Peshay – Funkster EP [Review]
It’s been a little while since the last release from drum and bass legend Peshay, which dropped on Liquid V back in 2011. However upon investigating the forthcoming ‘Funkster EP’ you may well feel that it has been worth the wait. As the name goes some way to suggest this is an EP absolutely packed full of super-refreshing funked-up flavours, and is perfectly capable of taking you on a high-energy journey through the summertime even on a freezing cold afternoon in late February.
Lets take a look at the 6 tracks on offer from the EP – Forthcoming on the 4th March.
Track 1 – ‘Funkster’ – wastes no time whatsoever in introducing you to what the EP is all about by implementing a short intro followed by a drop into one of the funkiest of all liquid-funk rollers. Shuffling beats, brass sections, funky guitars and keys are in great supply here and combine together to create a real dancefloor smasher that is sure to get everyone on their feet. An impressive start to the EP indeed.
Next up is ‘Fall For You’ featuring the vocal talents of Natalie Reece. This second track of the EP takes a slight step back into a more chilled out, emotive style whilst remaining loaded with funky, soulful moves. For the older house music enthusiasts out there think Bob Sinclar’s album – ‘Champs Elysée’ – meets liquid funk drum and bass and you wouldn’t be too far away from what this excellent piece of work from Peshay brings to your eardrums.
‘Jungle Jazz’ is the name of track 3 and once again we start off with a combination of jazz and funk instruments including flutes, organs, guitars and brass. The track soon breaks into an energetic beat full of light percussion and fast paced bongos which combine brilliantly with a bassline that constantly moves up and down the scale. Again, Peshay has absolutely nailed the art of bringing sizeable amounts of jazziness into a fast-paced drum and bass environment, with the end result being a piece of music full of energy, style and upbeat funky vibes.
Track 4 – ‘Together’ – is the one track on this EP which stands apart from the rest in terms of sub genre. Whereas the other 5 pieces are all excellent examples of liquid funk, track 4 takes things in a very different direction. The introduction has a very ‘liquid dancefloor’ feel to it, maybe more towards a Netsky style if not exactly that, and combines some nice latin-sounding guitar parts with an auto-tuned vocal as it builds up towards the drop. However when it does drop, the unexpected happens, and in comes a much harder bassline than can be found elsewhere on the EP. I would imagine that this track should appeal to a more mainstream audience than the rest, and also gives the EP something different for the listener who may not be such a liquid funk enthusiast.
‘Boogaloo’ – track 5 – brings the listener straight back down to the funkier, more chilled out style that encompasses tracks 1 to 4 (and also track 6) by fusing guitar, analogue synths, keyboard, retro leads and crisp liquid funk percussion. The track rolls along beautifully with a fantastic laid back overall style, seemingly almost-freestyling leads and a variety of instruments keeping things incredibly smooth. The track takes me back to the style of older electronic artists such as The Propellarheads, but of course at a drum and bass tempo, and wins extra points in my book for the way it so easily leads one into a warm state of nostalgic enjoyment.
The EP is drawn to a close by ‘Swingers’ which is, in my opinion, the most summery of all six tracks on the release. Once more we have some great keyboard work supported by some lovely piano chords and organ parts with guitars and brass also in the mix, all of which are accompanied by another helping of tight liquid funk beats and a very appropriate bassline full of swing. The Peshay style is in full flow for this final track as it seems to effortlessly roll along whilst also maintaining a great level of energy, and provides thoughts of sunshine, beeches, blue skies and happy vibes.
It probably shouldn’t come as any sort of a surprise that this is a very impressive EP from Peshay and Liquid V as both have given so much quality to the history of drum and bass over the years. Having spent much time listening over the last few days I feel incredibly refreshed by the style and production of this release with its keyboard solos, brass, guitars, organs and analogue synthesisers creating an absolute feast of funk-infused musical flavours. For the liquid funk enthusiast this is simply unmissable.
Bass Explorer Rating
Fall EP
Buy from Track It Down Buy from V Recordings
Peshay
Nick Cashmore
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Nick is a producer and DJ of electronic music. He also loves to write, eat, and watch football |