March 8–15, 2001

disc quicks | electronica

King Britt Presents Sylk 130

Re-Members Only

(Six Degrees)

This is your chance to rock down to Electric Avenue holding hands with Johnny 5 and Sheila E. King Britt returns with another salute to his own immeasurable realm of musical influences, dipping us into the heat of the 1980s with a bubble bath of smooth jazz, R&B, hip-hop, old school rap, some disco-y electro and lyrics about sexy lovin’. But if you’re expecting even the slightest drop of house music, think again. The album is aptly named, a siren call for the select few who really remember the ’80s roots that sprouted many of today’s sounds. It’s a logical progression for Britt, whose previous album, 1998’s When the Funk Hits the Fan, was a fruitful tribute to ’70s funk and soul. On Re-Members, "Skipping Stones" oozes the gospel-y, Prince-like vocals of Yaz’s Alison Moyet, while on "For Love," a drum machine/guitar/sax-filled (by the late Grover Washington, Jr.) duet between a man and a woman stranded on a desert island eerily recalls Luther Vandross. The groovy, string-filled "I’ll Do It for You" whimpers "I love you so much it hurts." Other album highlights include the chilled-out, organic re-make of Nu Shooz’s "I Can’t Wait" and the horn-stabbing, bass-slapping single "Happiness," featuring a soothing serenade from Alma Horton, the voice behind "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life." Yet the CD turns on a dime, progressing from easy listening to rap and hip-hop while "All the Way Live" uncannily recalls the Sugar Hill Gang and "Cobbs Creek" features Pos and Trugoy (of De La Soul) doing a stripped-down, raw and gritty track with non-stop scratching (though it won’t make you forget your old De La records). For those not familiar with Britt’s influences, Re-Members may seem as tedious as attending someone else’s high school reunion. However, with regurgitated ’80s bits infiltrating so much of today’s music, no one does it quite as eloquently as the King.

—Sean O’Neal

King Britt will have a record release party on Mon., March 12, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., at Shampoo, Willow St., between Seventh and Eighth Sts., 215-922-7500, www.shampooonline.com.