The Quantic Soul Orchestra
The Quantic Soul Orchestra is a live affair. A group of highly talented players, the QSO pays homage to the funk explosion of the early Seventies.
“Putting something back” is how Will Holland described the reason for starting The Quantic Soul Orchestra. ‘Super 8’ was the first 7” release (and now sells for big bucks on Ebay like an original 70’s funk 45). A CDR of it was played by Robert Luis when DJing with Quantic in Brighton and the crowd reaction to it was instant. A CDR was subsequently passed to Mr Scruff, so by the time it was actually on vinyl there was a huge demand for it.
The success of this release led to the QSO becoming a full time act in its own right. The ‘Stampede’ album took the Deep Funk sound of the early 21st Century to a much wider audience with no compromise on quality…this was rough and raw!
The second album ‘Pushin’ On’ further cemented the reputation of the QSO and by now the live band were playing to literally thousands of people at festivals and clubs across the world.
They recorded the album ‘I’m Thankful’ with the legendary soul singer Spanky Wilson and followed up with a collaborative tour with Spanky on lead vocal duties in late 2006, which saw a fantastic turnout from fans of both The QSO and Spanky Wilson.
In search of the next development in his musical odyssey, Will “Quantic” Holland re-located to Colombia in 2007, and set to work on seeking out and recording with some of the older, authentic Latin American musicians who had so inspired him in his musical career to date. The fourth album, ‘Tropidelico,’ recorded in Colombia, was released in October 2007 to hugely positive reactions from the press and fans alike, and this period saw a rapturous review in The Independent, a feature on Quantic in The Guardian and all sorts of other high profile acknowledgement. The line-up for the Quantic Soul Orchestra’s triumphant UK and European tour in March 2008 featured some of the original artists who had contributed to the tropical, authentic heavy Latin and funk sounds on the ‘Tropidelico’ album. This tour, featuring Noelle Scaggs on lead vocals, was a stunning live experience, as those of you who were lucky enough to be in the crowd will know.
If you haven’t seen the Quantic Soul Orchestra live yet then you are missing out a great experience and if you have we’ll see you in front of the stage at the next gig!
Photography by Adam Van Bunnens – www.Bunnens.com