Spearheaded by the smoky, late-night vibes and understated but funk-infused tones of the single “Code 12”, Redtenbacher’s Funkestra welcome us into the folds of their new album, Funkopia. and it proves to be a gentle first step into Stefan Redtenbacher’s melodic and rather marvellous jazz-funk world.
But right from the off, the first track, “The Lamb of Funk,” shows us that it is a vast sonic landscape that is being explored, this opening salvo working rock energies and chilled West Coast guitar solos, smooth brass, and ever more manic Hammond organs through a funky, jazz-drummed structure.
“Old Blood” is full of horn stabs and liquid soundscapes, as well as ambient undercurrents and bubbling basslines. “Blood and Whiskey” is built on anticipation, a crawling quest towards… well, something just out of sight, I guess, and then “Crowbar” shows us that jazz-rock – that near-perfect blend of ornateness and energy – is alive and kicking.
And that is the balance here, ornateness and energy. Most of the songs are built of interwoven sonic layers, but so deftly done that the light gets in and you can hear precisely everything that is going on, and you can hear the many different sonic engines that take turns to be the driving force. And even when Redtenbacher’s Funkestra cools their jets, they deliver a sound that carries you along through intricate ambience and artistic understatement.
Jazz has been with us a long time, and even funk has a career that stretches back many decades. But never have either sounded more vibrant and vital than they do here.
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