Welcome To Nu Funktonia

Four albums in and Toronto’s nu funk crew God Made Me Funky are finally ready to welcome you to Nu Funktonia, their fictional paradise where funk is fused with rock, rap, soul, disco and pop so the party never stops. Despite surefire dancefloor scorchers – house-influenced club jam “So In Effect,” featuring the vocal talents of Instant Star’s Miku Graham, and Neptunes-inspired “Feeelit,” featuring a hot political verse from Eternia, for examples – God Made Me Funky shine most as a live band, and many of these tracks will translate well when added to their fun, energetic mix of covers and originals punctuated by explosions of confetti. Expect to see added to their live set guitar-powered rockers that leave plenty of room for singers Kaybe and Leah Speers to give’er, like the funky “Curtain Call,” the positive “Stand Up” or first single “On The Line (Lay It),” a remake of the Triumph song with guest vocalist Jully Black laying it all on the line alongside some of frontman Phatt Al’s best raps on the album. Other viable selections include: the “Bohemian Rhapsody”-like epic pop of “PowerHouse (Impeccable Process)” that’s perfect for ending shows; “Way To Live,” with T-Dot legend Thrust, which uses a dirty electric bass to create the most hip hop song on the album, except when it disappears for the tender, soulful hook; and funky sex song “Hard Attack (Mr. Blue’s)”. While Welcome To Nu Funktonia does contain a few mellow misses, it’s mostly music to get the party started. It also brings GMMF one small step closer to capturing that elusive live energy on record. [Thomas Quinlan] - New Empire