Southern retro soul band Bonneville releases their highly anticipated single ‘The Chase’ from their second album, Flying Machine. Known for their distinctive blend of retro-soul and funky R&B, Bonneville takes a bold step with this instrumental track, paying homage to the 1970s car chase scenes iconic in urban thriller movies.
‘The Chase’ stands out as the album’s sole instrumental piece, featuring a cacophony of funk that captures the raw, energetic essence of the genre. Inspired by the gritty, high-stakes tension of 1970s cinematographic crime/action films like Dirty Harry, Shaft, and Streets of San Francisco, the track channels the inner-city edge reminiscent of classic tracks like “Are You Man Enough?” by The Four Tops and the theme to Shaft. This influence is vividly brought to life by the stellar musicianship of the Muscle Shoals FAME Recording Studios ensemble and the creative vision of Bonneville’s principal songwriter, Ray “Razor” Fagan.
Band member, co-producer, and co-songwriter Jeff Hayashi describes ‘The Chase’ as an auditory journey through the bustling streets of Manhattan or San Francisco during a car chase from Starsky & Hutch. The track’s thick, rich sound layers keyboards and spiky guitar riffs, create a dynamic and engaging listening experience. Hayashi and co-writer Wes McGee drew inspiration from a combination of dreams and conversations about the golden age of 1970s film soundtracks, leading to the creation of a funk orchestra with a timeless melody.
