So, this is the new dancefloor/DJ sensation from U.K. featuring Maxi Jazz, Deuce Eclipse, Ricky Rankin and Mr. Louis (Boko’s seven year old cousin 😀 ) as contributing artist. Benji delivering a mixture of Electronic Funk and Trip-Hop, it’s smooth as it’s danceable, retro perfumed, but sounds kind of fresh. Take Jamiroquai and throw it in a blender with the Gorillaz and you will get something pretty close to this. The skits are kind of funny, the “music” is a minimalist, meticulously calculated series of samplers, sequencers and switches, classic beats and turns coloured with few smooth jazz piano and guitar cuts. It takes only a MIDI sequencing, multitrack recording and mixing software – for instance the excessively user-friendly ACID Pro 7 – and using the proper loop library, even my 4 years old son can deliver a few catchy dancefloor firestarters. And this lead me back to something else: not the bloody “music” matters, but who you know and who stands behind you – how many asses you kissed and most importantly, who’s ass.
Some girl from the audience said: “A multiple orgasm on the dancefloor!!!†– I’m afraid she never been actually fucked.
Back in my “dancing days” ( 😆 ) Fatboy Slim delivered some electrifying anthems, Benji only have a few nice themes (“Bokomania”, “Lights”). “I Had A Dream (Mini Obama)” and “A Big Star From Nuffink” are funny, but those are not music, not even “songs”. “Touch The Ceiling With Your Toes” is danceable, have a sort of gypsy spirit, “Where My Heart Is” – featuring Maxi Jazz – is smooth, but not that impressing.
It’s one thing to being DJ and mixing in a club night after night – I actually really respect that -, but making your own album it’s something totally different and takes much more.
Released June 20th on Tru Thoughts Records, Benji Boko’s debut album “Beats, Treats & All Things Unique” is nice, but not exciting. Actually, full of cliches and nothing in it is unique at all.
Benji Boko – Beats, Treats & All Things Unique (Debut Album) by BENJI BOKO
Benji Boko – Official Site
Benji Boko @ MySpace
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgZ0Ax2qO4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]
