The car stops again for “Teach It In/Learn It Out.” You get out. It's dark out now, after sunset. There's some kind of party going on. Once again, you don't know anybody, but this time they seem like they might be dangerous. Especially that drummer. Dude sounds ready to brawl. A transition into a dirty, nasty bass groove—shit's getting real. You keep losing count. A couple of guys are fighting with knives.

-Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Teach It In Learn It Out

“Strength” has some bounce, some power. That moment of anxiety has passed. You held it together, kid. You're all right. You're an old pro at this shit. Back in the car, but now things have changed. Everything's smooth. You're in the backseat, sitting in the middle. You relax. Stare out the window. It's a beautiful ocean after all. A beautiful sunset after all. There's no need for violence. Listen to that guitar solo. One of the girls just put her hand on your thigh.

-Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Strength

Then a voice, like from a movie: “I don't want lunch. I want breakfast,” must be “Michael Douglas.” The car's pulled over now. Everybody's out, standing, looking out toward the water, watching the sunset over the ocean. Those drums sound terrific. You notice the dude is packing heat. Definitely dangerous. Maybe violent. You think you might be sick here for a second. Everything slows down in that nauseating way, when your stomach drops just when the drugs really start to kick in. It's like Miami Vice or some shit out here.

-Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Michael Douglas

When “Sig Rivs” starts, you know there's something dangerous here, like maybe this dude is driving a bit too fast, a bit too reckless, like, going by these dubbed-out sounds, maybe he's just as high as you are. But, once again you like it. Fuck a bunch of safety. Every wash of sound is like a curve in the road along the beach.

Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Sig Rivs

Then there's “Whatitdo/Dope,” basically the title track, featuring what sounds like a Moog evoking a horn line. Take a moment. Have a seat. Catch your breath. Look around the room. Admire the people, the art on the walls. Then a sudden change, a crossing over the slash, and the music lays back into a soul groove, the kind that makes every vocalist want to open his mouth. Whatitdo has plenty of those moments—moments that make you want to sing. And there's wisdom in laying off, leaving out the vocal, leaving it for the imagination: Suddenly, you're in a car, sitting shotgun. You just met the driver, but he seems all right, one of those dudes at home behind the wheel. Three pretty ladies in the backseat. You're trying to remember where you're headed. You know that a plan was made, but just now you can't remember what it was, but that's just fine.

Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Whatitdo Dope

But then you're lost for a moment, confused, before a guitar starts signifying funk, “Machete Man” making you wish maybe you hadn't had quite so much to drink, feeling a little dizzy. Or maybe you shouldn't have eaten quite so much for lunch cuz now you want to dance. There's a news bulletin interruption, but then the chaos comes back, a bit dirtier than you expected. These people are ready to party. You're surprised everybody still has their clothes on.

Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Machete Man

“Fancy Hands” is a shift into jazzier territory. By this point, you're fully engaged with the shenanigans in the room, fully into the swing of the party. You might not know any of these people yet, but you feel like you could get to know them real well, accent some unexpected beats, make some new friends.

-Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Fancy Hands

The music inspires some kind of motion: The groove of opener “Word is Bond” is like you're walking down the street, strutting, and it's just the right street—late afternoon, seeing some friendly faces, funky haircuts, girls in tight blue jeans. Everything is spaced just right, each instrument—guitar, bass, organ, drums—individually audible, but in the pocket, contributing to a greater whole. The drums crack, and then in come the hand claps, and the rhythm heats up, the organ takes the lead. There's a '70s feeling, like those blue jeans are bellbottoms, but it's not strictly retro reenactment. Not sampling, or simply miming the moves of the past, but inhabiting them, living them, walking through them.

-Brad Bynum

https://whatitdofunk.bandcamp.com

Free funk music!  

Whatitdo Archive Group Inc.

Popular tracks