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Kyle Hollingsworth - Speed of Life

by Kevin Wierzbicki

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Hollingsworth has been consumed lately with one of his passions outside the music business; he's spent the better part of the year developing his very own line of craft beers. That means that really big fans of the String Cheese Incident keys man will want to quaff a Collective Distortion IPA or a Hoopla Pale Ale while they listen to Speed of Life, Hollingsworth's third solo effort.

The brew will go down pretty fast during "Racer X," a funky organ-driven instrumental that's a throwback to the time when Sly Stone and music from Shaft ruled the pop charts.

"Here We Go" is a much breezier vocal number while "You've Got the World" is a bit Prince-like, full of soulful funk that anchors a killer pop hook. "Pack it Up" is another instrumental that begins with a showcase for bass player Garrett Sayers of the Motet (several other members of that band guest also); the arrangement allows too for some sweet soloing from the guitarists and of course several keyboard solos for Hollingsworth.

"Happening Now" utilizes popping New Wave-style synth but set to a modern EDM groove and with harmony-laden vocals. This set shows that Hollingsworth refuses to be pigeonholed but the funky instrumental stuff is the best of what's on offer here, as earthy grooves like "Lucky Charms" and the all-too brief "World Girl Reprise" prove.

Find the album here

Kyle Hollingsworth - Speed of Life
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