A concentrate of funk and soul with a powerful sound, Behold The Mighty Army marks the pinnacle of New Birth’s audacious style, and makes you funkier than you were
New Birth’s Behold The Mighty Army (1977) is a work that, while not as iconic as some of their earlier albums, reveals their musical ambition and mastery of rapidly changing funk and R&B. This group, whose origins lie in the collective The Nite-Liters, presents here an album which combines powerful grooves, imposing vocal harmonies and orchestral arrangements. For those who are interested with this band, you can now find the Danny Krivit re-edits classic 70s breaks!
Few words about the record
The album opens with tracks like Behold (The Mighty Army), where the raw energy and complexity of the orchestral arrangements are immediately felt, setting a combative and spiritual atmosphere. The horns are omnipresent, supported by vigorous percussion and a bass line deeply rooted in funk. Tracks such as Dealin’ and Don’t Get Hooked stand out for their fusion of funk and soul, where the vocals and arrangements are more subtle but just as captivating.
We find this quality of production which gives the music a side that is both accessible and refined, although certain passages may seem repetitive for contemporary listeners. A particularity of Behold The Mighty Army is the sense of cohesion and musical storytelling that connects the pieces. However, despite the band’s energy and obvious talent, this album did not have the commercial or critical impact of their previous work. Critics sometimes criticize him for a lack of originality and repetitiveness in his compositions. Nevertheless, for fans of funk and soul, this album remains a gem to rediscover, which captures the energy of New Birth and their musical vision.
