In Orlando music circles, Chris LeBrane is what’s known as a man in demand. Over a local career of many years, he’s been a player in notable bands such as political hardcore hit squad M.A.C.E., funk-rap act Universal Funk Orchestra and alt-rock band Steve Garron and the Guarantees. It’s an expansive CV that shows many sides of LeBrane but perhaps little definitive direction about his very own musical point of view. That, however, is now unveiled in his full-length solo debut as Chris LeBrane’s Campaign.
Although solo in concept, this project is, in execution, actually a duo with Peter Lutringer, himself a noted local musician (The Aristocracy, Unit Shifters, Steve Garron, etc.) and longtime bandmate of LeBrane’s. The ideas are LeBrane’s but Lutringer helps realize them with input, guitar work, co-production and engineering.
Earlier peeks at Chris LeBrane’s Campaign have been scant, with only a couple of singles released back in 2016 and 2018. But now, after nearly a decade in development, they’ve finally and fully emerged with debut album Inauguration.
Like LeBrane’s musical career, Inauguration is a crossroads. The album is a synth-funk fantasy voyage that revisits the undersung 1980s intersection of R&B and new wave. These eight songs, which include earlier singles “Mental Love Affair” and “Galaxy: 80,” are a retro-futurist ride that gives new breath to the same lineage of sleek and silky vibes as Midnight Star, The S.O.S. Band and early New Edition. Inauguration is a consistently solid collection of single-worthy tracks that’s probably the best merge of synthesizers and soul heard in ages.
Although primarily a studio project, Chris LeBrane’s Campaign have sights set on becoming a full live act. Until then, though, you can indulge in the funky neon grooves of Inauguration on streaming platforms everywhere and atop TLU’s Spotify playlist.
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This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2025.
