THE BELLRAYS
In the Light of the Sun
(Vital Gesture/In Music We Trust)
The BellRays seemed to explode out of Riverside, California back in 1999, leaving a trail of ringing ears, dropped jaws and palpitating hearts in their punk 'n' soul wake. Fans and critics alike lined up to sing the band's praises, hailing them as the new saviors of rock 'n' roll. But what most of those folks didn't know is that the 'Rays had been shaking up SoCal for years before their supposed debut Let It Blast. Originally released in 1993 on cassette, In the Light of the Sun is a chronicle of the early years, before the band became the rock 'n' soul powerhouse it is today.

A quintet for this recording, the BellRays play raw, unfettered soul music, augmented by a two-piece horn section and a trio of backing singers. Brainbusting guitarist/songwriter Tony Fate has not yet joined the ranks, but is still present at these sessions as producer, contributing a couple of tunes as well. The songs, penned mostly by guitarist Bob Vennum (who would be the bassist in the group's better known incarnation), have their roots in 60s and 70s soul. Rather than simply pillage the classic R&B era, however, Vennum uses it as inspiration for his own ideas. Similarly, the band (Vennum, drummer Ray Chin, bassist Tony Bramel, keyboardist Jim Kerwin and, of course, singer Lisa Kekaula) doesn't just ape the soul icons, but instead translates their innovations into a distinct sound. "Same Ground" has the feel of a Curtis Mayfield soundtrack without ripping him off; "Tell Me What the Sun Said" conjures the aura of early 70s Temptations but doesn't copy them. There's even some juke-joint jazz with Kerwin's "Blue, Blue, Blue." Stax and Motown stand as obvious touchstones as well, but it's nearly impossible to point to a track and name the exact influence.

Even if you could, though, this is as tasty a set of soul cookies as you're likely to consume in these days of electronic grooves and over-emoting divas. The 'Rays keep the sound raw and unrefined, relying on the melodies and rhythms to carry the tunes. Kekaula quite simply sets an example for modern-day soul singers; her performance channels her passion with exquisite control. Fans who know her from her turbocharged cry in the punked-up 'Rays may be shocked by the soul mistress riding these grooves. Still, there is a taste of things to come: "You'd Better Find a Way" downplays the R&B for a charging rock tune, "Tell Me What You've Been Working On" injects elements of heavy metal and Sun Ra, and Fate's psychedelisized "The Ghost I'm After" hints at stylistic paths not taken. The band would soon fuse its rock impulses with its R&B heart and give itself a punk facelift, but on In the Light of the Sun, the BellRays prove that they were a bunch of geniuses long before any acclaim. Michael Toland [buy it]

For fans of: Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield