DeRobert & The Half-Truths' debut album, Soul In A Digital World, celebrates
the rawness of that ambiguous internal force that drives us, shapes us, and
gladly has yet to be digitally reproduced by us. The soul. It takes more than
words to illustrate, as DeRobert admits in "The Feel," settling down between
idling trumpet and sax crescendos to offer his closest approximation: "All I
know, is this feeling / I've got it deep inside / So just let my band show
you…"
Despite the vague description, DeRobert & The Half-Truths are not pulling any
punches here. After all, these guys do soul music. Whether it's the aching
self-denial blues of "I Swear I'm Not A Fool" or the overwhelming optimism of
"The Joy," DeRobert & The Half-Truths bare their souls and move to another
groove without any dwelling. Claustrophobic relationships are fretted over and
forgotten in "Too Short" and "Too Busy," two equally frantic jazz-funk numbers
about relationship baggage. The title track's distinct pop/rock feel risks
interrupting the album's conventionally funk-oriented flow, but Dave Singleton's
infectious bass swoops in out of nowhere to carry the track into dance floor
contention. Really, the bass line is just ridiculously catchy.
Soul In A Digital World is a reference to the music industry's growing reliance
on digital bells and whistles, but the message is more broad: Change is
inevitable, but what can we accept and what can we resist without compromising
our integrity? How does one maintain soul in a digital world?
Judging by the musical restraint the rest of the Half-Truths demonstrate
throughout the album, it seems they have taken an isolationist approach to the
"digital world." Andy Brown's steady rhythm guitar carries the tracks without
distracting from the trumpets and saxes, who punch in and out in tight,
synchronized bursts. All seven musicians play with a clean, subdued tone that
allows DeRobert to wail away on the mic without interruption. After hearing the
unabashed glee in his voice throughout highlight track "The Joy," it's clear he
deserves the space. Fortunately for DeRobert & The Half-Truths, there is still
no digital replacement for integrity. (G.E.D. Soul Records)
http://www.myspace.com/gedsoulrecords | 
