22-046 Bruce Marshall / Bill Thomas

Description

Get ready for psych funk and a cover from far left field. PP12005 has all the makings of an instant classic.

Enter the dark opium den a release reminiscent of those pioneers of funk, early Parliament and Funkadelic. These found tracks by Bruce Marshall and Bill Thomas were likely recorded around the time of Osmium and Maggot Brain in fact, the artists featured here may have been directly influenced by the movement as it was happening, making these discoveries remarkable entries into the history of psych funk.

Where to begin with Bruce Marshalls Gimme My Wife on the A side? Try to imagine a psychedelic football game, with driving wah wah funk as the halftime show. The frenetic instrumentation is guided by an infectious guitar hook, coupled with a loose chorus of voices and whistle blows. They all come together at the end to chant what sounds like parrrr-tay, a foreshadowing of that refrain the Beastie Boys would popularize.

For our EP-exclusive track on the A side, we present to you a haunting cover of the Ides of March song, Vehicle. Bruce Marshalls version is much more sparse a psychedelic dirge thats almost unrecognizable compared to the original. Dark, simmering and sensual, it explodes into a soul-splitting vocal wail as the track reaches its end.

Things get a little more solemn on side B with an instant classic by Bill Thomas, Ease My Mind Pt. 1. A surprising dirge of fuzzy guitar leads into a chorus that sings, like a mantra, I have seen much trouble…ease my mind. Things morph into tight horns backed by some prominent organ in fact, this is one of the tightest horn sections on any of our releases to date.

For the exclusive EP B-side, Bill Thomas and band pick up right where they left off with Ease My Mind Pt. 2 an extended instrumental of Ease My Mind Pt. 1. It kicks off with a drum solo, then throws you into some horn-driven funk, with guitars holding down the background. Sax and organ take turns on the lead in this hot and delicious track thats ready for your enjoyment.

Funk is alive and well on our fifth release adding a new dimension to the amazing body of psych funk thats already out there. Who knows what could have happened had these cuts reached ears during the 70s but the time for the Marshall-Thomas ship to land is now. Put this on to get your next party going, and itll do most of the work for you.