As a 90s kid, I was first influenced by the music I grew up with, perhaps some trashy pop, garage rock, punk, even metal, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t alone. Yet a bunch of kids from Brunswick way, found solace in the funky tunes of yesteryear. Fast forward a few years of schooling and the like, they now make up the mega funk orchestra that is The Cactus Channel . Having been together since high school (although that wasn’t that long ago) the ten piece play their music as tight the lid on a jar of salsa. Receiving praise for their quirky reworking of the funk genre into killer original compositions for the modern day audience. The latest track ‘ Wooden Boy (Part 3) ‘ is a fresh new sample of this work.
‘Wooden Boy (Part 3)’ is the title track (well, sort of) from their awaited second album (simply titled Wooden Boy) . The track itself reveals a darker, spooky side to the funk, with ominously eery electric guitar twangs, with short and sharp injections from the trumpets. To the ear it sounds the landscape to equal parts murder mystery, with the rapid stabbing brass – or the sound of the post midnight melancholy kind hidden in the wavering reverb of the analogue recorded guitars.
They have a knack at keeping a solid funk body of the song rolling along, interject with some bridging sections and then rolling back to the core funk theme all the while embellishing with tasty licks from the brass, keys, or the guitars. Although a very loose formula, it’s still a noticeable format to their compositions. With the release of Wooden Boy on September 2nd we may be treated to a their signature style, and perhaps something a little unusual.
Download ‘Wooden Boy (Part 3)’ for free thanks to HopeStreet Recordings .
The Cactus Channel – Haptics
WORDS BY Leah Phillips
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