FUNKY HOUSE

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

OK it's time to talk about the resurgence of funky house! As I see it the UK garage scene is currently comprised of four interweaving but still distinct strands - grime, dubstep, bassline and funky - and I finally got round to dipping a toe into the waters of the last one a few weekends ago. I was absolutely blown away: I remember dismissing funky house as boring wine bar music a few years ago, and I now have no idea whether my ears were wrong then or whether it's changed beyond recognition, because what I'm hearing now is magnificent. Below, youtube links to some of the best cuts and biggest hits of the year:

Wookie ft. Ny - Fallin' Again (I have listened to this maybe 40 times on loop so far? incredible, incredible track)
Perempay & Dee ft. Katie Pearl - In The Air
DJ NG ft. Baby Katy & Versatile - Tell Me
Paleface ft. Kyla - Do You Mind (Crazy Cousins Remix)
Apple - Mr Bean
Crazy Cousins ft. Calista - Bongo Jam

I don't really feel up to talking about the hows and wheres of funky's innovation and importance yet, am just immersing myself in all the amazing music for now - in any case there's loads of great commentary and groove theory on Tim F's blog, Melissa B's Quietus article and the ILX thread. It's oddly hard to find funky mp3s or even Youtube uploads - am mostly relying on radio sets (there are some great Marcus Nasty and Footloose sets linked on the ILX thread) and shonky myspazz rips. Some more of my personal favourites which aren't on Youtube: the Perempay & Dee remix of MA1/Sophia's 'I'm Right Here', Mentor Roska's 'Feeline VIP' (these two are on www.junodownload.com btw), TNT's 'Rumba', the Arms remix of Tawiah's 'Every Step', Delio D'Cruz and Kcat's 'Get On The Floor', Aphrodisiax's 'Unfinished Business'.

What's great is how it's infecting all the other strands of garage, too, in particular adding some femininity and glamour to the notorious sausage-fests of dubstep and grime; check the Geeneus remix of Benga & Coki's 'Night', and also Tinchy Stryder's new single, 'Stryderman', which is amazingly perched at No 74 right now. Wow, I remember when Tinch was the novelty kid in Ruff Sqwad with a kind of annoying, barking voice - he's come such a long way. NB - I still highly recommend his Star In The Hood album from last year, there's so much verve and vitality there - check the banging 'Dance 4 Now' in particular. EAST LONDON MAN DEM A BOK BOK BOK BOK.

Comments

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Just had a listen to that - it is indeed banging!