The Crossing

Released in 2012 on Dunham Records, The Crossing is the second studio album by the Menahan Street Band, a supergroup of Brooklyn-based musicians from the Daptone Records stable (including members of the Dap-Kings, El Michels Affair, and Budos Band). While their debut, Make the Road by Walking, was famously sampled by Jay-Z, The Crossing sees the band moving into more complex, original territory. The album was recorded at Dunham Studios by Thomas Brenneck, utilizing a strictly analog signal chain that contributes to its signature 'dusty' sound. Critics noted the album's expansion beyond simple soul revivalism, incorporating elements of Afrobeat, jazz, and even psych-rock. The record is characterized by its use of minor keys and lower-timbre brass, creating a 'cinematic' feel that has led many reviewers to compare it to the work of Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack era. It remains a definitive example of the 'Brooklyn Soul' sound of the early 2010s.