Tuesday, February 15, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: THE LINK QUARTET RISE AGAIN WITH "4"

ARTIST: THE LINK QUARTET
TITLE: 4
CAT#: HBR-013
CD RELEASE DATE: APRIL 19, 2011
DIGITAL RELEASE DATE: APRIL 12, 2011

After three mind-blowing funk-tastic rock albums (Evolution, 2006 / Italian Playboys, 2004 / Beat.It, 2002) and two US tours, The Link Quartet took a break which led organist extraordinaire Paolo “Apollo” Negri toward two solo records (A Bigger Tomorrow, 2007 / The Great Anything, 2009) and Hammondbeat into a much expanded relationship with this prolific master. They conspired that The Link Quartet would rise again when the time was right. THAT TIME IS NOW!

“4” is the culmination of everything Paolo and Hammondbeat have produced in the last few years, from vintage soul to their own unique brand of funk-jazz-rock, but squeezed into the raw, hyperactive, live-band genius of The Link Quartet. This is modern power-pop combined with R&B rock sensibility that separates “written songs” from “incomprehensible noise”.

With Paolo taking over the band from retired founders Link Cardini and Tony Face he recruited Majo Murtas (guitar), Pato Maffi (drums), and Arnaldo Dodici (vocals) who’ve given not only the solid skills always central to a Link Quartet album, but also bring a fresh style necessary to stand riff-to-riff with their retro-contemporaries. French soul lyrics, hard-rock guitar energy, jazz drummer work ethic, Renzo's body rumbling bass, and blistering organ riffs all come together into a socially conscious “power to the working man” party.

“4” also features guest appearances from the growing Hammondbeat extended family. The Austin-based Hellfire Horns and vocalist Tameca Jones from Flyjack’s “On the One” EP lay on the Texas barbecue on a few tunes, and organist Simon Rigot shows off his extensive sitar skill for contrasting eastern flavor on “Big Peach”, as well as Paolo’s own expanding arsenal of assorted electronic and percussive blends that sets a Link Quartet album that much more ahead of the rest.

Also available HB7-07: exclusively on vinyl are the original raw versions of “Fast Girls & Sexy Cars” b/w “Drummore” which were toured extensively through Europe until an album had reached a boiling point and the “4” sessions commenced.


Hammondbeat has been making records since 2002 and feature some of the most outstanding music preservationists on the planet. The rules are simple: create something new, don’t be afraid of playing notes, and drum machines are for demos only. Hammondbeat releases feature the superior sound that can only be found when utilizing analog recording techniques and the best digital engineers. Just because you can make a record on your PC, doesn’t mean you should.”