Drawing us in with a psychedelic, jazz and funk hybrid energy, JUNK open Chromatose with the title track of the EP and vocal add libs as they deliver the words, “One dose, Chromatose…“. The layered vocals are merged with an evocative and somewhat futuristic soundscape which expands in dimensionality.
The opus has a pseudo subversive vibe with industrial elements coming into play, before stripping back to solo moments showcasing instrumental mastery, and then taking on a whole new mood with Eastern elements, demonstrating the genre bending, and mind altering design intended by JUNK. For the finale of the track we experience emotive keys, once again showcasing the versatility of the creators as they leave us with a cinematic soundscape to conclude the breathtaking opener of the record.
None Other Than Dirty D is up next, setting the tone with an enigmatic saxophone performance and textured percussion. We learn that JUNK stands for “a blend of jazz and funk“, and is the new band formed by “saxophone junkie”, Dirty D and composer and music theory master, Dubl A. For reference, last year we featured Dirty D for his enigmatic chill-hop, cosmic EP, Solar Sail. Naturally, None Other Than Dirty D shows off the visionary artist’s instrumental skill with the saxophone. The piece even includes reference to the “smashing saxophone solo”, and we couldn’t agree more.
Chill Pill opens with a mysterious energy before a dimensional bass line kicks in that really peaks our attention. We are lost in the hypnotizing energy of the composition as the creators share their versatility once again. The piano performance is intricate, adding drama whilst rising and falling melodies allow us to engage on a deeper and more hypnotizing level with the composition. JUNK tell us, “Chromatose is a ride down the Chromatic scale into an experimental dose of musical narcotics“, and we concur as the entire record thus far feels like a trip.
Dirty D and Dubl A elaborate, “By blending genres into the scale and cutting it correctly with all types of instruments, we can put the listener through all types of feelings and moods, until we one dose off the edge into a relaxing state of operatic bliss.”
Immersing us with an epic arpeggiated bass, Blow opens with a charismatic vibe, and we can only imagine how epic it would be to experience live. Uniting jazz and funk is something that many artists have done over time, but what JUNK are creating with their skillset is frankly out of this world. We are in awe of the dimensionality of the composition, which hold and sense of futurism and timelessness.
Finally, we experience Frogadelic which draws us in with the notable sounds of the amphibian, combined with an evocative strings arrangement and moving instrumental performances from the self-described “bass forward, and saxophone heavy wild fusion band”.
We deeply appreciate the cohesive tapestry that JUNK create. It is no easy feat incorporating the sounds of a frog, whilst maintaining a smooth and dynamic performance, but that is just what JUNK have done.
The pair are indeed among the cutting edge in the future of fusion oriented music, and we have added the multi-dimensional Chromatose to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream the EP in full and anticipate future releases from the stars.