Can't Be Funky

DJ

Bronx Dogs, to those in the know, are Richard Sen & Paul Eve. Unfortunately Paul decided to emigrate to Australia earlier this year but before he left they created this masterpiece and kindly signed it to Illicit Recordings. ‘Can’t Be Funky’ is a cover version of an old Bush Tetras track. The original idea came from Andrew Weatherall who gave them the original track and said ‘Why don’t you do a cover?’, so they did! It features the vocals of the (newly reformed) Gramme singer Sam Lynham and the music keeps the Bronx Dogs vibe of 80s New York disco / electro. ‘Senegal’, on the flip, is an underground analogue electro workout inspired by African funk, Mr Fingers and of course B-Boy electro. 4/5

DJ

The last release from Bronx Dogs duo Richard Sen and Paul Eve finds them taking on this old Bush Tetras track and giving it a kind of dub-disco electro house workover. If you’re wondering who Bush Tetras are, I haven’t got a clue either, but the vocal refrain in this does sound strangely familiar and the whole thing fits well with the current wave of interest in 80s NYC Post-disco and electro sounds. Buttressed by a wicked rolling, live-sounding b-line and chunky drums, with tinkling synths and loads of dubbed-out effects adding a little sparkle, this is a well worked track, but I can’t work out whether that vocal is infectious or just annoying – or both. 4/5

Update

With many US bands currently throwing dance groove in their Rock stockpot (The Rapture, Radio 4, LCD Soundsystem). The seminal NYC Punk-Funk band Bush Tetras are back on many turntables, so this successful cover of their biggest track ‘Can’t Be Funky’ couldn’t be more timely. And to be honest Bronx Dogs’ take on this currently hot sound is far more sexy and dancefloor friendly than many other attempts. This could easily become a cult anthem.