Brownout - Homenaje

Although Brownout may be a dubious name for a band of any kind, these funksters have no uncertainties about their sound. More specifically, they are funksters who are loud, proud and instrumental, with a tendency towards the raw and retro style, and often in an Afro-Latin fashion. More than twice I was reminded of Quantic Soul Orchestra, though maybe Brownout are a bit less 'experimental'. The title track is the hottest, with an intriguing percussion intro, a Cuban funk organ riff, and blasting horns, and African Battle is another burst of bright funky colours. More downbeat tracks such as Brown Wind and Fire and They Don't Know don't quite make up melodically for what they lack rhythmically, and the low point is You Already Are, which practically whimpers through the weak voices of cheesy electric guitars and a scrawny synthesizer. But besides this anomaly, Homenaje does a great job of capturing the excitement, intensity and richness of a live gig. [Josh Coppersmith Heaven]