Customer Reviews

Afro Strut

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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For over a decade, Brit-rock has proclaimed its green credentials by recycling at least 50% of its material and repackaging it as if it were completely original.
By contrast, contemporary Afro-American music's sample culture fetishises reconditioned old licks and beats, while offering much more genuine novelty.
Joseph "Amp" Fiddler is the exception who proves the rule.
A Detroit veteran of George Clinton's p-funk unit, his second solo album, but for a cod-ragga toast on "I Need You", could well have teleported in from the mid-1970s.
Referencing Gil Scott-Heron in the jazz-funk meditation "Right Where You Are", August Darnell in the zoot-suited "If I Don't", Marvin Gaye in "Hustle", Sly Stone in the bone-dry click-track drums, p-funk in the rubber bass and synths, and Shuggie Otis in the spare, stoned melodiousness, Amp also boasts a fine, smoky singing voice and a way-cool pimp hat.
If Jamiroquai could concoct a hit career out of a lot less, why not this retro rare-groover?

Excellent CD. I didn't realize Amp Fiddler had a 2nd release...I had the pleasure of meeting him at SOB's for the JDilla memorial concert....His is serious. A must have..

This is one of the best R&B albums I have heard in literally maybe ten years. It has everything. Dirty funk, smooth R&B, dance R&B ala Luther...

Great production, great musicianship. Great keyboard playing. Lyrics for adults. This album (and this artist) is one of those missing links that people just don't about.

It is guys like him who are actually passing along the music at a real, in the studio, level to the younger R&B cats in the the industry.

Wow, Amp Fiddler really delves into a variety of musical genres in this CD. I hadn't heard his music and my Brother discovered him and decided that we had to interview him for our site www.progressivepulse.com
I sampled his music and was hooked. In "You can be Mine" he collaborates with Neco Washington and creates a sound like an updated Chaka/Rufus collaboration. And then just when you think you have him pinned downed to a particular niche, he surprises you with his rendition Hendrix' "Hey Joe" And finally, his original "Right Where you Are" transports you to that special place with that special someone.......take a look at our interview with Amp: http://www.progressivepulse.com/news.htm#ampfiddler