Dam Funk
Stones Throw
(2009)

Dam Funk is a long time fixture in the Los Angeles music scene. Coined the “Ambassador” of boogie, he holds his reign, cultivating the celestial grooves of his predecessors, while incorporating his own sonic force. On Monday evenings, Dam dips into Funkmosphere, his weekly that carries pop-locking funk fans into a bleeped-out time warp. His treasure-trove of musical fixings dig into the likes of Powerline (Preclude Records) and NU SHOOZ, whose unconventional interpretation of funk make it uniquely their own.

Dam’s latest contribution Toeachizown pays respect to the aforementioned. The album feels like a joy ride through the west coast era of ’80s electro and post-disco. He channels energy reticent of the days when folks cruised to the heavy bass tunage of Ice Cube and skated to the easy rolling rhythms of Patrice Rashen. Yet, Dam adds a touch of futurism that weaves in a new funk sound. Opening the album, “Let’s Take Off (Far Away)” slaps on a dizzy maelstrom of punchy drum patterns and moog synthesized instrumentation. Whereas, “Come on Outside” dissolves into a cloudy overcast where electrifying keyboard stabs and moody grunts bestow a sense of sadness. “One Less Day” is sweet on the ears, featuring G-Shaft who curates a new soul feel while claspy reverbs fuse in and out. The- ever- slick “Brookside Park” personifies the meaning of ‘gangsta’- laid back, and cool filter through shuffling drum machines, glitchy synths and warbling beats, where the desolate vocals serve as a background to the heavy inundation of percussions. In “The Sky Is Ours” and “Searchin’ 4 Funk’s Future” you can hear the influence of Prince peaking through- the minimal vocals lapse between eerie sound waves and sparse drum kicks. And hold up the G’s and the P’s for Dam’s classic rendition of Los Angeles’ funk in “(My Funk Goes) On & On.” Bass trebles and high pinched synths stand-out in this back-yard boogie. In “Love Is Here 2nite (I Can Feel It),” Dam slips into his sexy persona, where the vocoder style vocals languish in synthesized sequences that mimic the likes of Zap and Roger’s “Computer Love.” Closing off Toeachizown, “Fantasy” and “Keep Lookin 2 The Sky” unfurl like a dream sequence, layered with wandering instrumentals and floating vocals. Listeners, stop on by and join Dam on his journey through futuristic funk; it is worth the visit.

***
http://www.myspace.com/damfunk
http://twitter.com/DaMfUnK

via Sarah Wolfson, 3 October 2009 8:03am | |