Before technological development changed everything, you couldn’t hide behind production tricks and patches, you either had it or you didn’t. Parlor Greens have it in abundance, and the sophomore album from the organ trio supergroup Emeralds is a record that’s fluent in the musical language of a glorious older world.

With Adam Scone on organ, Jimmy James on guitar and Tim Carman on drums, the lineup is formidable. The Hammond organ is a great instrument, and Scone plays it beautifully with a warm and slightly overdriven sound vibrating in a deeply physical way. When the playing gets raucous and funky, the organ naturally distorts as notes are crammed together in the upper register, and when it pulls back into more tender moments it carries a gospel warmth that feels ancient. With no vocal cuts on this record, the organ takes care of the melodic content and it’s more than capable. Jimmy James’ guitar solo on the opener Eat Your Greens is a masterclass in style over complexity, built largely around holding a single note and playing completely uncomplicated triplets that are absolutely dripping with cool. Mustard Sauce settles into a deep, earthy groove that any hip-hop head would love to sample, and Drop Top brings the gospel lineage to the fore. Parlor Change is terrific and very much in the spirit of The Meters, and Letter To Brother Ben is a lovely reflective moment. Francisco Smack is another storming jam and the cover of Dolly Parton’s Jolene is played with immense groove that’s recognisable and enormously fun, a perfect showcase for the melodic capability of the Hammond. Lion’s Mane uses the organ percussively in the low register, and Red Dog is built around another storming guitar solo that’s more about style than shred. Emeralds is a purposeful album made by three musicians who completely love the funk and soul tradition, and play it with tremendous joy.