Browsing Tag

funk

Don’t Blame It On The Boogie; Blame It On Rebelsuns. Dancefloor Anthem ‘Over Again’

Posted on 21 December 2020

Hot on the heels of their previous single ‘Hues’ comes this absolute banger of a dancefloor-ready hit from Indonesia’s Rebelsuns., all mixed-up disco-funk synth-pop in the vein of the Scissor Sisters, Jean Tonique, or Flamingo Pier.

Whereas previous single ‘Hues’ was a more solemn, ballady affair, ‘Over Again’ takes no prisoners in its aim to get booties shaking and feet moving, a total-fun, no-holds-barred party track with Nile Rodgers-Esque funk guitar riffs atop thumping bass, splashed piano chords, and a drum pattern which just invites all those late-seventies open-collar and white suit dance moves.

Taking its cues from K-Pop, J-Pop, and funk/fusion, ‘Over Again’ is all soft, playful vocals, multi-layered chorus harmonies, and inescapable dance grooves. It’s nostalgic yet contemporary, uplifting and wicked, wicked fun, as much Twice’s ‘Fancy’ as Childish Gambino as Swing Out Sister, Johnny Hates Jazz, the Bee Gees, or Chic. It’s that perfect mix of funk, dance, disco, and modern alt-synth-pop, colourful, upbeat, tongue-in-cheek, and with a completely unavoidable boogie; it’s truly impossible to listen to ‘Over Again’ and not want to get up and dance. That’s the mark of a proper future classic right there.

Listen to ‘Over Again’ on Spotify. Follow Rebelsuns on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

Delve into the deep grooves of DJ Creativity’s latest mix ‘The Music Moves Me’ feat MX

Posted on 17 December 2020

EDM artist and producer DJ Creativity teamed up with MX to create their latest feat of danceably electric Disco ‘The Music Moves Me’.

Funk deep grooves wind their way through the Deep House Disco mix which is sure to instil euphoria in everyone who finds the soulfully retro entrancing hit. There may be plenty of odes to Old School, but with the funk-riding basslines, there’s a modernist twist to the sound which has kept dancefloors alive for decades.

You can check out The Music Moves me by DJ Creativity for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SENTO – Lay Back featuring TATONKA: The Soul Driven Ambient Hit That Will Keep Your Synapses Firing

Posted on 1 December 2020

Swiss-Norwegian artist and producer SENTO’s latest soul-instilled Alt Electronica single ‘Lay Back’ featuring TATONKA is a sublimely idyllic feat of aural ingenuity. With enough ambience within the mix to offer you a sense of catharsis and plenty of digitally-orchestrated Funk to keep your synapses firing, Lay Back easily transcends the notion of genre and becomes somewhat of a paradox. It’s a grooving dreamy slow burner and a bass-riding groove-riddled entrancing hit, all in one deftly produced package.

With SENTO’s tendency to weave everything from Funk to Hip Hop to Neo Soul into his tracks, it’s always worth delving into their eclectically inspired sound, and thankfully, there is plenty more in the pipeline.

You can check out SENTO’s latest single via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mychael Gabriel wrestles with racism and intolerance with their Funk-Rock track ‘Fury’

Posted on 14 November 2020

With a funk/rock pedigree that includes collaborations with artists such as Sheila E, Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr, John Legend, St. Vincent, and George Clinton, Mychael Gabriel is at the forefront of a new Minneapolis Sound generation. Now, with ‘Fury’, he brings forth probably the most danceable groove of a protest song that Michael Jackson never wrote.

Sounding like early, Off The Wall-era Jackson coupled with some of Nile Rodgers’ best ‘Chic’ guitar chops – plus some proper ‘guitar hero’ funk shredding on the solo at around the two-minute mark – ‘Fury’ rages at the injustice of peaceful protest scapegoating rioting and unrest, wrestling with racism and intolerance, but always with a style and groove that lifts it above being ‘just’ a protest song. ‘Fury’ is a bona fide funk/rock powerhouse of a track, chock-full of swagger and funk alongside its outrage and, well yeah, Fury.

Check out the video for ‘Fury’ on YouTube. Follow Gabriel on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Let Cliff Beach take you to church with their latest single ‘Black Moses’

Posted on 12 November 2020

Any artist who can compel you to contort a grin with the first vocal note is worth their weight in aural gold, admittedly, that doesn’t happen all too often, so you may as well hit play on Cliff Beach’s latest single Black Moses.

Cliff Beach may not have had Trent Reznor producing his track, but there are plenty of reminiscences in Black Moses and Saul Williams’ hit Black Jesus. The same playful enigmatic attitude runs through, but with Black Moses, there are lashings of Funk found in the chorally compelling tones which will take you to church as the high-vibe hit unfolds.

You can check out Black Moses for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Newah and Amber Prothero have jazzed up the airwaves with their Electro Pop single “Let It Burn”

Posted on 30 October 2020

Newah & Amber Prothero found the perfect balance between sensuality, soul and jazz-laden ecstasy in their new electro jazz pop hit “Let It Burn”.

The UK-based duo brought a brand-new meaning to the term let it burn. They tear the narrative away from arson and offer inspiration through their lyrics which invite you to embrace the fire within. So, if you’ve been feeling a little stagnant lately, Let it Burn is the perfect aural warmer. It brings Electro Jazz into the mainstream while never compromising on the earworm accessibility.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who will be hoping that there will be more to come from the already iconic duo. They’re firmly affixed to our radar.

You can check out Let it Burn for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

FunkEnergy brings the Funk-filled Break Beats with “Beautiful Liar”

Posted on 25 October 2020

Italian artist and producer FunkEnergy made their most entrancing contribution to the Big Beat scene yet with their 2020 EP ‘Red Lips’ which dropped on October 14th via UPUK Records.

With snappy breakbeats bringing a solid structure to the exuberantly dynamic standout track ‘Beautiful Liar’, you can’t help but get into the groove with the up-vibe rhythms.

The fact that FunkEnergy was able to create a high-vibe track about infidelity makes me love him even more. The cheeky playfulness resonates all throughout the mix which you’ll definitely want to give plenty of repeat attention to. The production boasts a massive sound, but it is still easier than breathing to slip into. Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what comes next.

You can check out FunkEnergy’s single Beautiful Liar along with the rest of their 2020 EP by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cloverchild brings in the future of Funk with “Down Deep”

Posted on 22 October 2020
https://cloverchild.bandcamp.com/track/down-deep

Chicago-based Indie artist Cloverchild blessed the airwaves with lashings of futuristic Funk with the release of their album Fool’s Paradise which dropped October 2nd.

Hit play and immerse yourself in a high-vibe medley of Disco tones, playful electronica and Rock-inclined rhythmic prowess. The perfect introduction to their charismatically compassionate approach to Indie is “Down Deep”. If you could imagine what it would sound like if you came across John Grant on a good day, you’ll get an idea of the groovy soulful appeal which Down Deep has to offer.

You can check out Down Deep with the rest of Cloverchild’s 2020 album via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Baby Jesus Paper Boy – Expensive Dance Music: A Sonically Eccentric Alt Rock Debut

Posted on 17 October 2020

By day, Chicago-based artist Baby Jesus Paper Boy is a public school music teacher, by night, he’s a multi-instrumentalist and Alt Rock alchemist.

Expensive Dance Music is their debut single which dropped in October 2020. It’s an incredible testament to their expressive, energetic style which allowed the track to resonate as playful. But that’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of maturity in the sonically arrestive debut.

It’s jangly, it’s funky, it’s practically Post Punk on ecstasy and the sax solos will leave your mind feeling like microwave soup. There’s plenty going on in the quite literally electrifying soundscape, but Baby Jesus Paper Boy pulls it all together with all too efficacious structuring, and, of course, the serious amount of soul brought to the table with their vocals.

We definitely won’t be making him do lines for this debut.

You can check out Baby Jesus Paper Boy’s debut single for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jake George cooked up kaleidoscopically-sweet Funk in their Psych Rock single “In the Rain”

Posted on 17 October 2020

Australian singer-songwriter Jake George has cooked up a Funk-soaked psychedelic storm with their latest bass-led autumnally-apt single “In the Rain”.

Melt into the smooth sultry grooves and fall a little bit in love with Jake George’s equally as provocative vocals which project into the kaleidoscopically effect-laden soundscape.

In the Rain sweeps across the full tonal palette, giving the instrumental arrangement plenty of depth, but you won’t be able to tear your consciousness away from the warm, steady reverberation which comes in the form of a throbbing bassline.

You can check out In the Rain for yourselves by heading over to Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast