MONOPHONICS — Into The Infrasounds (review)

MONOPHONICS — Into The Infrasounds album cover Album · 2010 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Of any style of music played wrong, nothing sounds much worse than bad funk, and that’s why I tend to approach new retro funk bands with caution. The trouble with a lot of today’s bands that try to bring back a 70s vibe is that they get too hung up on the schtick and the obvious outer trappings of the music, but I’m happy to say that Monophonics do not fake the funk, and although they aren’t quite a top tier band yet, they are well on their way. Monophonics pull from a number of sources to create their sound; classic funk from The Meters and The JBs, Afrobeat from Fela Kuti and soulful blues rock ala Buddy Miles. Some songs stay true to one style, while others may mix things up a bit. Although the Monophonics may not have the razor sharp precision of the JBs, or the impossible to duplicate syncopations of the Meters, any seasoned funk fan will tell you that these guys are on the right track. Their ensemble feel for rhythm is pretty tight, but unfortunately they still lack a really strong soloist to help push these jams over the top.

Some of the top cuts on here include; “Low Blow”, which is a dead ringer for an early Meters tune, “Gappa” an African groove with a nice closing flute solo, and “Loose Nukes”, their most heated number with a guest solo from Karl Denson. I noticed that the Monophonics are playing the college scene jam band circuit, I bet they are better than a lot of other bands playing that scene.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Ernesto Rodrigues, Bruno Parrinha & Johannes von Buttlar : Whispers and Reveries Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Nuno Torres & Johannes von Buttlar : Cosmic Collision Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Carlos Bechegas, João Madeira & Monsieur Trinité : Free to Open Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Floros Floridis, Ernesto Rodrigues, Guilherme Rodrigues & Ulf Mengersen : Xafnikes Synantiseis Jazz Related Improv/Composition
FLOROS FLORIDIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Vinny Golia Quintet 2024 : Almasty Avant-Garde Jazz
VINNY GOLIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 16 hours ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 16 hours ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 1 day ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 1 day ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed