Could the producers, arrangers and song-doctors of Philly and Salsoul have ever, in their wildest, most self-aggrandising dreams, imagined that one day there would be such a thing as "classicist disco"? That's what Faze Action's Robin & Simon Lee (brothers, not a typo) are. Like Brian Jones and Keith Richards poring over their blues records, Faze Action are purist scholars of the form -- for them the Salsoul Orchestra is Howlin' Wolf and Walter Gibbons is Muddy Waters. Plans & Designs's near eleven-minute title track-- an art-disco percussadelic symphony of tremor-rendous timpani and melodramatic violas, violins and cellos--is the best thing of its ilk since Dinosaur L's "Go Bang" (Arthur Russell at his Van McCoy-meets-Steve Reich peak). Cool CD packaging too, with the silver disc coming in an inner cardboard sleeve just like a vinyl 12 inch. Out on Nuphonic2001, dec 27; 14:55:
Faze Action - Abstract Funk Theory
[1CD, Amazon US]
Faze Action compile a set of their classics. Includes Carry On, Turn Me On[more on Faze Action]
TRACKLISTING: Space - Carry On, Turn Me On |
Richard Evans - Burning Spear |
James Vincent - Space Traveller |
Brian Bennett - Solstice |
Mandre - Light Years (Opus IV) |
Creative Source - Let Me In Your Life |
Azymuth - Dear Limmertz |
Electric City - What's Up |
Undisputed Truth - Sandman |
Johnny ''Hammond'' Smith - Star Borne |
Beach Boys - God Only Knows