Zinfandel Nights - Vonderplanetz

On the 3rd of December 2021, Vonderplanetz released their debut album ‘Zinfandel Nights’, a 9-track mix of soul and funk. The Bradford-based band are made up of four men: Danny Spakbo on guitar and vocals, Sean Dillon on bass and vocals, Adam Hunte on keys and Shaun Bartle on drums – however, on most the older recordings, the drums are by Leroy Mears.

On listening to the album, it’s an excellent example of the two genres mixed – my first thought being that the music is funky. It’s easy to dance to and fits the characteristics of funk music – steady drumbeats and snappy basslines, with jazzy elements. Let it be known that I’ve not spent a lot of time studying the soul and funk genres, this review is mainly for practice for me.

I thoroughly enjoy listening to the album and truly believe what I’ve already said in that it’s a good example. The first few tracks of the album, I felt were repetitive – a trait of the genres, but if it wasn’t obvious that the song had ended, I would have thought it that the first things songs were just one song. The rhythm and melody seem to be very similar in the first few songs – but that all changes when it comes to track four ‘Feel the Way I Do’. I would have to say this is one of my favourites out of the tracks. The lyrics are repetitive and catchy – and in general, just pleasant to listen to.

The song that follows, 15 Minutes of Magic has potential to be a single – as it was released as one in 2019, which I will link at the end. The lyrics are most clear in this song, making it easier to follow what’s being said. My first impression of the song was that it was your typical cheesy 80s song and a little cringey but in the best way, you don’t hide in your shirt when listening to it or laugh but you could imagine it in the background of a movie montage.

The last two tracks of the album – Funk Dancing for Self Defence and D.B.L.S give the album a strong ending. Personally, I would have had the tracks the opposite way around – D.B.L.S is one of the best examples of soul on the album, it reflects the start of the album but there’s something more likeable about it which I feel comes into how it’s mixed. The other songs on the album, the vocals seem to get drowned out at times by the rest of the music. Funk Dancing for Self Defence is another favourite of mine on the album, it’s funk – the bassline is strong and the whole vibe is different to the others. There's almost a Muse feeling to Funk Dancing for Self Defence, which I’m not sure Vonderplanetz were going for, it reminded me of the muse song ‘Panic Station’.

The musicianship is no less than immaculate, although as I’ve mentioned before, some of the songs I feel could be mixed better. When I say the vocals seem to be ‘drowned out’, I mean I can’t understand what the lyrics are supposed to be, the keys and guitars are too overpowering, which is mainly noticeable on Second Chances and when I play the song through my laptop speakers rather than my stereo’s speakers. It’s important to keep in mind while mixing that the sound changes depending on the quality of the speakers – so maybe that is an issue with my laptop’s speakers, but something to keep in mind, nonetheless.

I highly recommend having a listen to Vonderplanetz and checking them out on social media, you can find them on Facebook and Twitter as Vonderplanetz and Instagram as Vonderplanetzband. They are entertaining and definitely talented men, you can even pick up their album on their Bandcamp - which you can find here: https://vonderplanetz.bandcamp.com/album/zinfandel-nights.