Artist: The Bamboos Title: You Ain't No Good Label: Tru Thoughts Genre: Funk Format: Download
The soul-drenched ‘You Ain’t No Good’ was nailed on to become a future single from The Bamboos latest album 4, and the Australian funk stars have enlisted a crack squad of DJs and producers to deliver an awesome set of remixes to complement it.
Probably the most high profile man tasked with retooling the eight-piece is Dj Yoda, who rejigs the instrumental ‘Up On The Hill’, keeping it pacy by scratching the famous ‘Kool Is Back’ beat by Funk Inc while swooping strings and sitars pick out a brilliant Eastern melody.
Randomer, on a solo mission after his recent collaborations with Fife, seems to be getting funkier with every release at the moment – his mix of ‘Keep Me In Mind’ rocks some bouncing kicks and bass while the brass and vocals from the original are layered perfectly over the top.
Tru Thoughts’ Flevans also does wonders with ‘Keep Me In Mind’, keeping the tempo similar to the original but adding a depth to the drums that seriously impresses. The backing is kept deliberately simple and the long, strung-out chords make the vocals shine through.
With instrumentals available of all the mixes, and an acapella of ‘You Ain’t No Good’ also up for grabs for the remix-heads, this is an essential release for Dj’s and funk fans alike.
Artist: The Bamboos Title: On The Sly Label: Tru Thoughts Genre: Funk/Rare Groove/Reissues Format: 12″, Digital Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Australian band The Bamboos have been holding down things on the funky side of town since 2001, gaining fans all over the world with their authentic, dirty funk nuggets. In the same vein as bands like El Michels Affair or Breakestra, these guys are students of the classic breaks that underpinned the sample-hungry glory days of hip-hop. They’ve also had the incredible honour to back up some of funk’s most revered names, notably New Orleans hit-machine Eddie Bo, Syl Johnson and Eddie Floyd.
Ahead of their new album 4 comes single “On The Sly”, a perfect slice of mid-tempo joy, which has the same rollicking cowbell-driven vibe as classic UBB staple “Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number 9″ by Wilson Pickett. Soulsides MC and singer Lyrics Born joins them on 2nd cut “Turn It Up”, another popcorn funk winner complete with chicken-scratch guitar parts worthy of James Brown stalwart Jimmy Nolen. Hanging out with the Aussies seems to have rubbed off on the Californian MC, as he even sings “Turn it up mate” at one point. DJ’s get taken care of with an accapella and an instrumental too, making this release a good way to put some funk back in your trunk.
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