13th
Funk From Japan
Perhaps it’s easy to dismiss Japan from the Funk world, given the bubblegum pop, electronica, and grinding punk that one might normally think of when they consider the Japanese music scene. But I’m convinced that all corners of the world have funk. In this case, I’m talking about Osaka Monaurail.
If there was ever a Japanese James Brown, these guys are it. Super tight drums, bass up in your face, agile guitar licks, and sharp horn hits are the makings of any great funk band. For those longing for a little taste of the JBs style grooves, Osaka Monaurail will fulfill your needs. There’s also something very pleasing about the slight, barely noticeable, Japanese accent on the vocals, dispite having a very good mastery of the english language. It adds some freshness that you won’t find in the states.
Unfortuneately, I can only find one title on e-music but Dusty Groove has a couple more albums in stock — imports naturally, so expect to put up some dough to add these to your collection. For the true funk enthusiast, it will be money well spent.
