Album Review and photos by Nocturnal Charm
The first show I ever shot took place at a rock venue here Baltimore called The Ottobar. The featured act that night was a relatively unknown cat named Dam-Funk from Southern California whose main passion and goal in the music industry was to introduce a whole new generation to LA born, 80's, jheri-curl funk. As an unabashed lover of all boogie music, I was introduced to this cat on a mix from one of the music blogs I frequent. Steve Arrington's perfect vocals had just sung the last note of Slave's seminal classic, "Just A Touch of Love", as a nasty ass 808 drop put my head on instant nod mode. This would be the beginning of Dam-Funk's ode to staying true to yourself and your hood, "HoodPass Intact". From that moment on, I was instantly a fan of Dam, his music and his vision. Over the years, he's become a true ambassador and torchbearer for Funk, collaborating with a who's who of today's hipster acts, ranging from Meyer Hawthorne to Hudson Mohawke.
.jpg)
His latest effort is with living legend himself, Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion aka SnoopZilla. When I first got word this project was in the works I worried a bit, as I feared that Snoops' massive presence would overshadow Dams' sound... I was wrong. The contributions of SnoopZilla and Dam Funk on 7 Days of Funk are not only equal, but more importantly, complimentary as Snoops vocals serve as the lead instrument in Dams' synth-phonic symphony.
It's clear from the first track of the 8-song offering that Funks' goal was to escort the listener in a time warp; back to a time when the Jheri Curl was the hairstyle of choice, Ray-Gun was president and acts like Zapp and Slave dominated urban radio. With his cohort Snoopzilla (apparently taking a brief reprieve from his Snoop Lion person), he succeeds mightily in crafting tracks to bump and ride out to simultaneously. The Bootsy Collins assisted, "Hit the Pavement" starts off the the album with Snoop in his element. Boasting over a classic gfunk-era beat, this track stands out as the most reminiscent of the SN-double-OP that we were first introduced to some 20 years ago. Where NHTPs' purpose was to pull the listener in, the rest of the album serves as a blend of true electro funk and laid back harmony and rhymes.
"Let It Go" finds SnoopZilla crooning and rhyming over Dams' smooth cover of the Patrice Rushen dance floor classic. More smooth funkiness is offered on "I'll Be There For You". As Snoop showed on his 2012 surprise hit, "Sexual Seduction", he's a master of the subtle and appropriate use of the vocorder. In addition to the 80's nostalgia, there's also some "back in the day" love shown to the Dogg Pound (Kurupt and Daz) as they take us thirty something's back to (high)s chool on "Ride" and "Systamatic". Though Snoop shines lyrically on the album, at no point do you forget that this is Dam's baby. His mastery and command of his sound which used to come across as mimicry and fan boyish, now is clearly his own. He's even resurrected Steve Arrington from the ashes and features him on the albums' standout track, "1question?". Arrington's whiny but soulful vocals excel as he asks object of his desire, 'do you love me?' over more of Funks' SoCal stank.
7 Days excels where most collab albums fail. Instead of highlighting the individual talents of the artists, it melds the two participants and gives the listener a aural experience that's both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. Two all old heads and and old school music lovers, dont fret; The funk is indeed alive and well
1 comments:
7 Days of Funk is a good place.. I like Rock music...
Asiangirlswiki.com
Post a Comment