Nov 17, 2010

Breakwater: "Splashdown"

Yeah, I know, I know—attack of the “what the fuck” funk album titles again.  The guys standing on the cover in silver jumpsuits and yellow boots don’t exactly help to sell it either, at least not to non-funk aficionados.  Yet this album is incredible, and a totally unexpected surprise.  It’s been showing up more often in the bins lately, and so when I found it for a decent price, I snagged it and spun it.  Turns out this group kicks the funky-ass JAMS!  Somewhere between the Blackbyrds, Sun and Con Funk Shun, these jazzy grooves are smooth and fonk-ay at the same time, with a late ‘70’s/early ‘80’s club bounce.  The vocals are tight, and the band’s got chops for days.  Cuts like “Splashdown Time” and “Release The Beast” bring the funk, while midtempo and slow jam flourishes float above the mellower moments.  A beautiful record, and really, the cover and title make it that much more appealing—a relic from a halcyon era that still bumps.  Long live the funk.

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