The Legacy of Electronic Funk

Emerging at the very end of the 70s and lasting for a short period of seven/eight years, until the arrival of the more contemporary New-Jack and the tidal wave of Hip-Hop, Electronic Funk is nonetheless extremely interesting. Indeed, this movement, which includes P-Funk and Boogie among others, was one of the first to embrace the technological revolution brought about by the arrival of new instruments: synthesizers and drum machines. Designed by the factories of the Roland brand (closely followed by Yamaha, particularly with its star DX synth range), these would take the form of a true revolution, profoundly transforming the very essence of black music. Some purists would even say that they do not recognize themselves in this profound change. Until then, funk was a more organic music, favoring slapped bass, brass, and guitars, with leading figures such as James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth Wind and Fire, or the Isley Brothers. Electronic Funk, for its part, clearly stands out from its big sister in many ways. Indeed, aside from the massive use of synthesizers and drum machines and sometimes robotic voices through vocoders or talkboxes (“Star Search” by Mico Wave, here in a rare 12” Shep Pettibone Mix, “The Sound of Music” by Dayton, “Are You With Me” by the Isley Brothers, or “Computer Love” by Zapp, here in a rare [LP remix] version), it truly puts melody at the forefront (the hallmark of the 80s), accentuating all components of sound: the bass is denser and thicker, the snares are more powerful (even overpowered!) etc. Take for example the group The O'Jays and compare their hit “For the Love of Money” with the track “Put Our Heads Together” presented here in a lesser-known version (the seven-minute single version) and in third position on the compilation: the differences between the arrangements and instruments are striking and perfectly reflect this musical evolution. Throughout the 80s, Electronic Funk was carried by producers and artists with somewhat limited fame but whose enormous influence on current music has never been denied. In no particular order, we could mention Kashif, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Roger Troutman, Mtume, SOS Band, Glenn Jones, Paul Laurence, Leon Sylvers III, among others... This movement is, in a way, still very present today as a new generation from Hip-Hop (YG, Kid Ink, DJ Mustard...), Electro (Chromeo, Breakbot, Dax Riders...), Nu Funk (Dam-Funk, Onra...) and Rn'B (T-Pain) has appropriated all the codes of this movement. Huge influence from West Coast American rap, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, DJ Quik, E-40, 2Pac to name just a few, have continuously sampled the music of George Clinton, Mtume, or Roger Troutman. Finally, what can be said about Daft Punk, with their Electro/Funk sound and robotic voices?.. (Do pay close attention to the first track of this compilation, with the title “Release the Beast” by Breakwater, it should significantly remind you of the track “Robot Rock” by the masked French artists...). The lineage with Electronic Funk seems, in any case, most evident.