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The Berlin based duo, Funkatized, strive to broaden the definition of funk on their self-titled album. However, Funkatized is at its best on the songs that tap into the roots of funk. Unfortunately, there aren't enough of those songs on Funkatized. Many of the cuts also draw from techno and house music with a nod toward disco and those songs have a sameness that make a lot of the songs on Funkatized sound monotonous.
The Berlin based duo, Funkatized, strive to broaden the definition of funk on their self-titled album. However, Funkatized is at its best on the songs that tap into the roots of funk. Unfortunately, there aren't enough of those songs on Funkatized. Many of the cuts also draw from techno and house music with a nod toward disco and those songs have a sameness that make a lot of the songs on Funkatized sound monotonous.
Admittedly, techno and house fans will find their heads continually nodding through the pulsating beats of joints such as the title track and "Atomic Peas." And these songs showcase Funkatized's strong suit of coming up with infectious grooves. However, those songs also highlight how easily a groove can become a rut. The up-tempo grooves of songs such as "Monster Funk" or "Let Me Know" will get the listener's attention; the problem is holding it. That was one of the criticisms people once hurled at disco - the songs didn't build upon the melodies that got heads nodding in the first place. What often happens is that many listeners realize that both the lyrics and the melodies are repetitive and then the songs become a lot less interesting. Personally, I would have liked for the album to have fused more funk into some of the house and techno songs.
I feel even more strongly about that opinion after hearing some of Funkatized straight-up funk joints. Songs such as "Jazzatized," "Pfunstuduh," "Cheesecaked" and "Picky Primrose" reveal that Funkatized is a band that can operate on the one. Funkatized showcases an ability to mix tempos by digging deeper into a grove while proving that the duo can be creative improvisers. So, while the joints provide some good moments, the sameness of many of the techno and house based songs make it unlikely that Funkatized will have an appeal beyond those people who like the techno and house genres.
By Howard Dukes