Dâm-Funk's first album since 2015's "Invite The Light" is a sunny, synth-heavy celebration of Black American musical innovation, with nods to Prince, Larry Heard, George Clinton, Roger Troutman, The Egyptian Lover and so much more. Summer's arrived.
While "Above the Fray" comes after six years away from the full-length format, Dâm-Funk's hardly been resting on his laurels. In that time he completed a three-EP study of house music ("Architecture"), a collaboration with Nite Jewel ("Nite-Funk") and a slew of crucial EPs and singles. So "Above the Fray" feels almost like a victory lap, proof that he can distill his wildly prolific musical energy into a tight 'n tidy collection once more.
Dâm-Funk's economy and focus makes "Above the Fray" a gripping, joyful experience. He's effectively reshaped modern funk music in his image at this point, pulling the sonic palette from George Clinton's hyper-innovative '70s golden era and assembling it with more than just a nod to the Cali G-funk era that characterized West Coast rap in the 1990s. Few producers can match Dâm's attention to detail, virtuoso instrumental skill and ear for melodies. Title track 'Above The Fray' is an early standout, sounding like an Egyptian Lover rework of Drexciya - vintage electro with a raw, modern edge. 'Allies' expands the sound with a Michael Mann-like sparkle that transports you to a Los Angeles beachfront, while '2071' hands us the jerky dancefloor we never knew we needed.
Fair weather funk!
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Dâm-Funk's first album since 2015's "Invite The Light" is a sunny, synth-heavy celebration of Black American musical innovation, with nods to Prince, Larry Heard, George Clinton, Roger Troutman, The Egyptian Lover and so much more. Summer's arrived.
While "Above the Fray" comes after six years away from the full-length format, Dâm-Funk's hardly been resting on his laurels. In that time he completed a three-EP study of house music ("Architecture"), a collaboration with Nite Jewel ("Nite-Funk") and a slew of crucial EPs and singles. So "Above the Fray" feels almost like a victory lap, proof that he can distill his wildly prolific musical energy into a tight 'n tidy collection once more.
Dâm-Funk's economy and focus makes "Above the Fray" a gripping, joyful experience. He's effectively reshaped modern funk music in his image at this point, pulling the sonic palette from George Clinton's hyper-innovative '70s golden era and assembling it with more than just a nod to the Cali G-funk era that characterized West Coast rap in the 1990s. Few producers can match Dâm's attention to detail, virtuoso instrumental skill and ear for melodies. Title track 'Above The Fray' is an early standout, sounding like an Egyptian Lover rework of Drexciya - vintage electro with a raw, modern edge. 'Allies' expands the sound with a Michael Mann-like sparkle that transports you to a Los Angeles beachfront, while '2071' hands us the jerky dancefloor we never knew we needed.
Fair weather funk!
Dâm-Funk's first album since 2015's "Invite The Light" is a sunny, synth-heavy celebration of Black American musical innovation, with nods to Prince, Larry Heard, George Clinton, Roger Troutman, The Egyptian Lover and so much more. Summer's arrived.
While "Above the Fray" comes after six years away from the full-length format, Dâm-Funk's hardly been resting on his laurels. In that time he completed a three-EP study of house music ("Architecture"), a collaboration with Nite Jewel ("Nite-Funk") and a slew of crucial EPs and singles. So "Above the Fray" feels almost like a victory lap, proof that he can distill his wildly prolific musical energy into a tight 'n tidy collection once more.
Dâm-Funk's economy and focus makes "Above the Fray" a gripping, joyful experience. He's effectively reshaped modern funk music in his image at this point, pulling the sonic palette from George Clinton's hyper-innovative '70s golden era and assembling it with more than just a nod to the Cali G-funk era that characterized West Coast rap in the 1990s. Few producers can match Dâm's attention to detail, virtuoso instrumental skill and ear for melodies. Title track 'Above The Fray' is an early standout, sounding like an Egyptian Lover rework of Drexciya - vintage electro with a raw, modern edge. 'Allies' expands the sound with a Michael Mann-like sparkle that transports you to a Los Angeles beachfront, while '2071' hands us the jerky dancefloor we never knew we needed.
Fair weather funk!
Dâm-Funk's first album since 2015's "Invite The Light" is a sunny, synth-heavy celebration of Black American musical innovation, with nods to Prince, Larry Heard, George Clinton, Roger Troutman, The Egyptian Lover and so much more. Summer's arrived.
While "Above the Fray" comes after six years away from the full-length format, Dâm-Funk's hardly been resting on his laurels. In that time he completed a three-EP study of house music ("Architecture"), a collaboration with Nite Jewel ("Nite-Funk") and a slew of crucial EPs and singles. So "Above the Fray" feels almost like a victory lap, proof that he can distill his wildly prolific musical energy into a tight 'n tidy collection once more.
Dâm-Funk's economy and focus makes "Above the Fray" a gripping, joyful experience. He's effectively reshaped modern funk music in his image at this point, pulling the sonic palette from George Clinton's hyper-innovative '70s golden era and assembling it with more than just a nod to the Cali G-funk era that characterized West Coast rap in the 1990s. Few producers can match Dâm's attention to detail, virtuoso instrumental skill and ear for melodies. Title track 'Above The Fray' is an early standout, sounding like an Egyptian Lover rework of Drexciya - vintage electro with a raw, modern edge. 'Allies' expands the sound with a Michael Mann-like sparkle that transports you to a Los Angeles beachfront, while '2071' hands us the jerky dancefloor we never knew we needed.
Fair weather funk!