I find it hard to remember track names from George Duke’s Feel because the album is more than a collection of individual pieces — it’s a cohesive body of work that one should experience without interruption. The tightly syncopated performance of George and his band creates a sense of focus to every track, with ambient segues serving as a calm before the storm between intense moments on the record. George successfully uses an eclectic sound palette to create this album, incorporating many genres (including soul, funk, afrobeat, jazz, rock, etc.) to craft a broadly enjoyable listening experience. There’s a little something on Feel for everyone.
The album artwork is beautiful. Wilfried Sätty did an excellent job creating a colorful landscape to accompany Feel’s diverse sounds. The floating gemstones also add a mystique to the environment and an alluring sense of richness to the record.
I often prefer the melodies and fast funky stylings offered by Feel as opposed to other records. In fact, George Duke clearly inspired this era of jazz funk experimentation; for example, Thundercat’s vocal and rapid play style is reminiscent of Duke’s falsetto vocals and fast-paced compositions. I always appreciate getting lost in Feel’s world and expanding my mind to what is possible in music.
As soon as the album is over, I lift the needle and flip the record back to side A to replay from the start. I hope you do the same.
– Evan
Edited by: Seán Pierce