Description
Okay, clock comparison: It’s roughly 1977-1985, innit? Yeah? Good. More than just a UK version of the first rugged, hand-played dance music crafted after the James Brown template, Brit-Funk represented a genuine variant of jazz-funk, complete with its own set of rules and stylistic finesse. While breaks and instrumental virtuosity were still a big part of the composition, bands like Heatwave, Linx, Cymande, The Real Thing, Labi Siffre, Incognito, or Mark King’s Level 42 put the stress back on vocal harmonies, Caribbean overtones and Larry Graham’s slap bass technique. Heavily successful until the mid-'80s, Brit-Funk went from a working class favorite into the mainstream, when its trademarks sneaked into the sound of pop outfits like Haircut 100 or even Wham!. For the second part of his Brit-Funk special, Kirk shines a light on classic jams by Mirage, Billy Ocean, Central Line, Gonzalez, the mighty Loose Ends and many more.
