Over the last five years or so, when I hear Seattle Funk my ears perk up. There’s been so much great stuff coming out including Polyrhythmics, The True Loves, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, The Dip, and now add The Oscillators to the list. As a recording collaborative, the instrumentation on each tune varies and so each is fresh and carves a differnt path. There’s everything from psychdelia, to jazz, NOLA jazz, fusion and plenty of funk, Olli Klomp makes this engine run on time with up to three layers of drums on a track. It’s innovative and relatable at the same time. Here’s the press release on the album, followed by my track by track coverage. Dig in and enjoy.
Here's The Hype On 'The Oscillators'
Representing Seattle Funk. The Oscillators’ debut album is deep, raw and energetic. Led by drummer oLLi kLoMp, the line up features members of the polyrhythmics, Rippin’ Chicken, the Pulsations, Lucky Brown, the Trueloves, 45th Street Brass, The S.G.’s, and more… REAL, DEEP FUNK WITH A PSYCHEDELIC NUDGE.
As of yet, as these words were written, the Oscillators is not a band. the Oscillators is an experimental recording collaboration that turned out swimmingly.
Our gauge was this: “Do we like it?” No agenda or goal. The main mode being simply; create what we like out of thin air. Yet the air was heavy therefore create what we like out of thick air. Magical, gravy-thick air. Molecules, olli’cules. Alchemically thick. Apparently, we needed to sample something out-of-the-ordinary… the process is called, “stackin- phat”. Minimal gear, maximum vibe. In fact, this process and this gear would make most educated sound engineers cringe but the players know.
Pushing the tape…yes, tape! 4 track to be exact, pushing the tape to it’s edge. First, stack two drum tracks. bounce them to one primal track. Sometimes one drummer, sometimes two; “a great drumbeat already contains melody.” This is your first layer of phat. Generally, unless the muse says otherwise, you wanna bring in your bass player next, gently caress guidance and encouragement (maybe a beer or a hit a grass), then he or she can stack the next layer of phat. The next few layers are where things really take off. Maybe it’s guitar then horns, maybe keys. Maybe just horns. Whatever the tune calls for. Whatever the muse “calls” for. Everyone stacking is simultaneously inspired, while hindered, by the previous layer; “constricted genius” works of magic from thin/thick air.
Most of the time the players weren’t in the same room at the same time, and in some cases, haven’t seen each other in years, but it sounds like a family and feels like a band. Create what we like.
The natural unfolding of this creation was affirming, in that the process of creation proved most relevant. An expression of faith and appreciation of the experiMENTAL process with no preparation for something else. Beyond fortunate for the allowance of time. “never underestimate the power of positive thought”
Track By Track
Track Suit starts with deep bass and snare joined by sustained echoing guitar from Ben Bloom of the Polyrhythmics. It’s got a very consistent drum line throughout from Grant Schroff also of Polyrhythmics nand Olli Llomp. The bass and guitar line provide a very stripped-down, funky, jazz vibe. One thing I hear in the headphones is the mix detail of this album.The tail end of Track Suit fills both channels with drums very wide and the guitar feels more centered. Interesting.
Packet O’Cheese opens with a request for the actual Packet, followed by a super syncopated drums from Karl Olson and Olli. Ben Bloom provides great funk line on guitar again. This tune adds the wonderful horns from Peter Daniel on alto and Jason Cressey on trombone including a short break down together but down different paths. The song benefits from the great match of Bob Heinemann on bass matched with Bloom on guitar.
Good News is another funk-fusion gem with a strong percussion shaker feel througout. This time Mark Hager, leads the trip on synth with Colin Higgins taking the guitar solo midway. Ollie lays the pavement on DrumsX2 for the song. Overall this is a great tune for Hager right thru the sustained end note.
Let’s Get There drops another drumsx2 and bass intro with Olli and Bob Heinemann before segueing into a guitar led, old-school funk tune. Colin Higgins has the cool guitar solo followed up by Kein Nortness on the tenor solo. This is one of the more horn-heavy tunes with a Nortness on trumpet (as well) and Peter Daniel on tenor. As with some other tunes on the album, there’s the afro beat texture and I like it.
Spanish Monster‘s drum intro has another clean, raw analog feel that is a characteristic of the remote recording method but used most effectively. For this one it’s just the horns, Peter Daniel on alto, Kevin Nortness on trumpet and Jason Cressey on trombone plus Olli. The horns play right on top of the beat which is ever present in this song and steers the ship. The tenor sax solo from Peter Daniel is short and solid – the echoing fadeout a nice touch.
Intersextion is an 21-second intermezzo comprised of a gong and then a gonzo horn smashup and then “Side 2” begins.
Spinnning Species melds new and old feels, with a very psychedelia rhythm and vocals and a jazzy horn section. It’s another tune that has just horns and Olli on Drumsx2 and vocals. The combination is very engaging and the add of triangle and whistle is a nice touch.
Emulsify begins as a drum march and before developing the main acid jazz feel a la The New Mastersounds. It’s an interesting combo here with Olli on drums X2 plus Grant Schroff of the Polyrhythmics also on drums and Ben Bloom on guitar. This horn-less tune features a nice bass line solo from Bob Heinemann.
Flip Flap has a Polyrhythmics imprint all over it in another tune minus horns. The syncopation and darker tone are uber cool. In fact, it has the same lineup as Emulsify but Olli only on drums X1. The bass line drives the main theme with excellent echoing guitar carrying the lead voice.
Pull One Down has a heavy New Orleans funk feel with a marching percussive feel and a groovy deep horn lead. The horn section rolls with a brass band theme throughout. This one leaves the guitar, bass, keys out of the equation for all together different sound.
Filterface has a trippy opening with excellent bass and drum syncopation. Of course, it jumps with Olli X2 and Grant on drums. It’s a guitar-led trio once again absent horns. The bass and drum makes it bounce — the echoing guitar midway makes for a dreamlike feel.
Elaborate is a pulsating synth focused tune with Marc Hager. It’s back beat is a heavy hitting kick drum with a light touch of guitar. When the synth drops off a bit the drum-guitar-bass rhythm becomes more prominent before the synth comes back into orbit. It’s an experimental jazz sensation swirling around before it settles back into the main groove to the end. It is Elaborate – “involving many carefully arranged parts or details; detailed and complicated in design and planning.”
Trees in Space is probably the most trippy tune on the album. The drum loopy, plus trumpet (Lucky Brown) and bass (Ned Blanski) opening provides a little Star Trekky feel. The lyrics provide a psychedelia coda. The extended echoing fadeout closes the album on a ‘high’ note.
The Musicians
Side A
- Track Suit
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Ben Bloom
- Drums – Grant Schroff
- Drums – Olli Klomp
- Packet O’ Cheese
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Ben Bloom
- Drums – Karl Olson
- Drums – Olli Klomp
- Alto Sax – Peter Daniel
- Trombone – Jason Cressey
- Intro By Bigs Miles
- Good News
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Colin Higgins
- Keys – Marc Hager
- Drums X2 – Olli Klomp (Aka Cecil Moses And The Sg’s)
- Let’s Get There
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Ben Bloom
- Guitar – Colin Higgins (Solo)
- Drums X2 – Olli Klomp
- Tenor Sax – Peter Daniel
- Trumpet – Kevin Nortness
- Tenor Solo – Kevin Nortness
- *Drums X2 = Double Drum Track
- Spanish Monster
- Alto Sax – Peter Daniel
- Trumpet – Kevin Nortness
- Trombone – Jason Cressey
- Drums X2 – Olli Klomp
- Intersextion
- Tenor Sax – Papa Daniel
- Trumpet – Kevin Nortness
- Trombone – Jimi Austin
- Drums – Olli Klomp
- Whistle – Unknown
- Spinning Species
- Trumpet – Kevin Nortness
- Tenor Sax – Peter Daniel
- Alto Sax – Peter Daniel
- Trombone – Jimmy Austin
- Drums X2 and Voice – Olli Klomp
Side B
- Emulsify
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Colin Higgins
- Drums – Grant Schroff
- Drums X2 – Olli Klomp
- Flip Flap
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Ben Bloom
- Drums – Grant Schroff
- Drums – Olli Klomp
- Pull One Down
- Alto Sax – Peter Daniel
- Trumpet – Kevin Nortness
- Trombone – Jason Cressey
- Drums X2 – Olli Klomp
- Filter Face
- Bass – Bob Heinemann
- Guitar – Ben Bloom
- Drums – Grant Schroff
- Drums X2 – Olli Klomp
- Elaborate
- Bass – Jason Gray
- Guitar – Colin Higgins
- Keys – Marc Hager
- Drums – Grant Schroff
- Drums And Percussion – Olli Klomp
- Trees In Space
- Bass – Ned Blanski
- Trumpet – Lucky Brown
- Voice And Drum Loopy – Olli Klomp