Chris Joss is one funky man. If you don't believe me, haven't heard of him, or if you love funk music, you owe it to yourself to check out his latest album, Monomaniacs Vol. 1. I interviewed him back when his last album was out and he spoke a bit about this one. His original intention was to present this album as if it were a compilation. That explains the title. He was even considering making up fictitious bands to credit. He scrapped that idea, and that's good for him. He deserves all the credit here.

1. We Got Some (Part 1&2)
2. Optical
3. Kali Flowers
4. Re-Volt
5. Ford Mustard Cutter
6. Keep On Digging
7. Mo Lovin
8. Shafro
9. Backbeating
10. Highway 75
11. Within
12. Jha Mon

The artwork goes a long way toward giving you the dusty funk impression that the music makes utterly clear. Even if he thought each of these tracks could be credited to a never before heard of northern soul master, his hand is too strong and measured to think these songs come from anything more than a single source. Chris Joss just has that kind of distinct flavor. That being said however, this is Joss sounding funkier than you've ever heard him. This is Joss digging deeper than ever into the northern soul sounds that initially implanted in him a fascination with England's mod scene.

Joss plays almost everything on this album, from the funky organ, fuzzy bass guitar, wah'd out guitar, sitar, and beyond. One instrument he doesn't play on here, which is rare for Joss' work, is the vibraphone. For that he brings in Alexander von Mehren. Besides his idea of using various artist names, he mentioned wanting to be able to work with soul singers. This album was largely completed at that time, and maybe that's something we'll have to wait for Vol. 2 to hear, because this album is completely instrumental.

Monomaniacs stands somewhere between the heavily northern soul influenced artists on UK label Tru Thoughts, and the psychedelic styling of label mates Thunderball. This album is consistent but far from tedious, and really well done. Here forth, please know Chris Joss as the funkiest man in France.

Add a Comment