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Various Funksters - The New Gold Standard
- Even if you don’t cut smooth moves on the dance floor, there’s something for the lover of classic funk and groove-laden jazz in this collection of…well, standards seemingly cut in the golden era of nonsensical, afro-infused sounds and rhythms. However, this is no brought-to-CD re-release of some discotheque merry melodies brought to life during the stimulating ride that was the late 1970’s. This is a fully-realized re-imagining of that puff n’ stuff inspired, socially-charged genre with modest accompaniment of modern electric instruments and tricks kicks things up a few decades.
Featuring a motley assortment of modern groove artists and new age funksters, including the likes of Speedy Consuela, International Velvet, and the Fort Knox Five (the latter of which released the CD on their own Fort Knox label), the New Gold Standard pulsates with a variety rarely seen on many collections, regardless of musical style. From the delightfully weird East-meets-West sitar-backed tunes in songs like “Baby Shiva” to lyrically-powered political tirades such as “Radio free DC” that bring to mind a smooth, jazz-influenced Hip-Hop, there’s a little something here for everyone. Of course, if you happen to be a particular fan of one brand of funk, if you like your coffee black and that’s that, then this kind of sampling is perhaps not suited to your taste. However, for us poor schmoes who don’t get a lot of culture, least of all groovy tunes like these, then this CD is an excellent introduction into a number of approaches to the genre making critical waves or just a few splashes with urban audiences around the country and Europe.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have not heard much about the artists on this list. International Velvet? Isn’t that a horse or something? Well, it doesn’t matter, because the pleasant mix of Latino brass along with Spanish, English and sometimes absolutely bonkers lyrics, and at times, a clever use of modern electric instruments kept me riveted. The only complaint I have is that, for all the diverse singles packed onto the CD, it all seems to go by in a flash. Just like the 1970’s I guess...though I blame the drugs for that.
Reviewer: Alexander Rogers
new
Reviewer's Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 7-May-2006
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