Artist: Soul Clap
Album: EFUNK
Label: Wolf & Lamb
Release Date: 09/04/2012
Everybody's Freaky Under Nature's Kingdom is the allegation put forward by Boston's premier electronic export. If the contents of this, their first LP, represent everybody, and freaky means what we think it means, then that rings true, in a rooftop soiree sort of way.
There's a sticky, lackadaisical late evening drinks vibe to everything about EFUNK. Which will surprise few, as despite Soul Clap re-writing their own theory on the f-word for a few years now all interpretations known to man reek of liquor, mixers, and warm night skies.
But as has been proved on previous mixes like Social Experiment 002 (not to mention their short form production work), there's more to the duo than a simple retrospective charm perfect for house party soundtracks. And, although a different format (i.e. un-melded), this inaugural production collection again proves the point convincingly.
Certainly there are clear muses that hark back to past times- from George Clinton to Beats International, 1996 to 1986. But where others attempt to ironically re-hash the past simply for cool
credentials, Charles Levine and Ei Goldstein create cuts that feel genuinely born from pushing those sounds forward into the modern era, as oppose to simply mimicking what's come before. The result
means a clear musical personality that's eccentric but refreshingly mainstream.
Take Need Your Lovin, which in this interpretation features none other than All Saints' Mel Blatt on vocals. We're all familiar with the song, and it's dangerous ground for a cover version given
the potency of previous interpretations (The Korgis original 1980 hit being one of the best, along with Beck's stop-you-in-your-tracks, sombre re-reading). More so, to drop a dance beat underneath
seems folly, after copious other attempts to do the same (some pretty good, most abysmal).
Yet here it's somehow made new, again. Sitting proudly as the most commercial thing on the album it's also an intelligent workout of new(er) school garage emerging into chart-friendly house, which is indicative of the point here. Soul Clap have come from the club scene proper, but more comparisons can be made with the likes of Prince than stereotypical dance genres. Of course they have a long way to go before we can rank them in the same league as that global titan, but their work is easily the best crossover, dare-it-be-said pop(ular) electronic fare being made right now, meaning this latest instalment won't be leaving the hi-fi for quite some time, which is always a very good sign.
