Funkshone
raw funk // soul
Some people say funk is all about the drum breaks. Mike Bandoni IS drum breaks. Funkshone is built up from behind the drum kit with heavy hitting snares, a whirlwind of hi-hats and a kick drum so fat it shakes your booty for you. On their second album 2, Bandoni and partner in crime Nino Auricchio go from cinematic funk to full on screaming soul no holds barred. Funkshone dishes it all out with raw energy and endless attitude.
Banging grooves, exploding soul.
Funkshone – It Ain’t Never Gonna Work
Funkshone – Soul Survivor, Pt. 1
+ Purchase/Visit
Was initially Just Nino and I producing it but this new album is different as things have changed. Once we changed the line up in 2010 the production of the recordings was the next piece of the puzzle. Musician, producer and Funkshone bass player Danny Huckridge now joins Mike Bandoni (drums) and Nino Auricchio (keys) on production duties. With a range of playing and productions credits across genres such as Funk, Broken Beat, Nu Soul and Reggae, to name but a few, Danny brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the party. His record collection is also an education in itself, as is Skyline Recordings’ boss Malachi Trout’s. Both Danny and Malachi have been influencing the sound of the band with the finest of inspiration across a diverse range of records that all have one thing in common, Funk.
This new album is more diverse in its scope of the genre. From the Schifrin-inspired soundtracks to rare music library recordings through to the more familiar sounding styles of Funk and Soul, Funkshone are presenting a new era in the creation of our sound that celebrates the essence of Funk. Note the addition of strings care of Echo Strings (Soul II Soul, Courtney Pine, Massive Attack) and of course the flute from featured guest Kaidi Tatham (Herbaliser, Bugz in The Attic, 2000
Black). The songs on the album that feature their contributions are as diverse as the Funk genre itself and also serve as a true reminder of how so many great pieces of music were made back in the 1960’s and 1970’s especially. Would Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On?’ or Roy Budd’s ‘The Thief’ have been the same without their lush strings? How many of those funky flute records would have been as heavy without that all-important funky flute? In order to be in with a chance of paying true homage to such musical luminaries and their work, we as a band felt that these elements were an absolute necessity, as are the synths and old analogue keys that are present in many of the tracks on this album such as ‘Take Down’ and ‘Persuasion’. This album has given us the opportunity to broaden our horizons as composers and performers and that opportunity has been well and truly seized.
So, there is only one question that remains; what do you, the listener, think? Can you dig it? Can you feel it? Because, as a genre, let’s face it, Funk shone…
Ok, just so you guys know!