Seven Eleven - 25 Years & Still Funkin - Music & Performance - CD

Seven Eleven - 25 Years and still funkin' (© 2012 Seven Eleven Records) 25 years. Really? Has it been that long? Having met the band in the early 90s they have really come a long way. This compilation is either a perfect introduction to premier Dutch Funk Band Seven Eleven or a chance to catch up on some forgotten gems. But there are also some previously unreleased or hard to find songs on this jubilee-album. Like the first two tracks 'Get the funk outta here' and 'Funk Instruction' that had only been available on a rare Dutch compilation 'Funkin' Delight' which was released in 1989. For me these tracks are good enough reason to get the whole CD. Not having heard them before they sound like a time capsule to the beginning of the band. 'Get the funk outta here' just blew me away, Dodge's bass work is incredible, sounds like a mixture of Mark King of Level 42 and Louis Johnson. No trademark Mutron sound on that track, just because the equipment broke down on the recording day, Dodge told me now. 'Funkin' the city (live)' is another song that's only available on a compilation 'Camelpop '93' from 1994 which starts with the Mutron Bass allright before the horns kick in. The next two tracks are taken from the Seven Eleven debut-album 'The Come Out' which was produced by Menace en released in 1996. 'Unfunky Bitch' has a great rap performance by Are MC, who also steels the show in 'Good life'. Both songs have catchy horn parts. 'We ain't here to funk' (from the 1997 album 'Splank! The Trunk 'o' Funk compilation Pt. 2') is another Funk stomper, now featuring their new lead singer Jewl. The next track is the 12"version of 'Unfunky B.I.T.C.H.' with the original singer U-Gene on lead-vocals. There are more guest appearances to be found on the jubileealbum: the anthemic 'Say P-Funk', like the previous song released in 1999, starts with original Rubber Band singer Gary 'Mudbone' Cooper. The two following tracks 'Party!' and 'Dirty frog' (with a Maceo-sounding horn section), are taken from their 2000 release 'Get 'm down!', full of live-recordings remixed by handieMan Maurice. I guess it's obvious to whom the next song is dedicated. 'Fred' is a previously unreleased live recording of the bands energetic concert in Paradiso, Amsterdam in 2002. Rapper Brainpower is featured on the first of three tracks from the studio-album 'Hot 'n' funky' (2003): 'Turn it up'. Fred Wesley has a guest appearance on 'Shake the cake', and after that the incredible funky guitar work of Dice sets the tone for the next track 'Gimme the funk'. 'Hot 'n' funky' from the album 'Live in Paris' (2006) highlights Captain Hurk on the drumship Enterprise. The final song is the previously unreleased 'Piece of the funk', recorded in 2008 with excellent keyboard sounds courtesy of Keyflow, another great track worth the price alone for this compilation. So either you've never heard of this band before and will love all this new music or you're already a fan, like myself, reminiscing on the old days and finding old but new material from this great Funk band. It makes me look forward to their new album: 'Back to the Source', to be released soon. Funkateer Genius for P-Views.