Victim of Love

Description

Charles BradleyVictim Of Loveon LP
Most artists appreciate their audiences, just as many are grateful for them, but few artists love their fans as much and as sincerely asCharles Bradley. I want them to know how much they have helped me grow,” notes Bradley when discussingVictim of Love, the follow up to his widely praised debut albumNo Time For Dreaming. The Screaming Eagle Of Soul is set to release the 11-track set onDaptone RecordsimprintDunham Records.
By now, Bradleys remarkable, against-all-odds rise has been well-documented how he transcended a bleak life on the streets and struggled through a series of ill-fitting jobs most famously as a James Brown impersonator at Brooklyn clubs before finally being discovered by Daptone’s Gabriel Roth. The year following the release ofNo Time For Dreamingwas one triumph after another: a stunning performance at South By Southwest that earned unanimous raves; similarly-gripping appearances at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Newport Folk Festival and Outside Lands (to name just a few); and spots on Year-End Best Lists from Rolling Stone, SPIN, GQ, Paste and more.
Victim of Loveis a continuation of that story, moving past the ‘heartache and pain’ and closer to the promise of hope. Where the last record opened with the apocalyptic “The World (is Going Up in Flames), Victim begins with the Strictly Reserved for You, a track where Bradley grabs his girl, jumps in a car and hits the highway for a romantic getaway. “You Put The Flame on It” sees Bradley backed by a horn chart that sounds like it was lifted from a lost Four Tops single. And on Victim of Love, the track that lent the album its name, Bradley sings over a gentle acoustic guitar, “I woke up this morning, I felt your love beside me.
The new album also brings a broader musical scope. Where Dreaming hewed close to the rough-and-ready R&B sound Daptone has become known for, Victim is stylistically more restless, edging closer into the kind of psychedelic soul The Temptations explored in the early ’70s. “People are not going to expect this. There’s a lot of psych influences on this record, a lot of fuzz guitar,” notesThomas Brenneckof Menahan Street Band, Bradley’s producer, bandleader and co-writer. “Confusion most exemplifies the new direction of the album, opening with an echo-drenched vocal and charging rhythmic cadence.
The albums closing track “Through the Storm” best summarizes Victims message. Over a deep gospel groove, Bradley expresses his gratitude to his fans, his friends and to God for their support, their dedication and their devotion. “When the world gives you love,” he sings, “It frees your soul.” This is the new message ofCharles Bradley, the Bradley who has emerged from the heartache stronger and more confident, overflowing with love to share. This isCharles Bradley,Victim of Love– gratefully returning the joy that has been given to him.
Charles BradleyVictim Of LoveTrack Listing:
1. Strictly Reserved For You2. You Put The Flame On It3. Let Love Stand A Chance4. Victim Of Love5. Love Bug Blues6. Dusty Blue7. Confusion8. Where Do We Go From Here ?9. Crying In The Chapel10. Hurricane11. Through The Storm