Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 05/12/2009
Candy Dulfer's identity as a contemporary jazz musician has not wavered since she entered the professional music arena. A sex kitten on the outside and a very talented alto saxophonist whose sound is directly derived from
David Sanborn 30 years past tense, the image-driven
Dulfer continues on her path toward making music that is consistent, and at the very least competent.
Funked Up! does not stray at all from the more R&B-infused sound she employs, and there are distinct futuristic Euro-dance elements like robotic voices, space soul, and drum machines that up the ante.
Dulfer employs a big-band sound with handclaps during
"First in Line," while a much hipper chart for the horns crops up on the authentic R&B-flavored
"Be Cool." The introductory lyric line of
"My Funk" (emphasizing "it's not your funk") talks self-indulgently about creatin' when it's really all about producin'. The remainder of the music ranges from upbeat Euro-disco to Latin dance on
"Step Up," the deliberate mechanical rhythms of
"Don't Go," the retro party tune
"Finger Poppin'," and the spaced-out rave-up
"Roppongi Panic." The slow funk of
"Bliss 2 This" features an intimate vocal late-night foreplay sex tape, while the straight funk-pop tune
"CD 101.9" samples a radio DJ from the station calling
Dulfer dynamic on-air. The band does stretch a bit on the slowed lovers reggae
"True & Tender" and the deeper bass and rhythm-infused
"Still I Love You." ~Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
;)
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