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(OM Records)
Think San Francisco and dance music and two genres which must come to mind high on the list are house and hip-hop. Think San Francisco and house music and one of the more prominent labels, which has been representing the city to the world in a big way, has been OM Records. This release sees a mix of their artists brought to you on one convenient disc and for fans of a funky beat this is a must have CD.
Listening to the opening track by Laird and John Pickett, Ohhh, Ma Ma Ma, and you are greeted by an almost hip-hop sounding beat and summery female vocals which swim around in your head. Part hip-hop and part 80’s sounding electro with it’s drum machine breakdowns, somehow it all pieces together into a beautiful laidback introductory track. Hip-hop comparisons don’t end there with Afro Mystik’s Who Are You also being built around a hip-hop/funk vibe.
Of course the sound of OM is more from the house genre, however many of the tracks on this compilation retain a more funk based feel to them and it is this which is one of the strong points of the compilation and gives this release a bit of personality and distinction. Take for example Mark Grant’s Hey You which utilizes live bass, sax, guitar and flute over a jazzy beat to give the track a feeling of raw funkiness.
It’s not all fun and funkiness. The deep filtered sounds of Mark Farina’s Do Things offers something for the late night dancers, it’s twisted vibe definitely only suitable for those in the wee hours of the morning. At the other end of the spectrum is Kaskade’s Right There which has a soaring uplifting feel with it’s lush female vocals and soft gentle melodies. A feeling which is repeated in their other inclusion Kaskade, this time with a little more funk.
From hip flavoured funk to electro to straight out deep house this album has it all. It’s fun, funky and earning the tag of “hard to take out of the CD player”. The San Franciscan Scene seems alive and well and if this is anything to go by they must be damn fine and funky bunch of people. OM Records already have a strong following, for those a little curious about what they’re all about this would be your perfect introduction.
