(Session Records)

Are they funky enough to survive?

Western Australia’s Thrust are a ‘funk jazz’ outfit. It seems to lean particularly towards the funk aspect, sounding something like an unfocused, confused Cat Empire. The songwriting is on the whole very weak, the lyrics attempt to be quirky but instead are just awkward and cheesy, the track Tambourine featuring the lyrics “Tambourine, tambourine / shaking that thing on your trampoline” and then proceeding to rhyme more things with ‘ine’. The record covers hip hop, r&b, soul, rap, pop and jazz but it doesn’t feel varied, just messy. It doesn’t feel like an efficient expression of musical ideas, but rather the technique of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. It does have some good moments where the music can flourish independent of lyrics and song structure but just as you’re starting to enjoy it the song is yanked back into mediocre funkdom. This one wouldn’t make it in the wild.

MICHAEL PINCOTT

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*