A lot of music is delivered by this tiny trio, but each guy works overtime. Kj Dave Doran plays drums, samples and programming, Christy Doran hits the guitar and “efx” and Joe Bowie sings along with providing some hip trombone work along with the abstract thing called “efx.” What this all mixes together to become is quite fascinating. You get a bit of hip hop and rap provided by the various drum beats and electronic noodlings, but the vocals delivered by Bowie lends the mood more towards vintage soul sounds of the 60s and 70s, even though at times they have the spoken text of rap. Then, when you throw in Bowie’s swinging trombone to the futuristic “Space Toys” or the stratospheric “Dumbeck” you get a healthy mix of modern urban sweat with heavy hitting jazz. The drums give a workout on “Highest” but with an electronic loop, while the rapid kinetic pulse of “Stay” also includes some cool guitar patterns. A jungle groove jams along with some spoken political testimony on “Feedback” hearken to the days of Gil Scott Heron and while Bowie gives no answers, he is asking the right questions. There’s definitely enough chops here for the jazz police in all of us, but the mix of synthesizers and loops and, of course “effects” gives the sound and vibe a feel that links 52nd Street with South Central.
Stadt Luzern Records