The venerable and influential Manhattan Transfer, even with the addition of Trist Curless, continues to change with the times while still retaining its original sonic vision. Alan, Cheryl, Janis and Trist put together their first studio album in years, and it’s fresh and exciting. The big difference here is that some hip hop and R&B synth grooves are thrown in, but they work well, as on the take of Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” (titled here “Cantaloop”) and they add a funky synth bass for their hip and fun take of Glenn Miller’s “Tuxedo Junction” on the title track, with the boys doing a great Tex Benecke. Janis does some 70s soul on the disco’d “Shake Ya Boogie” and the team goes into overdrive on a frenetic “Tequila/The Way of the Booze.” The patented harmonies are still intact, well displayed on “The Paradise Within” and on the gospel themed “Swing Balboa.” Timeless and timely.
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