Howard Ivans, the lead singer of the Rosebuds and Gayngs has stepped out to do the solo thing with the release of the Red Face Boy/Pillows 7 inch which Spacebomb Records released last month. For those familiar with this work, the single offers listeners a complete and seemingly radical change sonically. “Red Face Boy” takes up some sexy, funky soul complete with Quincy Jones-like production — we’re talking about slick horn lines, strings and an insanely sinuous bass line. 

The B-side “Pillows” is more old school R&B, along the lines of Heatwave, Earth, Wind and Fire, Isaac Hayes, and others. It’s quiet storm sexy with slow burning bursts of horns, and Ivans soulfully crooning his lyrics.