Browsing Tag

funk

Robbie Maroon has released his catchier than Corona funk-pop track, Rewind

Posted on 24 March 2022

“Rewind” is the latest jazzy rock-licked funk-pop track from the raw-soul-peddling Australian singer-songwriter Robbie Maroon. After being introduced to his sombre and spacey sound in 2019 through his single, Stepping Stone, this new profoundly hopeful approach to production is quite literally music to our ears. You can’t help but catch the positive vibes that radiate through the release that captures the chaos of our lives and releases us from it with the era-spanning old school grooves.

With vocals that sit somewhere in between Shinedown and the sultry timbre of George Michael, it’s all too easy to find yourself in the heart of the hook-filled track which comes complete with stabbing horns and layers of funk-riding progressions which pull together to deliver a nostalgia hit you’ve never tasted before.

Rewind was officially released on March 18th. You can check it out for yourselves on Robbie Maroon’s website or via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Keeping Things Alive: Childhood friends Shyness Boy defeat the odds on ‘Featsteps’

Posted on 9 December 2021

After never giving up on their purpose to make music together, no matter what stones life threw at them, Shyness Boy bravely shows us the track that has been brewing contently for many years with ‘Featsteps‘.

Shyness Boy is an indie experimental shywave/funk/pop/looper duo from San Fernando, California, who despite facing many glitches in the Matrix have made it through unscathed.

”Work on Shyness Boy’s debut began all the way back in the autumn of 2013. Dennis and Ron held a series of writing and demoing sessions that resulted in an initial slate of over 10 songs. In early 2015 the duo was ready to record their album in earnest when one was seriously injured in an accident. The subsequent years were largely devoted to the recovery, but the two still strived to continue their work.” ~ Shyness Boy

After first meeting in the eighth grade back at school, Shyness Boy shows us their utterly in-sync chemistry from start to finish on this underground track that helps you feel so much better than before. There is contemplative summer energy here and the vocals urge you to come a little bit closer, with a sunglasses-type beat that has you looking around with a slight smile on your face.

‘Featsteps‘ from the experimental funk/pop duo Shyness Boy, is a true story all about knowing that some things can’t be bought and you need to be careful otherwise soon, you might be lost. Like so many who lose themselves rather easily in this vortex-filled world of temptation, this is a warning of staying with the good souls and seeing where you land. After many detours in the road that threatened to derail this catchy duo, we get to see what all this hard word is all about. It was certainly worth the wait.

Hear this terrific new single on Spotify and see more of the all-conquering journey on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Unstick My Lips: Guildford band The Doolallys keep their guard up on ‘Eye to Eye’

Posted on 2 December 2021

As they keep the toes on alert due to their lover playing hard-to-get when you just want to be cuddling adjacent, The Doolallys tell us the story about querying how long this will last on ‘Eye to Eye‘.

The Doolallys is a Guildford, Surrey-based indie funk-punk/rock 3-piece band that make a warmly-appreciated and catchy-cool combination of ear-healing music that has you singing with on full volume.

”Having had a lot of support from BBC Introducing South, the band are loaded with an ammunition case full of fresh material, ready to take the music scene head-on.” ~ The Doolallys

The Doolallys are back and with unblemished aplomb. With the first of their new singles, they impress energetically and if this is the standard of upcoming releases, we are sure to be in happier moods thanks to their excellent inventions.

‘Eye to Eye‘ from the Guildford, Surrey-based indie funk-punk/rock act The Doolallys, is that highly relevant single that so many of us have faced before. We want to be with someone special but don’t want our brittle hearts to be broken again so we are a bit overly mysterious – when actually we need to be totally honest – to get that real connection plugged into the soul of the human we actually care about greatly.

Hear this terrific effort on Spotify and see more on their IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Newborn Stranger: Austin’s Alex Wilson desires that cheeky company on ‘Young Lust’

Posted on 30 November 2021
Is There Anybody Out There? by Alex Wilson

Taken off his highly-ambitious and awe-inspiring 26-track album called ‘Is There Anybody Out There?‘, Alex Wilson is quite outstanding on his brand new single about trying to find that special woman to be romantic with on ‘Young Lust‘.

Alex Wilson is an Austin, Texas-based industrial funk/rock bassist, songwriter, and music producer who makes that raw type of music creation that has you listening twice.

”Alex (Wilky) Wilson brings a variety of influences from Peter Gabriel to Pink Floyd to Daft Punk to Metallica to Prince.” ~ Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson unquestionably has an impressively trimmed beard. He shapes through this track like an old pro too as no shaving cream is required, with a rugged display of guitar playing that will have you buying this man a drink from the bar.

‘Young Lust‘ from the Austin, Texas-based industrial funk/rock bassist, songwriter, and music producer Alex Wilson, shows us his music love potion that is rather enticing on the ears and has you wondering if that girl came around last night. His bass-bending skills are rather superhero-like – and there is much to admire – about an artist who just lets it rip and leaves it all on the line. This is that old school feel that the world needs more of in its overly-sensitive veins.

Hear this fresh new single on Bandcamp and see more news on the IG music channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

New Sense released the ultimate funk-soaked synth-pop nostalgia hit with ‘Lavender Tea.

Posted on 8 November 2021

‘Lavender Tea’ is the latest indie synth-pop nostalgia hit from the experimental Bay Area solo artist New Sense (Ethan Brown). The funk-soaked ode to the 80s takes influence from icons, Earth Wind and Fire, Tame Impala and Still Woozy; New Sense also wears his MJ influences on his sonic sleeve in the high-energy track that is infectious from the first hit.

There is plenty of authenticity in Lavender Tea to quench your thirst for fresh funk; we can’t wait to hear what New Sense serves next.

Lavender Tea is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get lost in the twilight of jazz fusionist Ikechi Onyenaka’s latest single, City Dreams.

Posted on 28 October 2021

Jazz and Blues fusionist Ikechi Onyenaka’s latest extended instrumental soundscape, City Dreams, eases you into the twilight grooves gently before the rhythms pick up funk around the smoky jazz timbre. With the next progression, City Dreams moves towards a stormy sax blues riff that rivals the jazz-punk frontman Pete Wareham’s pipes.

In the latter half of City Dreams, psych blues tendencies start to accumulate in the single, in a way that there was no anticipating. The ambience from the intro allows the volatile expressionism to leave you broadsided by the sheer ingenuity. Is there any better feeling than that?

City Dreams is now available to stream on SoundCloud and all other major streaming platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nowhere To Go: Tampa mood-raisers BadCameo wonder who is to blame on ‘So Cold’

Posted on 27 October 2021

With supremely reflective lyrics about wishing you could be together during these lonely rain-ridden days of shivers, BadCameo gaze wondrously outside into the nippy rainy skies of doom and gloom with their latest thoughtful track ‘So Cold‘.

BadCameo is a prolific gig and festival performing North Carolina-born, Tampa, Florida-based indie Funk-Fusion three-piece band who usually bring the fresh disco-glam grooves. They are a genuine outfit who aim to help us recover our mojo again, with their signature stuffed fishes ready for action at any moment.

”In October 2020, the band released their debut studio album “BadCameo Out Loud”. The album was self recorded and engineered, and explores the relationships one has with themselves and those around them. The nine songs push the boundaries of funk, disco, jazz, and pop, while even slipping in a little samba.” ~ BadCameo

‘So Cold‘ from North Carolina-born, Tampa, Florida-based indie Funk-Fusion act BadCameo, is an artistic piece of contemplative atmospheric realness that can’t ever be traded in. They transport us to a chilly world that has been made from this weird time in our odd world, that seems to be slowly returning back to an almost-normal place. Sung with a heartfelt desire to find the right things to say at the wrong time, this feels like the type of track that has been made with a highly personal story attached for us to unpack in our own way.

Sometimes love can be so magical and beautiful to lather inside, but also so cold with frostbite if we don’t keep it warm enough.

Hear this terrific track on Spotify and see more news on future gigs and releases via their IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Polyphonic Exophilia – ups et pertulerat: a progressive soul-funk serenade.

Posted on 6 September 2021
Vol. 2 by Polyphonic Exophilia

Norway-hailing music collective, Polyphonic Exophilia, describe their sound as sensual progressive alternative soul-funk, and it’s fair to say, if any bassline is going to leave you weak at the knees it is the one in the standout single, ups et pertulerat, from their EP, Vol.2.

Ups et pertulerat is the Latin phrase for ups and downs, and that’s exactly what the soundscape explores; if you constantly find yourself between mania and melancholy, you may just find that your tumultuous mind reflected at you through this exploratively engaging release.

The jazzy, tonally warm instrumental single is all about the bass-carved grooves and the colourful alchemy that breaths between them. It leaves you in anticipation of what the next progression will offer as the shimmering polyphonic keys bring the soul in the absence of vocals.

Check out Polyphonic Exophilia on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Can’t Take It Anymore: Humorous The Bronx band House of Weirdos could use a helping hand on ‘Help Me Doctor, Please’

Posted on 26 August 2021

Comprised of a group of childhood friends who all grew up together, House of Weirdos follow the crumbs and head towards the wise man who could possibly assist with the unexplained voices on ‘Help Me Doctor, Please‘.

House of Weirdos is a four-piece The Bronx, New York-based indie funk-rock band. They are a highly experienced act who keep the humor light and full of laughs, as they showcase their electric energy with a terrific track here.

”All songs and videos are recorded, produced and edited by House of Weirdos with the help of a handful of weirdo friends.” ~ House of Weirdos

With highly expressive vocals which are finely tuned and featuring a chorus which will have you singing along, this is an entertaining track with lots of heart and shows us their likable style, which is easy to see on this funny single.

‘Help Me Doctor, Please‘ from The Bronx, New York-based indie funk-rock band House of Weirdos, is a tremendously fun track which tells the story of needing to go for help, but leaving really quickly with the gloves come out for further inspection. On a catchy beat with lots of action on these exciting visuals, this is a track to play to take the edge off serious life decisions, which can really drag you down into the grumpy dumps.

Sometimes you just need to get your mates together with friendly nurses joining the team, and play some kick-ass rock music to sooth any pain away.

See this new video on their YouTube and see more news on their FB.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Ism has dropped his iconic cross over single, Grey Matter.

Posted on 24 August 2021

Any fans of John Grant’s deadpan witty drawl, Daft Punk’s danceable grooves and Nile Rodger’s guitars will soon get suckered into the latest electrifying indie synthpop track, Grey Matter, by up and coming artist Ism, featuring the soulful vocals from Roo.

Grey Matter is just one of the infectiously experimental singles found on Ism’s latest album, Blue Artist, that seamlessly entwines disco, funk, hip hop, synthpop and indie – to energizing effect. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Grey Matter is one of the best crossover tracks since RZA and Paul Banks formed Banks & Steelz.

Grey Matter is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast