MP3 Superfloor - Kharma Baby
Hard rockin'' blues for the soul.
11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: 70''s Rock, BLUES: Blues-Rock
Details:
A straight forward four piece band from The Netherlands. Musically rooted in Blues, Hardrock and Soul. With an unmistakable Seventies vibe that is intractable to the latest hypes and fashions. Floor started her singing career in church. But her first real band was a genuine Soul outfit. That''s where she got her love for the early Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and so on. The guys in the band share a past in Bluesrock and Hardrock. Superfloor played at the Arrow Classic Rock Festival, Bluesrock Tegelen, Culemborg Blues and many more. In 2008 they released their first complete album. Available here on CD baby.
Kharma Baby - Superfloor by Gerry Jungen
I first met Superfloor a couple of years ago when I was the music director at the only true Rock radio station in Holland: Arrow Classic Rock. We organized what you could call: Idols avant la lettre. We were in search of a new talented Dutch Rock band to open on the big Arrow Rock Festival that year.
I went through a million demo tapes, some of them were really crap and some of them were a real labour of love. There was one CD that stood out for me. The singer was an odd mixture between, blues vet. Tineke Schoenmaker, Jan James and Elkie Brooks. In my book that means: the dame really can sing!! To cut a long story short. Superfloor won the contest, they opened on the festival and got a shitty record deal.
A few moments of glory and succes and after that, it was back to obscurity for this hard working outfit. Obscurity?...No, not really, they went on the road and gained a healthy reputation as a live band and a growing fan base. In 2007 they decided to take the big leap and went into the studio to record a complete album. They asked Dutch Blues nestor Mike Donkers to help them produce it. Mike Donkers is the leader of Mike and The Mellotones and has helped countless bands and singers to improve their sounds and performance. A Donkers production you can recognize by the first notes, it’s a live studio sound, with the rawness of a roadhouse gig and yet the finesse of a studio freak!
Last week I got the album on my desk and was pleasantly suprised. The outfit sounds tighter than ever before, the guitar is constantly grabbing you by the short and curly’s. Floor Kraaijvanger is always on top with her powerful and soulful voice, although Donkers makes her work for it! Guitarplayer Frank van der Wiel is a guy who loves the early seventies riff based Blues Rock from bands as Led Zeppelin. But his true inspiration lies decades after that with band called Cry of love, lead by ex Black Crowes guitarplayer Audley Freed. COL only made two albums and actually they were albums made for musicians, the sophisticated riffs and beautiful dynamics from Freed can be heard on the new Superfloor album. It’s not a rip-off, no it’s Franks own interpretation and craftsmanship that makes it work. Supported by an excellent Rhythm section he can dazzle you with catchy riffs and hooks.
Bassplayer Rob van den Broek is steady as the new John Paul Jones. That means: he’s really there! playing more than just notes.
Thomas Calis has done a fine job on his drumkit, thundering away when he gets the opportunity, but soft and solid when the song is asking for it. That is a rare quality in a drummer and it’s usely only found with the guys who see their drumkit as a real musical instrument.
Long time friend of the band Rob Lamothe joins the band in a couple of songs on Kharma Baby.
Kharma Baby deserves your attention, it deserves more than just Internet sales. It’s an album that you will play over and over again. It’s a good companion in your car. It’s actually a statement. It tells the world that with persistence, love of music and stamina you can go far. Superfloor is one of the best Dutch live bands in their field. Finally they got an album out to prove it!!
Gerry Jungen
Review in Dutch Magazine OOR:
RETROROCK/BLUES/SOUL
SUPERFLOOR
KHARMA BABY
A few years ago Superfloor had the honour to open Arrow Classic Rock on the very same stage where later that day archetypical rock representants like Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy would perform. An ambiance where the quartet, that was founded in 1997, felt right at home. Once started as a blues cover band the quartet has developed into a rock group that should be reckoned with. Hard rockin'' blues for the soul is what they call it themselves. Not a word of Chinese in there, Kharma Baby to bear witness. In two songs the band is assisted by Rob Lamothe, ex-frontman of The Riverdogs. Mellotones'' Mike Donkers provided the affair with a steady production. Across a solid paved foundation, laid down by rhythm tandem Thomas Calis and Rob van den Broek, guitarist Frank van der Wiel collects appealing power riffs and well oiled solos by the dozen. Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin spring to mind at first ear, but just as well influences of -let''s say- Ginger Baker''s Airforce and Stone The Crowes throw their weight about. Because of the heavy groove and the rough sanded voice of front woman Floor Kraaijvanger the trash soul of Now Time Delegation is never far away. And let''s be honest; her soulful strut is -without any doubt- the highest trump of this highly inflammable quartet. High time for a reprise at Arrow Classic Rock.
MARCEL HAERKENS. Oor Magazine nr. 03 April 2008.
People who are interested in Mother’s Finest Doyle Bramhall II Cry of Love should consider this download.