Modern-Funk

Tales of sordid street escapades, drugs and fast women have been long running themes for Tucson, AZ’s Zackey Force Funk. Though these are themes that have been explored to excess in music over the years, his psychedelic, acid-trip style has been what places him in another realm. Three quarters singing and one quarter rapping, the Force Funk sound has been well-established in the world of underground electronic music over the last decade. With the arrival of his MoFunk debut album, Bodyrock Shotgun, ZFF is set to advance yet another level with melodic modern funk production that challenges him to expand his one-of-a-kind vocal style to new territory.Highlights include the XL Middleton-produced title cut, a slow-rolling, vocoder-laced tune that haunts as much as it thumps. Brian Ellis brings his signature brand of moody electro funk on “Glass Dick Lovin’,” a dark tale of love lost to drug addiction. “Money Weighs A Ton,” imported from the recent Boy Dude LP on Hobo Camp, slides seamlessly into the playlist with pulsating synths framing an unapologetic hustler’s manifesto. “El Mero Mero” (prod. by XL Middleton) stands as another declaration of street corner superiority, while “Get The Gun” serves as a self-explanatory footnote on how to keep said position, over Moog-y production from Adam Chini that is equal parts Blaxploitation and retro science fiction. Further productions from Throwback Zack, Proh Mic, Trailer Limon, DJ Spy-D, and Elegant Borzoi form a veritable who’s who in the land of modern funk, and show Zackey’s superb ear for beat curation.

Independently released album of 80s influenced / new era Boogie, Disco and Jazz fusion performed and recorded by Skymark. Great songwriting and drum programming skills are on display throughout while he deftly works an array of synths (ARP, Prophet, Moog, Roland and Korgs).

Night Palms is the first compilation from Hobo Camp. It explores the vibes of Adult Oriented Rock, G-Funk, Jazz, Boogie, and Soul, synthesizing these genres to a form more loaded and laid-back (perhaps on a careless night time stroll, returning from the dispensary or watering hole, to the jacuzzi, houseboat, or waterbed). A smoother approach to funk, similar in production ethos to many classic G-Funk tracks (where producers created or sampled the smoothest yacht-rock and jazz-funk moments to create bass heavy rap), Night Palms takes it one step further, offering original tracks that return more to the inspiratory sources of G-Funk... sonically and chillingly cruising at the perfect tempo. A vibe perpetuated by perfect night-time temperatures, mist, ocean breeze, the sound of flowing water, and the laid-back grooves that seemingly accompany it under the silhouettes of California Palm.Brian Ellis kicks off the compilation with Tides, a drifting instrumental opus of melodic currents that glide and weave in and out of each other. BOY DUDE introduces the first vocal with Modern Day Confusion, a wavy, pitch-bending journey describing the mental woes and issues in modern society. XL Middleton and Ghost close out the A side with Forgot About Each Other, a mid-tempo, keyboard-forward groove, echoing the notions of dying or diminishing love, accompanied by his signature emotive driving keyboard lead. On the B side, Mat/Matix starts it off with the deeply aquatic Bay Breeze, which swings along with textured padding with an epic wet guitar solo by Liam Kevany. Moon B pours Marina Player directly into the harbor with a beautifully mutant and tranquil theme that would seem perfectly-placed in a moody montage scene of a speedboat cruising silkily along the waters at night. Jomeo Pugz ups the ante in Hidden Zone, a drum machine love anthem that describes the nerve- racking and inspiring aspects of new lust, romance, and the possibilities created between two potential mates sharing space together—yet alone. Deregulate by Elegant Borzoi closes it out with sweeping synths, loose grooves, and the subtle and sweet vocal accompaniment of Megan Doherty (of Social Lovers).This LP is dedicated to designer, artist and friend, Trevor Tarczynski (RIP). The title “Night Palms” was a recurring theme in his work, and the jacket cover was created from his archives.- Night Palms is a compilation LP dedicated to Night Palms’ artist Trevor Tarczynski (RIP)- 7 individual tracks written, performed and produced by Brian Ellis, BOY DUDE, XL Middleton feat. Ghost, Mat/Matix, Moon B, Jomeo Pugz, Elegant Borzoi feat. Megan Doherty- Cover/Jacket Artwork by Trevor Tarczynski with layout by Margaux Solano and inner label artwork/layout by Michael Steffen