Customer Reviews

Power Clown

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a huge Fila fan, and this is easily their best CD (although Luck be a Weirdo is a close second) in my opinion. Its the most ecclectic blend of Jazz, Funk, Rock, Trip Hop, Ambient, and Electronic you could ever want. Highly recommend this and everything else by them except for that god damn "Jump Leads" which was a huge let down.

if animals had an access to the book "funkin up hip hop" then this is what they would make. 13 solid tunes of slap me up bass, phat riffs and stonking drum beats and a sense of humour make Power Clown one of fila's greatest creations. An essential for anyones music collection, I just dont understand why 99% of the worlds population havent heard of fila. Buy it, buy all the albums their well worth. EVERY album gives you something different but their all fundamentalist chillin albums! check it out!

In my own humble music-lover opinion, this is Fila Brazillia's third classic album. Although all of their albums are amazing, "Old Codes/New Chaos," "Luck Be A Weirdo Tonight," and now, "Power Clown," are musical achievements that equally stand well on their own, each achieving a unique and original vision. Part of this success I believe is do to their different approach to these three as opposed to their approach to their other three albums. This approach involves a continuous mixing from one track to the next, which gives the album an overall flow and coherence. In addition, this approach seems indicative of a focused and fevered musical genius in which Cobby and McSherry lock themselves in a studio, and emerge a few months later with a labor of love. Whatever the case, there is an overall harmony and appeal to the music that enters the ears, moving through one great landscape of ideas and sounds. Again, like all of their music, this album is not instantly catchy, it takes multiple listens or a very attentive gaze to begin to open up to it. Anyways, "Power Clown" begins with the clunky funk of "Bovine Funk," an upbeat and fun track. "The New Canonball" is the next piece, and is a brilliant electro-soul-funk groover; it's motivated by a jazzy keyboard, a lounging bassline, a "talking" synth-line, and raggae-esque vocals. Fantastic. Then Fila Brazillia take us into the symphonic opening of "Here Comes Pissy Willy" which slams into a great yo-yoing bassline, and rising ambience. Exploring funk, soul, jazz, and ambience to their fullest, Fila Brazillia eventually land us onto the breakbeat shuffles of "Feathery Legs." "Feathery Legs" jumps into a serious house groove fit for an outdoor party at sunrise. A wispy and bright guitar threads about the columns of bass and drums, lifting the listener's eyes and ears to the sky, as a grooving bassline moves from high to low, pushing everything straight ahead. Finally we come to "The Speewah," a space-funk beauty with a falling and funky bassline, and new wavey textures. Breaking into a nice groove, an electro-voice moves high in the ether, singing "the speeeewaah! the speeee-eee-waaaa-aaah, the speeewah!," evoking a glimpse of a 70's funk-soul utopia coming on the electronic age. An absolutely brilliant album that gets better everytime. I've tested this one out on the long drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco countless times. I think its safe to say that "Power Clown" has uncommon properties.

This album is as funky as they get (outside of James Brown) and it is highly listenable. The tracks containing spoken dialogue are almost all chilling, not in a horrifying way, but just because they juxtapose so jarringly with the carefree music.

Another thing: the liner notes in this album are absolutely the best. They consist of a two-page, wordless mini-comic about each song. Brilliant.

In the past 4 months I have quickly become a big fan of Fila music. Fila Brazillia's sound is so diverse, ranging from smooth lounge music to complex layerings of funk, and jazz grooves. I own 5 of Fila's CDs and can say that each cd is a bit different. Power Clown concentrates on more of the funky aspects of Fila's sound. This cd has some excellent grooves and is very up tempo. Power Clown is a good starting point for those curious about Fila's sound. If you enjoy acid jazz, house and lounge music you will enjoy this cd and you might possibly become "infected" with Fila's sound as I have become.

Although not quite as diverse or involving as "Mess" / "Mame that Tune", this album still delivers some excellent tracks ("Feathery Legs" is classic Brazillia, "Little Hands Rouge is just... out there!). Fila fans will not be dissapointed.

Fila Brazillia are Steve Cobby & Dave McSherry. These two have gone on quite the musical adventure from the 90's on up to today, releasing loads of albums and singles. Based for the majority on "Pork" recordings you can sample their work on miscellaneous compilations - everything from Brazil 2Mil to the first few editions of the Om Lounge series. One thing about them; if you thought Bent or Lemonjelly were some odd lads, you ain't seen nothing yet!

I really liked Power Clown and its IMO probably their best. It's very original and just... cool. I mean the booklet isn't really a booklet, it's a comic story by Neil McFarland for each song. But the music itself is full of pinpoint beats, whacked guitars, loads and loads of miscellaneous effects and samples. But it's seamlessly strewn together. Among the album highlings to me were "Throwing Down a Shape" - a tune that winds along. Following that up is the energetic and oddly funky "Bumpkin Riots". The true chilled track on this was "President Chimp Toe" with cool keys. "It Had to Happen" I dig for the guitar rift while for whatever reason, I loved the flow of "Tunstall & California Haddock".

There are several other cuts that I liked on this cd. But the thing is, if you really look at the comic linear notes and then listen to the songs, they FIT!! Don't get me wrong, they are... strange. But it's a riot and this is by far one of the most original general releases I've ever seen/read/heard. If you dig this, then of course check out Fila Brazillia's other works and remixes and you'll probably dig Bent and Lemonjelly.

This is one of my favorite CDs. At first I didn't really like it, but you have to listen to it a few times to really understand it as a whole. And [...] is it worth it! Its hard to put into words what really resonates through this whole album that makes it so good. However, it is a pain convincing your friends its as good as you think it is, so its kind of an inside sort of thing. Most people just won't get this album (physically or intellectually)...

andrew

Fila Brazillia's Power Clown continues the live funk vibe that infected their previous album. This time, however, the funk seems a little better integrated into the music. "Here Comes Pissy Willy," for instance, is a kitchen-sink composition, yet it works; "Throwing Down A Shape" throws down a mellow groove and spreads it around like grease. "Firelanes" gets us into a jazzy mood, with a sax that just won't quit, while the interlude "It Loved To Happen" strums its way into your heart. "Tunstall and Californian Haddock" is a short detour to Brazil, while "Feathery Legs" will prompt you to get yours moving. With this album, Fila Brazillia show that they're not just clowning around.

Fila Brazillia are Steve Cobby & Dave McSherry. These two have gone on quite the musical adventure from the 90's on up to today, releasing loads of albums and singles. Based for the most part on "Pork" recordings you can sample their work on miscellaneous compilations - everything from Brazil 2Mil to the first few editions of the Om Lounge series and loads more. One thing about them; if you thought Bent or Lemonjelly were some unique lads, you ain't seen nothing yet.

This album's lasted through the years for me and as I listen to it now I still remember when I got it. I really liked Power Clown and its IMO probably their best. It's very original. Even the booklet isn't really a booklet, it's a story for each song. But the music itself is full of nice beats, neat guitars, loads and loads of miscellaneous effects and samples coming together for a real journey in sound. Among the album highlings to me were "Throwing Down a Shape" - a tune that winds along. Following that up is the energetic and oddly funky "Bumpkin Riots". The true chilled track on this was "President Chimp Toe" with cool guitar play and harp samples. "It Had to Happen" I dig for the guitar rift while for whatever reason, I loved the flow of "Tunstall & California Haddock"... neat funk.

There are several other cuts that I liked on this cd. I have to say, it's great to have so much music available for download but this album, the total package, makes you realize how great it was sometimes to have the hard-copies with the booklets, etc. Real art, and sometimes you can't see everything with a quick download. Still, if you dig this, then of course check out Fila Brazillia's other works and remixes and you'll probably dig Bent and Lemonjelly.