The Bamboos – On The Sly review

Artist: The Bamboos
Title: On The Sly
Label: Tru Thoughts
Genre: Funk/Rare Groove/Reissues
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download

Australian band The Bamboos have been holding down things on the funky side of town since 2001, gaining fans all over the world with their authentic, dirty funk nuggets. In the same vein as bands like El Michels Affair or Breakestra, these guys are students of the classic breaks that underpinned the sample-hungry glory days of hip-hop. They’ve also had the incredible honour to back up some of funk’s most revered names, notably New Orleans hit-machine Eddie Bo, Syl Johnson and Eddie Floyd.

Ahead of their new album 4 comes single “On The Sly”, a perfect slice of mid-tempo joy, which has the same rollicking cowbell-driven vibe as classic UBB staple “Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number 9” by Wilson Pickett. Soulsides MC and singer Lyrics Born joins them on 2nd cut “Turn It Up”, another popcorn funk winner complete with chicken-scratch guitar parts worthy of James Brown stalwart Jimmy Nolen. Hanging out with the Aussies seems to have rubbed off on the Californian MC, as he even sings “Turn it up mate” at one point. DJ’s get taken care of with an accapella and an instrumental too, making this release a good way to put some funk back in your trunk.

Review: Oliver Keens