At the peak of their fame, Outkast’s Andre 3000 and Big Boi took an unusual opportunity to release a double album where they would showcase their individual sound styles on their own separate courses, yet remain together as a unit.
Many years later with their debut double EP, this ambitious Sydney duo have essentially paralleled the act. Let me introduce to you The Goods – a musical group that pride themselves on producing space funk, so you know you’re in for a wild ride.
The Goods get interplanetary with their self-titled double EP, spitting percussive funk fresh from outer space.
Boris Bangaltar and Rosario D’Awesome rarely disappoint on the 12-track effort that is The Goods, with a modest sum of homegrown features, vibed out extra-terrestrial interludes, and influences ranging from Disclosure’s signature bop, to Frank Ocean’s infectious take on R&B, to Dr. Dre’s percussive style.
The CD artwork displays the boys in a form of space odyssey, effectively told through the duration of the listen. Several interludes (Pit Stop, Hackey Sacked, Motel Funk) playing a vividly important role in its understanding.
While the EP’s feature artists are all relatively unknown, Bangaltar and D’Awesome seem to have found the cream of the crop. Only One exhibits what seems to be Guy Sebastian’s soul-enthusiast twin in unKLe H, who embellishes the tune with a near-perfect flow, a falsetto perfectly suiting the record’s sound, and a vocal range that begs the question – where has he been all our lives?
Bruce Hathcock likewise delivers, providing tasteful vocal accompaniment and positive lyrics to accompany the Daft Punk-esque instrumental of Nightlife. Additionally, Lo Five’s Strong Man featurette could pass off as a cover of Disclosure’s Omen, although one could argue that the tracks are a little too similar.
The duo do tend to hit their apex during these vocal collaborations, however the solo tracks still pack quite a punch.
Natchural in particular brings the record towards a close with a delicious blend of r&b, electronica and funk, imitating desirable elements such as the percussion, bass lines and vocal stylings from Gorillaz’ Stylo.
As a whole, the debut EP is a solid effort from the Sydney boys, who are able to convincingly replicate Flume’s stadium-crushing sound on many different levels, as well as express themselves individually. The Goods takes the listener to a (literally) different world, yet remains a clean, coherent and linear record.
While Outkast’s leap of faith was backed by strong careers, The Goods have much less reason to be assured. However, their confidence may very well have paid off.
If this is the beginning for Bangaltar and D’Awesome, the sky’s barely the limit for where their space funk roots can take them. What is space funk? A blend of hip-hop and dancehall? A mixture of house, funk and electronica? All of the above? The answer remains a mystery (or you can decide for yourself).
Regardless, these lads are musically doing a mighty fine job. If they play their cards right The Goods should have a decent sized fan base eagerly awaiting the duo’s follow-up release.
The Goods is available now via Personal Best Records.
