Dâm-Funk displays erudite taste on his contribution to !K7's long-running DJ-Kicks series. Although he's been commercially active since 2007, this will be the first substantial experience with Dâm's vision for many, as most of his easier-to-find releases have been remixes or collaborations (with Snoop Dogg for 2013's 7 Days of Funk, for instance), and if you're outside L.A., his famous Funkmosphere residency there is perhaps unknown to you. So, let's thank !K7 for this solid mix.
In terms of technique, this is a turntablist's set through and through, highlighting the craft with leisurely transitions and no attempt to mitigate the pops, hisses and disparate production styles of its era-spanning tracks. Some of these transitions may border on the tedious for non-purists, it should be said, and there really is a lot of hissing going on — authenticating or distracting aspects, depending on your taste.
In terms of material, Dâm approaches electro-funk from various stylistic angles and eras, with more recent tracks sharing space with the requisite obscurities from the '70s and '80s. Longer tracks populate the first half, with runtimes slimming down for the second to create an enjoyable late-album suite of snippets and glimpses that pleases with its variety. The depth of these cuts will depend on your familiarity with electro-funk and its history, but there should be enough here to satisfy even the most literate of fans, and for newcomers to Dâm's sound, it's a fine primer.
(!K7)In terms of technique, this is a turntablist's set through and through, highlighting the craft with leisurely transitions and no attempt to mitigate the pops, hisses and disparate production styles of its era-spanning tracks. Some of these transitions may border on the tedious for non-purists, it should be said, and there really is a lot of hissing going on — authenticating or distracting aspects, depending on your taste.
In terms of material, Dâm approaches electro-funk from various stylistic angles and eras, with more recent tracks sharing space with the requisite obscurities from the '70s and '80s. Longer tracks populate the first half, with runtimes slimming down for the second to create an enjoyable late-album suite of snippets and glimpses that pleases with its variety. The depth of these cuts will depend on your familiarity with electro-funk and its history, but there should be enough here to satisfy even the most literate of fans, and for newcomers to Dâm's sound, it's a fine primer.