Tags: Electrofunk

Review: 'I'll Be Good', a Mercury single release, is an excellent later track from Rene & Angela (Winbush),
still working alongside Bobby Watson, with a fat, synthesized midtempo 80s groove feel.

Review: So, after all the hype, social media arguments and YouTube parodies, here it is: the most talked about dance album of 2013. By now you should all know the story: Daft Punk do old-fashioned disco-pop with the help of a legion of high profile guests and collaborators. So is Random Access Memories any good? Certainly, it's a fine pop album; lavishly produced fare with an authentic, organic swing that benefits enormously from Chic man Nile Rodgers' distinctive guitar work. At it's best, such as on the goodtime disco rush of "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself to Dance" (both featuring agorgeous vocals for Pharrell Williams), or the quirky but brilliant "Girorgio by Moroder", it's impeccable.

Review: The Peoples Potential Unlimited quest to unearth the Atlantic boogie that time forgot continues unabated - this time reviving a1983 gem from Detroit's The X Man. Wrapped in an excellently presented sleeve, the somewhat mysterious X-Man supposedly had what should have been a fruitful musical career cut short by a 30 year stint in a Motor City psychiatric hospital. This was no obstacle for PPU however, who were granted the master tapes to press up "That Body" and "Fired Up" at 45rpm on a nice fat twelve! There's an undeniable funk swagger to "That Body" which sounds like Jimmy Edgar if he was a child of the 70s - in a word, killer. The B Side proto hip-hop bump of "Fire It Up" proves to be just as infectious, driven by some loose limbed synth flourishes.

Review: MIA's latest single, Crime of Passion, picks up where her last hit left off, delivering another dose of sultry funk with producer Gil Masuda. With deep bass and a groovy vibe, MIA's silky voice weaves a tale of compassion and desire over an up-tempo 80s-tinged boogie beat. The track's infectious energy is sure to get listeners on the dance floor, with lyrics like "Am I your shining diamond, baby, kryptonite?" enticing them further. On the flip side, 'Love Bug' offers a chill roller skating jam with lush Rhodes chords and warm synth tones, perfect for anyone who's ever been in love. Released on Love Touch Records, this single hints at the possibility of a long-awaited debut album from MIA in the near future.

Review: Brian Ellis, known for his multi-instrumental work as part of Birdbone Unlimited on Star Creature, steps out with a solo release that channels West Coast flair into a bold reinterpretation of early 80s dancefloor energy. Revisiting Bobby O's production 'Love Is The Drug' for Roni Griffith's 1982 hit, Ellis transforms the original into a shimmering blend of Italectro and funk-driven electrobass, a proto-freestyle fandango filtered through Ellis' signature analog sensibility. A high-gloss, synth-laced homage results on orange gamboge vinyl; a replenishing source of sunny sonic vitamin D.