Planet Funk Album: “Non Zero Sumness”

I picked this cd up after I had bought the single for "Stuck in the UK" at a virgin records, while i was living down under. I LOVED it from the first melting beat, to the last synth reverbing (is that even a word?? :P) inside my head. Not in a long time has an album snuck its way into my life so easily.

Everytime I listen to this I am taken back, it's like it was able to match my life so well.

I digress, i'm off track here, most people could care less what the album ment to me. Ok, i'll try to describe it.

Most of the music, is underscored with some funky beats, and the overlaying feel to the music is chilled out funk. Its like house and chill all wrapped up into one. From the single "Stuck in the UK" which hooked me, you would never think that the rest of the tracks could be so smooth and silky. The songs are layerd with some amazing vocals. It's the perfect cd for just relaxing alone, or dancing by yourself, and there is even a party feel as well

It's one of my favs, along with Goldfrapp and Fischerspooner (there is a SLIGHT elecrto feel to it).

I first stumbled into this sound while I was living in London. A friend of mine deejayed in some illegal clubs in east London, and would put 'Who Said' to play. The phrase "I'm a slave to the minimum wage" made a lot of sense, since I worked in a sandwich shop (pret a manger) earning nothing! Those were the days...

Bought this CD on the strength of "Chase the Sun" and couldn't stop playing it. Still can't: it sounds as fresh today as when first played ! It's one of those rare albums that doesn't contain a dud track, alternating between bass-heavy power-funk dance tunes and multi-textured trip-hop. Crank that volume dial up to eleven and soak it up.

Fave tracks include "Chase the Sun", "The Switch", "Who Said" and "Under the Rain" (love Sally Doherty's dreamy vocals on this one).

Be sure to give this Italian group's follow-up album "The Illogical Consequence" a listen ... a bit more experimental and not quite as flat-out power-funky, but just as good as NZS.