HI FI Times 1.4

HI FI Times 1.4

ALBUM REVIEW: Funkronomicon | Axiom Funk

Funkronomicon is the brainchild of Axiom Records founder, prolific producer and bass player Bill Laswell. The names on this recording read like a who’s who of the funk world and beyond. Featuring formerJames Brown sidemen joined by all stars from the P-Funk stables hooked up with the superstar reggae rhythm duo Sly and Robbie and fused with jazz metal from the likes of Nicky Skopelitis andBuckethead, for fans of the funk this two disc set is almost too good to be true.
With an opening solo organ so beautiful that it would make my mother weep and think of church or a Virgil Fox concert, you might be fooled into thinking you’re about to hear some dude with cobwebs in his armpits riffing on Bach in a dank candle lit medieval castle that was once home to the Bride of Frankenstein. Funkenstein is more like it because about midway through, the turntables start a scratchin’ and burnin’ as if they are trying to get an old car started and before you know it you’re off the ground in a vintgage Buick Roadmastser, all chrome and black with red interior… Yup, the Dynaflow is definitely in full effect.
Soon our pilot is on the radio, “Now, this is your brain, this is your brain on funk. Any questions?” Now, this is dance music, dirty sexy and erotic. “Funk um’! Just to see the look on their face, funk um’ just to see the look on their face…” This is driving music that will make you pound out the beat on the dash and steering wheel one moment, and hold the wheel with your knees and play air guitar the next. You know, like when you’re sitting at a stop light, windows down on a hot day with your hand in the air, head bobbin’ and belting out something like, “Get on up… I’m a SEX MACHINE!” and you look over to see a red-state plated mini-van family rolling up their windows in abject horror and praying for a green light? Yeah, that kind of feeling. A cover of Jimi Hendrix "If 6 Was 9" is laid back, drop dead cool and leads into "Orbitron Attack" that defines blistering guitar, Eddie Hazelstyle… fuzzy and delicious. The first disc finishes with "Pray My Soul" a bluesy tour de force featuring Eddie Hazel on guitar andBernie Worrell on organ, a track reminiscent of Funkadelic's legendaryMaggot Brain so ethereal that it would make the hair stand up on a marble statue.
Disc two starts out with "Hideous Mutant Freaks" and breaks the introspective head space with the immortal words, “Freaky deaky not the kinda’ freak you wanna’ be freakin’ out with…” and we’re back to a funky dance party groove with some smokin’ hot guitar from Buckethead. Following is "Sax Machine" that has everything I love about funk all rolled up into one super jumbo wrap with extra sauce; nasty guitar, tight-as-Jack Benny-horns, space bass like only Bootsy Collins can do, all slathered with the syrupy smooth razor edged sax of Maceo Parker.
Whew, this is a workout of monumental proportions. That’s it for now kids… I hope you can check it out and finish your summer with a bang!

Catch you on the flip boys and girls. –mke