Silk Rhodes
Reviewed by: Lara Supan
Minimalist Funk- who would have thought it?
Silk Rhodes takes funk to a whole new level. With a huge orchestral setting prevalent in so much funk, this simple, beat-centric sound brings a fresh new look at exactly what funk is. Most songs start with a loop and barely stray from it, making the focus on the small differences and stripped down solo sections in each. The lyrics are sparse but meaningful, and each song is uniquely varied from the last.
This quirky album includes a lot of surprises, from the 35 second “Horizon Line” showcasing a synth flute to the spoken word piece “Laurie’s Machine” where people leave messages for the entire song. In “This Painted World” we have a Sitar enter the mix, as the vocal background “ooos” lead the way to the lyric “there’s not such thing as reality”. This self-titled debut album is a grab bag of tricks, messages and thought-provoking orchestration that deserves a listen. It’s especially good to sit down with by the fire in this cold weather, so grab your copy today!
Rating: Bad-Ass
