Electronic Funk duo The Floozies have made a name for themselves by shaking things up in the summer festival circuit. The duo consists of producer and guitarist, Matt Hill and drummer Mark Hill; two brothers hailing from Lawrence, Kansas. With a strong reputation for their live performances and a handful of albums already under their belts, The Floozies have just released their newest effort titled Do Your Thing. It is a tight-grooving, ass-shaking, eleven-song album that captures their live energy and puts it directly into your speakers.
The album starts off with a song that demonstrates their signature electro-funk sound. The song is “Fantastic Love.” It begins with a slick guitar lick, a funky bass groove and a perfectly-timed sample from the 1984 rap classic, “Fresh, Wild, Fly and Bold” by Cold Crush Brothers. We are then suddenly sent spinning through an electronic sonic storm that is fresh, wild, fly and bold indeed.
Track two, “Getaway,” keeps the party going with its creative and energetic electronic dance sounds. A sweet sounding guitar lick to spice things up, takes us bouncing into a funk-infused chorus, and if you aren’t dancing already, you must be without a pulse.
“Kinky” the third song on the album is precisely that; kinky! This funky groove is downright sexy. The aesthetics of their sound almost take us back to the hip-hop and funk vibes of the early 1980’s, when artists like, Cameo released songs like, “Flirt” and when Grandmaster Flash was teaching us all “The Message.”
One of the standout tracks from the album is, “She Ain’t Yo Girlfriend,” which takes us on a funk-filled, stop-and-go ride through funkytown. With it’s catchy verse-chorus-verse structure and electronic dance buildups, this is the track you are sure to hear lots of this summer. Another highlight is the following song, “Almost Morning” featuring Gibbz (singer/producer Mike Gibney).
Track six, “Make A Mixer” serves as almost an intermission. It is a loungy and mellow groove that goes down like a smooth drink. Catch your breath, because you’ll be up and dancing again very soon. “Fnktrp,” the following song does just that; sends you back to the dance floor for another heart-racing trip through a dream world of funk and EDM. With the addition of quick and intricate guitar work, this is one of the more interesting tracks on “Do Your Thing.”
If Sonic the Hedgehog, STS9 and Ghostland Observatory collaborated on a musical project, it might sound like track eight, “Lady Player.“ This is a song of dance-charged electro-funk and auto-tuned vocals with humorously satirical lyrics. Continuing with this bright and upbeat vibe is, “Like Butter,” which contains a sample from the 1994 hip-hop classic “Juicy,” by the legendary Notorious B.I.G., as well as their tight original groove that gets your feet moving and your heart grooving. As Biggie once said, “If you don’t know, know you know.”
The album finishes off with, “Jambox” and then the title track, “Do Your Thing.” Both are mind-boggling jubilees of electro-funk wizardry. Matt and Mark Hill take us through distorted voyages of impressive electronic funk, fused with dance, hip-hop and many other diverse musical influences. Most definitely a fun-filled listening experience. Perfect for a late-night slot at a summer festival.
For those looking for some music to dance to, I certainly recommend catching The Floozies. You can find music, tour dates and more information on their official website.
By Joseph Conlon