンアイランド出身のビル・シャルダと息子たち、ポール、ウィル、カーマインによるグループ。セカンドアルバムはプロデューサーのトム・ブレネック自身のレーベル Diamond West Recordsからの初リリース作品であり、ビルと家族の中心人物リンダとの永遠の愛の物語を祝福する作品。サイケデリックなサウンドを取り入れディープ・ソウルからビートルズ、ビーチ・ボーイズまで幅広くインスピレーションを得た作品は、タイトで空間的なプロダクションの中で、重量感あるグルーヴと渦を巻くようなポップ感をまとったドゥーワップとしてアップデートされています。

The best harmony singing is often a family affair, from the Louvin Brothers to the Beach Boys, and you can add the Sha La Das to that rich tradition. The group features veteran doo wop vocalist W.C. "Bill" Schalda performing with his sons Paul, Will, and Carmine Schalda, all of whom have made names for themselves in the retro-soul scene, and their 2019 debut, Love in the Wind, was an unexpected gem, a savvy and satisfying blend of pop, soul, and R&B flavors with outstanding vocals and evocative arrangements and production from Thomas Brenneck. The fact that the patriarch of the group was 72 years old when the album arrived made it all the more impressive, and the Schalda Family sound every bit as strong on their second LP, 2025s Your Picture. The passage of seven years has done little to dull the edges of Bills vocals, and his offspring work beautifully alongside him, touching on the sounds of doo wop, 60s and 70s soul, and vintage pop flavors and blending them into a distinctive and soulful approach. For their second LP, theyve boosted their pop-psych influences, adding to the atmospherics of this music without slipping into silliness, especially on the trippy coda "Gonna Catch You." And the strength of Bill Schaldas songwriting continues to impress here, telling stories of love and longing in "Young Love and Laughter," "In My Dreams," and the title track that suit the retro feel of the music while sounding mature and yet in thrall to the mysteries of romantic attraction. The fact an artist of his talent fell by the wayside in his prime due to the dodgy odds of success in the music business and the realities of supporting a family is sadly not surprising, but unlike most artists whove followed that path, the Sha La Das have given him a second chance to present his art to the world, with the help of his similarly talented sons. It makes for a great story as well as great music, and if youre looking for the perfect soundtrack for quiet storm night in your home, Your Picture is worthy of your consideration. ~ Mark Deming