REVIEW: Charles Bradley - No Time For Dreaming

Charles Bradley - No Time For Dreaming
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In the past decade, we’ve seen a resurgence of Motown and mid-‘60s to early-‘70s soul in popular music with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, Raphael Saadiq, and, of course, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Out of that bunch, Jones and The Dap-Kings certainly have the most authenticity and deepest soul roots, truly capturing that old school sound. But 62 year-old Charles Bradley easily tops them all.

It's surprising to learn that, at 62, No Time For Dreaming is Bradley’s debut LP – after a few 7” singles here and there over the past couple of years. Bradley has, for years, strived to make music for a living, but that opportunity didn’t arrive until a few years ago when he was discovered by Daptone Records’ Gabriel Roth while performing his James Brown tribute show under the stage name Black Velvet. On No Time For Dreaming, the influence of James Brown is certainly evident along with hints of Otis Redding and Al Green. But with the life experience that inspires Charles Bradley, he is an utterly unique and empowering voice.

After growing up on the streets as a runaway youth and working odd jobs from Maine to Alaska over the past few decades, Charles Bradley has lived through quite a lot – more than most people ever will. It’s hard not to hear the emotional weight in Bradley’s raspy, soulful croon on every track of No Time For Dreaming. Every word, or rather every syllable, that he slips from his mouth details the life of a man. He spares nothing when it comes to his delivery, making every “oh” and “ooo” seem incredibly significant. It’s clear that Bradley sings with every molecule of his being, sounding unrestrained and free from the pain that weighs him down. Hearing him sing is nothing short of inspiring and enthralling.

Backed by The Menahan Street Band (an all-star group of musicians from the Dap-Kings, The Budos Band, Antibalas, El Michels Affair, and Lee Fields and the Expressions), Bradley receives the proper support for capturing that vintage sound – both in quality and in character. Album opener “The World (Is Going Up In Flames)” sets the tone for the following tracks, crossing a funk groove with Bradley’s uninhibited soul. It’s the funk backbone that punctuates the grit of his vocal delivery, especially on songs like “Golden Rule” and “No Time For Dreaming.” Every single cut sounds unique unto itself, never coming across as bland or as if the band was simply attempting to rehash or emulate their soul/R&B/funk predecessors. Songs like “I Believe In Your Love” and “How Long” showcase smart, distinctive, and sweetly expressive instrumentation. “Since Our Last Goodbye,” an instrumental piece, is great, but ends up being the only real misstep of the album as it feels slightly out of place – or at least should have included a few measures of Bradley’s voice.

No Time For Dreaming is most certainly going to be one of the year’s best albums thanks to its production, arrangements, instrumentation, and, of course, Charles Bradley’s captivating, immeasurably emotive voice. After 40 plus years of making music, one has to wonder if this would have been as strong of a debut had Bradley not lived through so much. Whatever the case may be, it’s about time he received attention for his talent and ability to inspire faith in the lessons life hands out. While so many bands and artists are making albums about escaping the harsh realities of this world, Charles Bradley is a voice of singular, and welcomed, honesty. The anguish and frustration that characterize No Time For Dreaming are not depressing, serving instead as a source of reassurance. Bradley reminds us that obstacles and hardships are what strengthen our resolve and give us the courage to face the future. No Time For Dreaming is a masterful debut and a classic in its own right, one that teaches us that nothing can cage the power of the spirit; nothing is stronger than soul.

BUY: No Time For Dreaming is out today on Daptone imprint Dunham Records. You can pick it up on Amazon, Amazon MP3, iTunes, or direct from Dunham here.

Watch a making-of/album trailer below.