Jamie Lidell
JIM
Jamie Lidell has built a reputation in recent years by channeling the greatest of the soul and funk greats (Stevie, P-Funk, Prince) through his own electromental (that’s electro and experimental) wiring, creating a sound that’s being called “Future Funk” by those in the know. While these observations are nothing new, they apply even more aptly to JIM than 2005’s Multiply. The exemplary track “Figured Me Out” combines the percussion of What’s Going On-era Marvin Gaye, the talk box and “clavs” of Music of My Mind-era Stevie Wonder, the synths of early-eighties Cameo, and the bass line of any number of classic funk bands-all executed by a man who likes to mix his tempos. Of course, one could still argue that Lidell borrows a little too much from the past, but then again, where would music be today without a lot of shoulder-standing?
