Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Portmanteau - Portmanteau

7/3/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Portmanteau

Portmanteau
self-released; 2015

3.9 out of 5

By J Simpson

If there's one lesson we can take from the recent success of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, it's that people love a live soul/funk/jazz band. In a time when it is all too easy for producers to slap some premade loops over some rapping and call it good; producers and musicians need to go that extra length to truly make people really listen. 

Hip-hop has had a long history with soul/funk/jazz grooves laid to vinyl. It could even be suggested that James Brown's funky drummer break helped create the genre, or at least made it possible, when canny turntablists learned how to pass the beat back and forth. 

Portmanteau's self-titled EP Portmanteau shows the funky give and take that hip-hop has with its roots, sounding both like fresh, original productions as well as a classic funk record from the late '70s/early '80s with bright brash brass stabs rippling outward from The Tower Of Power, while Earth, Wind, & Fire tremble appropriately. This is good news for producers who are afraid that there will be nothing fresh to sample in ten year's time. We need classic LPs to set the bar and steal their grooves. 

The only downside is that Portmanteau can occasionally sound like early '80s smooth jazz with a preponderance of sax leads, like some Branford Marsalis joint gone terribly awry. This is par for the course in any crate digging session. So if you've never had the pleasure of picking through some late '70s funk vinyl looking for the gold, here's your chance. 

It should go without saying, but make sure you listen to this through decent headphones or speakers, as it does much to diminish the smooth jazz flavor, making Portmanteau sound more like the mighty soul jazz revue that they were no doubt going for. And use this as your gateway drug to get lost in the mighty, muscular grooves of powerful late '70s funk. 
Become A Fan

official website
Tweet
1 Comment
Tim
7/3/2015 04:54:54 pm

haha the bongo players expressions are hilarious

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact