Following heavyweight funk broadsides from the States this year and the recent third LP from Oz’s Melbourne-based Cookin On 3 Burners, it’s time for some UK funk album action. Brighton’s The Impellers continue their tenure at Legere/ Mocambo Recordings with their own third LP My Certainty and hit back with a broader more mature sound – possibly the result of their current line-up having bedded-in over the last couple of years. As a consequence we find them chucking in everything but the kitchen sink. Among others, there’s the CD/download-only JBs-ish instro-intro Veeber, the Marva-ish I Don’t Care, the wafty Brazil-funk (complete with dreamy “da-da-da da da’s)” of The Routine, the minimal latin-flavoured percussion of the moody title track (video below), a bluesy ballad, the hectic JTQ-ish Ray McKay instro workout, a cover of the Fatboy Slim-sampled Ann Robinson cut You Did It, a second outing for eco-funk trip Last Dance Of The Moai (re-energized with the new line-up) and closer Something Only Happens To Me which has shades of Aretha’s Natural Woman. Less jazzbo and more funk-soul orientated than ever, with more variety and better songs – this is the band’s best effort yet. Three proves once again to be the magic number. Players below.
(Out now on Legere Recordings)